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Claire Fontaine

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Come Back: A Mother and Daughter's Journey Through Hell and Back Paperback – Bargain Price, Aug. 5 2008

by Claire Fontaine (Author)

4.4 283 ratings

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In powerful parallel stories, mother and daughter give mesmerizing first-person accounts of the nightmare that shattered their family and the amazing journey they took to find their way back to each other. Claire Fontaine's relentless cross-country search for her missing child and ultimate decision to force her into treatment in Eastern Europe is a gripping tale of dead ends, painful revelations, and, at times, miracles. Mia Fontaine describes her refuge in the seedy underworld of felons and addicts as well as the jarring shock of the extreme, if loving, school that enabled her to overcome depression and self-loathing. Both women detail their remarkable process of self-examination and healing with humor and unsparing honesty.

Come Back is an unforgettable true story of love and transformation that will resonate with mothers and daughters everywhere.

Print length

336 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Avon
Publication date

Aug. 5 2008
Dimensions

13.46 x 2.06 x 20.22 cm
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Claire Fontaine
133
Paperback
$18.50
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Product description

Review

“Come Back is a testament to the power of the love between a mother and a daughter.” (New York Times Book Review)

“Best mother-daughter memoir.” (Glamour)

“We strongly recommend this powerful mother-daughter memoir...Intense, shocking, and ultimately triumphant...” (Barnes & Noble)

“A nightmarish saga of a teenage runaway in L.A. ends triumphantly. . . . Heart-wrenching, honest dialogue.” (Publishers Weekly)

“A powerful and moving story of two brave women who struggled through darkness into the light.” (Susan Forward, Ph.D., author of Toxic Parents)

“A rare, visceral reading experience....Offering lessons in living, loving, and accepting responsibility that could benefit every reader.” (Edwin John Wintle, author of Breakfast with Tiffany: An Uncle’s Memoir)

“One of those rare books I could hardly put down until I finished. . . . Brilliantand often funny, too!” (Leah Komaiko, author of Am I Old Yet?)

About the Author

Claire Fontaine and Mia Fontaine are the coauthors of the bestselling memoir Come Back: A Mother and Daughter's Journey Through Hell and Back.

A former screenwriter, Claire divides her time between the United States and Europe, where she is researching a historical novel and doing a comparative analysis of les éclairs au chocolat de Paris. She is also a certified relationship coach and a certified life coach.

A popular motivational speaker, Mia has written for the New York Times, Huffington Post, Ms. magazine, and Atlantic Online, and is currently at work on a narrative nonfiction book that combines four of her greatest interests: travel, human behavior, history, and culture. She lives in New York City.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B003A02XHK
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Avon; Reprint edition (Aug. 5 2008)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
Item weight ‏ : ‎ 249 g
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13.46 x 2.06 x 20.22 cm

Customer Reviews:
4.4 283 ratings

About the author

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Claire Fontaine

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Claire Fontaine is an author and screenwriter, and certified life and relationship coach. She is currently living in Paris and at work on a novel.

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Diane Foote

Come Back (P.S.) [Kindle Edition]

Reviewed in Canada on January 27, 2014

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Come Back (P.S.)

This book is about a child that was abused and how she rebelled again everything and everybody. As Mother's would or should do is not give up on a child who she knows is hurting and lost.

She goes to rehab, learning how to love herself and accept what happened to her and it was not her fault.

She and her Mother grows this bond between them again and it is a heart touching story of how one Mother lost her daughter (after she was abused) to drugs, etc.

Very inspiring book that every Mother or daughter should read.

Reviewed in Canada on December 11, 2016

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Excellent Book!!! Only put it down to sleep!

Reviewed in Canada on June 16, 2015

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Fascinating story. Highly recommend it.

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Melia

The Best Book I've Ever Read

Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2006

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Even if you had a prior knowledge of the book, which mine was minimal at best, there is no way that you could be prepared for the powerhouse that this book actually is. The most prepared person will get knocked off their rocker by the sheer and honest emotions found within these pages. Nestled between the covers lies the strength of love, determination, self exploration and personal growth told in such a way that it is sure to take your breath away.

The writing.

`Exquisite' is the first word that comes to mind. Although, much too fancy of a word to cover the style and talent behind Mia and Claire's personal portrayal of their story, it's power is truly fitting. From the moment you begin reading, you can actually feel the emotions that Claire goes through. It's not difficult to place yourself in her shoes, even if you've never experienced the kind of intensity as the roller coaster ride that Mia and Claire go through.

This is a smooth read, not something that requires you to have to concentrate in order to get through it. The words just sort of jump off the page and take over your mind and your emotions from the onset. Effortless and all encompassing, this is one book that goes by way too fast. As I read, I began to feel as though I knew these two women. I cried when they cried, I laughed when they laughed, I celebrated their triumphs and wallowed in the disappointments right along with them. I began to feel like Claire and Mia were sitting at my kitchen table with me, sharing a pot of fresh brewed coffee as they filled me in on the roller coaster ride that had taken them away from my immediate friendship for two long years. I wanted to hold Claire in my arms as she cried in the night full of fear for the well being of her daughter. I wanted to hold Mia in my arms as she ran scared and fast toward her seemingly inevitable demise.

The story.

I believe so intensely that everyone whom reads this book can walk away from it and be able to take something with them that I have purchased the book for several people I am close to in my life. It is such an inspirational story, a testament to the human spirit, that nobody on the planet should miss out on this book. The lessons learned by Mia and Claire are morals and lessons that each and every one of us could benefit from and find ways to incorporate within our own lives. Live not by the hand of fear. That is one thing that I walked away from this book coveting and determined to not only face up to, but to change within my own life. Claire and Mia show us, that even when we believe we've made the right decisions in life, that if those decisions were made out of fear, they could cause unimaginable harm in ways that our minds cannot begin to fathom.

Heart wrenching and intense, this is a page turner of the best kind. I promise this is not a book that you will ever take lightly, or dislike. This is a story that will inspire you, and live within your heart for all of time. It touches places within your soul that you didn't even know were there. It gives hope to those whom feel hopeless in their own relationships with their mothers/daughters and brings to focus the true power of love. I highly suggest that if you haven't already, you go right now and purchase a copy of this book.

7 people found this helpful

Taylor

Wow - I'm Almost Speechless...

Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2015

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I have read many books on teens with addiction issues, teens with behavioral issues, family emotional issues, and the mother/daughter relationship. This book contained all four topics and dealt with them in such a raw, profound way. I have not been this affected by a story in a very long time. The fact that it is based on a true story makes it all that more compelling.

My sixteen year old daughter is currently in rehab for alcohol and marijuana issues plus dabbling with acid and Adderall. Her counselor had her read Claire and Mia's book first, and my daughter actually recommended it to me. To say that is a first is a complete understatement. I couldn't wait to finish reading it to write to my daughter and let her know how touched I was. I was astounded by how many connections I was able to make between myself and Claire, my daughter and Mia. The issues stemmed from different places, they have varied in different ways along the way, but so many of the conversations (arguments) were the same. The emotional roller coaster was so similar. The struggle for control unbelievably familiar. It's not too hard to find these types of connections in other books of similar themes, but something about this one was just so much more powerful.

Despite all of the controversy surrounding the Morava Academy and even the Spring Creek Lodge Academy in Montana, I found the programs as they were described, and the seminars for the parents to discover their own issues, to be astounding in their ability to cut through all the outside garbage and help these kids and their parents to realize their strengths and weaknesses and how to work on both. I believe, as was described in the book, that it is often the isolation from the outside world that really allows these kids to finally let go of their manipulations, and often get back to the real business of being a kid. What could be better than that? On the other hand, I know these types of places can be very risky and we all realize the risks we are taking when we send our children off to be cared for by strangers. I suppose it's the lesser of two evils if the other options they are facing are either detention or probable death.

Anyway, rambling aside, my daughter and I both really liked this book and we applaud both authors for their openness and willingness to share their story with the rest of us. I will recommend it to anyone I think will benefit from its contents, and I will not forget it. It will resonate with me for a very long time. And I only pray we can have the happy ending they earned.

4 people found this helpful

G. Scott

Story of hope

Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2013

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I am the mother of a thirty-one year old daughter who is a heroin addict and has been since she was fifteen years old. She is once again coming out of a relapse period. I saw Come Back on display at Target and decided I would purchase it for myself. After reading the first chapter I ended up getting the Kindle version for me and giving the book I purchased to my daughter. We read the book together. It was not only very therapeutic for us both but it opened the door to some great conversations. We talked about the characteristics that we thought Claire, the mother of Mia, and I have in common. My daughter shared some of her experiences and characteristics she thought were similar to Mia's with me. I have been in several programs and done a lot of what I call "inside" work. I call my daughter my biggest blessing. People that know our story think I am crazy when I say that. She has been my greatest teacher just as Mia was for Claire. This book has opened a new door. I always have hope that she will find her way out. It is comforting to hear stories of people who have fought their way back. Who are successful and living a productive life. Mia and Claire my heart goes out to you both. Thank you for sharing your story.

4 people found this helpful

Beryl S Bissell

Gripped from page one

Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2015

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“It is its own religion, this love. Uncontainable, savage, and without end, it is what I feel for my child.” These opening lines of Claire Fontaine’s powerful memoir, sucked me right in. I know that love. Recognized it. It is what many of us feel for our children. She introduces us to her daughter Mia as a young child: perceptive, bright, loving and we’ve already fallen in love with both mother and daughter when a few inches down the page we are sucked into the story of fifteen -year-old Mia’s disappearance. From there the book takes off at a frenetic pace, hurtling through the initial panic. She has written a note telling her parents not to worry, “I have a knife and mace.” Claire’s precious daughter has taken off with a new friend. She loves her parents but needs to find herself, connect with “real people” who will take care of her.
While runaways often flee abusive homes, Mia has known little but unconditional love. There’s past history here however. Emotional and psychological scarring. Claire’s first husband, Mia’s father, emerges as a drug abusing, violent pedophile who abuses his own tiny child. Though Claire divorces him and eventually remarries a good man who loves Mia, the damage runs deep. She is bright, beautiful, and loving in turn. Yet, she has fled this home with her strange new friend who knows the kind of people Mia thinks she needs. Finding Mia is not the end of this story, but the beginning. Mia escapes every attempt to treat and heal her and descends into an ever bleaker darkness. Driven to desperate measures, Mia’s parents have the financial wherewithal to get her into expensive treatment programs, one in the Czech Republic, and another in Montana, where Mia manages to turn her life around. Aptly titled: Come Back! both Claire and Mia tell their stories and thus weave an insightful tale of love, loss and recovery.

8 people found this helpful

L. Williams

Boring!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 20, 2013

Verified Purchase

The author and her daughter appeared on a Ricki Lake show and I was looking forward to the read. A third of the way through it I lost interest because of the mother's monotonous lament for her spoiled daughter and her errant ways. The remainder of the book is just mind numbingly boring. How either of the authors could recall entire conversations on every day of the daughters 'rehab' during months abroad..is questionable. I did finish it, but I donated it to a charity shop rather than pass it to a friend.

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Come Back: A Mother and Daughter's Journey Through Hell and Back Paperback – Bargain Price, Aug. 5 2008

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