IMPOSSIBLE by Stan Walker

 

Stan the man. What a man, what a story, what a journey. An account so honest, so heart breakingly raw, really, Stan should not even be alive after the terrible things that happened to him in his childhood. Damaged parents produce damaged children generation after generation - to somehow break that cycle of appalling domestic violence  and sexual abuse would seem to be impossible  - impossible to survive, impossible to fix. And yet Stan does it, with God on his side, the overwhelming power of forgiveness, redemption, and love. 

The guy is only 30 and yet he has lived a life full, of good and bad, poverty and riches, hatred of self evolving to love and acceptance of self, childhood dreams come true, faith, determination. So much life lived in such a short space of time. Only 30 years old with the wisdom of someone twice his age or more. 

I didn't know Stan's story really aside from it being a bit of a Once Were Warriors story, and that he won Australian Idol of course. Who doesn't know that bit! I remember watching his audition video ages ago and being entranced by this nervous, shambolic young lad who became completely bewitching the moment he started playing his guitar and opening his singing voice. Magnificent. Even then. 

Ghost writer Margie Thomson has contributed equally to this book, pulling the story together, collecting the many threads of this young man's life, his deepest thoughts, his compassion, his kindness. It is a  wonderful collaboration. Not only is there an insight into the man that Stan is, but also a true privilege to be let into the good parts of Stan's childhood and there were good times on the family marae, growing up with siblings, cousins. His enormous love and respect for his aunts, uncles, grandparents, his tupuna, his origins, where he came from, his everything, his foundations. 

This is a book I have wanted to read ever since it was published, and it will sit proudly on my shelf. But only after I share it round the book clubs I belong to, because it deserves to be read and shared and celebrated.