It really is true that great things come in small packages. This book (booklet really!) is a wonderful source for any Catholic whom has remotely been touched by HIV/AIDS. It teaches and advises you on how to integrate your diagnosis into prayer and more specifically, to walk through your illness via the Stations of the Cross. I must admit, I was a bit sceptical at first, but after reading and meditating on the content, I was convinced of this powerful little books value. The book also has a section called "Sources for Reflection" that has a listing of Christian and Christ centered books dealing with HIV/AIDS and the Church. (I bought my copy used, but would gladly pay the full retail price if that was not an option!)

Why we feel so special about ourselves? Because we know everything about ourselves. Matute reflects here (and in the others books of the trilogy, The Trap and First Memory) how our childhood shapes our future life, and how we cannot do much about it. We can understand our life because we know all things that happened to us, since childhood. Trying to make to understand it to other people is the main problem of living with somebody. Yes, Matute hits the right string inside our souls, and with her wonderful prose, poetically talks about friendship, love and hate, fears and beliefs, during the Spanish civil war. A war that changed the life of the characters of the novel in a very profound way, with no blood nor suffering, but with deep feelings. Only Matute can convince us of the importance of the most secret feelings in our everyday life. I recommend you to read first First Memory, although is not required.