Book Reviews:
Book Review By Moreen Torpy:
Having watched films starring Hayley Mills, the idea of reading this book was most enticing. Once I began reading, I could not stop. Helen Le Mesurier has written a page-turner book describing her fascination from childhood with Hayley Mills. Through delight at receiving new magazines and photos of Hayley as a child, Helen sets the scene to be crushed when she felt she had to let this collection go. Through life’s ups and downs, Helen weaves the almost-impossible-to-believe story of how she met Hayley and their resulting friendship.
‘Finding Hayley Finding Me’ is a must-read for those who love happily-ever-after stories. And even better – this one is true.
Moreen Torpy, Author of ‘Going Forward, Downsizing, Moving and Settling In’.
Book Review By Carolyn Townson (excerpt from guest blog post ‘A Journey’s End’):
Helen’s story is universal, its plot and the themes are standard issue. It contains the full gamete of human endeavour when viewed in its simplest forms. What makes Helen’s story so wonderfully unique and valuable is that it has the sense of impossibility and improbability and it so clearly demonstrates the heart of human endeavour and the promise of the thing we call hope. Richard Bach captures the essence of Helen’s journey when he says: “You are never given a dream without also being given the power to make it true. You may have to work for it, however.” And work for it Helen did. Helen’s story is inspirational and it holds the promise for each reader of new territory, new opportunities and new ways of being. Helen’s is not just a story of a young woman who follows her inner-most knowing and dream, this is the story of life itself, the trials and tribulations, the suffering and angst, the intermittent joy and happiness and the fact that we do not have any idea of the grander scheme of things in which we reside. What is mammoth is that this is a further piece of evidence that we co-create our world and reality that we experience.
Helen’s passion for life carries her throughout her years of self-discovery in which her journey to her soul sister, Hayley Mills, was a major backdrop.
Book Review by ‘Gates to My Perception’ blogger Gemma Le Mesurier
There is a new book being released in one week’s time that I am pretty excited about. The title is Finding Hayley Finding Me: My Journey to Actress Hayley Mills. For some people, the name ‘Hayley Mills’ will be quite familiar, for others not so much. In case it helps, Hayley Mills played the original Disney Pollyanna, and starred in the original Disney Parent Trap.
Whether you know about Hayley or not, though, is beside the point. While she is the catalyst for the narrative, and the book certainly is not wanting in interesting details about Hayley and beautiful photos of her that any fan would enjoy, the tale itself is a tale of self-discovery, a tale of personal growth, and of spiritual awakening. In short, a tale that rings true for so many of us.
As you may be able to tell by my comments, I have had the privilege of reading this book already, despite its 27th June release date. That is because I am very close to the author, Helen Le Mesurier, and was honoured to be asked to be the editor of her beautiful book. I have read it numerous times and watched it transform and evolve (much like Helen does in the story itself), and I can honestly say that, with each reading, I have enjoyed it more.
While another memoir, which is currently riding a wave of popularity, Eat Pray Love sparkles with wit, Finding Hayley Finding Me radiates a sense of wonder. We are taken from Helen’s early days living a narrow view of faith, through the soul-expanding lessons she encountered on her journey to becoming friends with Hayley Mills, to what knowing Hayley itself has taught her about spirituality, love, and the value of acknowledging, trusting and embracing who you really are.
Every step of the way synchronicity precedes, and the world blooms for Helen on her journey, which is both physical and spiritual. It truly leaves you wondering at just what the universe is capable of.
