Comments for A Secret Gift, by Ted Gup

Comment on Multimedia by Sandra Berry

Sandra Berry — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 05:34:07 +0000

Simply loved this book! Finished it tonight, came here and listened to this author and he is fantastic. Thank-you so very much for writing it. I was born September 6, 1941 and raised by my mother and her mother & my step-grandfather. They had just survived the Great Depression & I was an only child raised with all the frugality they had learned to be able to survive. It should be mandatory reading for school children. Seriously.

Comment on Multimedia by john

john — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:05:53 +0000

have given several copies of the book as gifts .

Comment on NY Times: In Canton, Kindness of a Stranger That Still Resonates by Billy Poe

Billy Poe — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 01:46:57 +0000

I watched this story a year ago and saved the information in order to attempt to follow in the footsteps of Samuel Stone the following year. The following year is here and I will do my best to continue his tradition in my hometown of Calvert County, Maryland; doing my best to enlist others to join in.
It is a fabulous story of mankind doing what is morally right for his fellowman.
Thank you to Samuel Stone and all of the others who help those in need.

Best,
William Poe

Comment on The Letter Writers by Paulette Embody

Paulette Embody — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 10:58:56 +0000

Thank you Ted for revealing much, which should already have been understood. My father’s family and my father are from the Canton area. While my Grandfather was a carpenter, the 1930 census shows him as a farmer. It seems they managed, carefully. Daddy graduated from the one high school, hoping to become a doctor. The picture of his graduating class is so small! Hoping to study medicine, he was working for tuition . . . but when his younger brother was killed at Iwo Jima, his life took a dramatic change . . as did so many young men of the day.

Often wondered is how my parents passed to me the meaning of money and being frugal, but regardless of my efforts, my children never understood the concept of saving and being careful.

Often wondered, while the war actually ended the depression, and probably played a part in my existence, how much of my life was changed by the actions of the war, of a very young man in the Army, a Corporal specialist, a medic unprepared for the emotional trauma of the battlefield, a fresh reminder of his brother’s death. He was unable to perform his duties.

The psychological treatments of the time were very cruel and somewhat untested. The army managed to misplace some of his medical records. How much of this trauma and/or medication passed on to his only child? How much bearing does it have on the problems of today? Fibromyalgia is an unknown, but a reality. Where are the roots?

Some are obvious; others are questionable.

Your research and insight of the Depression Era are invaluable. It is a book my Grandchildren, ages 10 and 6 will read. Perhaps, they will learn before it is too late.

Regards,
Paulette Embody
Houston, TX

(My Mother worked in the shipyards as a welder. She was a very small woman . . . one of the few who fit into the bow of the ship!)

Comment on Share Your Story by dick lennard

dick lennard — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 20:17:27 +0000

The most moving book I’ve ready…probably ever. I was born in 1933 so experienced only the trailing edge of the Great Depression but it was enough to leave searing memories. “Bums” at the back door looking for any little job and a sandwich..which they always got. The Catholic Church being forced to lock up at night for the first time since 1917 because of the overnight sleepers. A grown man crying while talking to my Dad on the front porch because they had no food. Dad would always call the grocery store to arrange some help…but would not give them money. 5-cent movies at the Roxy theater and the kids who didn’t have five cents waiting at the door for friends to come out and tell them about the movie……and on and on.
After about 50 pages I quit..I couldn’t take it! Talk about being depressed, but the book kept calling me back,,,,about ten times and I’m so glad I finished it. I would like to see this book made a mandatory reading requirement for every spoiled brat slave of the internet in the country. That goes for Congress too, but I would require them to write a Book Report on it before taking office. Looking at the country now I remain depressed but slightly hopeful for change.

Comment on The Boston Globe Reviews A SECRET GIFT by minijobs mÃ¼nchen

minijobs mÃ¼nchen — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 16:31:29 +0000

minijobs mÃ¼nchen…

[...]The Boston Globe Reviews A SECRET GIFT | A Secret Gift, by Ted Gup[...]…

Comment on A Secret Gift, by Ted Gup by NYT magazine lauds generosity of Block Island nurse Mary D. | WPRI.com Blogs

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 10:03:00 +0000

[...] story reminds of another tale about quiet community charity, Ted Gup’s book “A Secret Gift,” about an anonymous Depression-era newspaper ad in Ohio, that offered $10 to 75 families in [...]

Comment on Previous Books by 10 Previous Books Sites | Hold Your Future

10 Previous Books Sites | Hold Your Future — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 06:45:40 +0000

[...] Previous Books | A Secret Gift, by Ted GupIn The Book of Honor, Ted Gup uncovered some of the CIA's closest-held secrets: the names and stories of the [...]

Comment on A Secret Gift, by Ted Gup by Carol Christmas

Carol Christmas — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 03:43:14 +0000

Thank you Ted Gup for your tireless pursuit of the B. Virdot mystery. And what a treasure you unfolded for yourself and for all of us to read. I am a champion for the handwritten letter and I was thrilled to discover your book. Sometimes handwriting is hard to read, but then it is the “hard copy” you can take the time to decipher. At any rate, I just put up a post on the site discussing A Secret Gift. I am hoping many new Sam Stone fans will appear. Thank you, and many thanks to Sam for his “secret Santa” generosity!
May we all learn from his humanity. All the very best to you! -cc

Comment on History by Andrew Yarosh

Andrew Yarosh — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 02:31:42 +0000

I hear that composer Phillip Bimstein has written an song cycle based on the letters for his wonderful group Red Rock Rondo. I hear that some of the songs are available at their MySpace: http://myspace.com/redrockrondo. Fans of your wonderful group would love to know about the progress of the cycle and where they could hear performances.