The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip

Written by Sara Brunsvold

Narrated by Sara Farrington

A throwaway assignment is about to change two lives forever

Aidyn Kelley is talented, ambitious, and ready for a more serious assignment than the fluff pieces she’s been getting as a cub reporter for the Kansas City Star. In her eagerness, she pushes too hard, earning herself the menial task of writing an
obituary for an unremarkable woman who’s just entered hospice care.

But there’s more to Clara Kip than meets the eye. The spirited septuagenarian may be dying, but she’s not quite ready to cash it in yet. Never one to shy away from an assignment herself, she can see that God brought the young reporter into
her life for a reason. And if it’s a story Aidyn Kelley wants, that’s just what Mrs. Kip will give her—but she’s going to have to work for it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 5, 2022
• ISBN: 9781705064733

Sara Brunsvold

Sara Brunsvold is the author of The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip. She creates stories that speak hope, truth, and life. Influenced by humble women of God who find his fingerprints in the everyday, she does the same in her life and her storytelling. Sara's recognitions include the 2020 ACFW Genesis Award for Contemporary Fiction. She lives with her family in Kansas City, Missouri, where she can often be spotted writing at a park or library. Learn more at www.SaraBrunsvold.com.

Reviews for The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip

[Velma Hunsucker · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is a beautiful story of Christ's love lived out through the life of an "ordinary" woman who was quite extraordinary. It was an emotional read that gripped my heart.

[lifeofliterature · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Emotionally charged, this novel takes you on a delightful journey through past and present as characters recall entertaining and teachable stories and discuss deep topics. I liked how even though the characters were fictional, the topics of conversation in the novel were very real and applicable to actual life. Mrs. Kip is spunky and sweet and I really enjoyed reading her tales. I also love the integration of spiritual truths effortlessly woven into the plot. An inspirational tale of women’s fiction, this novel will grab your heart and not let go. I really enjoyed this story and recommend it highly!I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

[claudia.castenir · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

2022 has already yielded several true literary gems of which The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip shines among the brightest. I typically avoid books about cancer, that being a topic that seeks to foil my attempt to read to escape the darkness of the times in which we live. By acquiescing to the nudge I felt to read this book, I experienced a breath of life in Mrs. Kip's story, a life lived by loving deeply, by the giving of one's self over to many tiny deaths. This book is potentially life changing, and I pray that I will allow it to change mine a little more each and every single day. The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip is extremely well-written. Brunsvold does not shy away from the physical realities of the final days of our earthly life, but she does bathe them in spiritual loveliness, with the great anticipation for what awaits us as believers, while also inspiring us to finish well, doing the Lord's work until our final breaths. This is a story that is not to be missed.I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

[grammy57 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the first book by Sara Brunsvold and it's a winner. I usually do not give 5 star reviews, I save those for the best and this is a 5 star winner.The book is a Christian book but not preachy. It shows how an ordinary sinner, just like me, was saved and how she lived her life with gusto. It shows how an older Christian can make a huge impact on a young (not necessarily young in years) Christian's life for the better.The story flows well, and the characters are well developed and believable. The storyline is unique and held my attention throughout. I was sorry to come to the end as I enjoyed spending time with the 2 main characters.This book is well worth your time and it is not an effort to read. I highly recommend this book, you won't be disappointed.

[mizroady · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Clara Kip was an exceptional 79 year old woman with extraordinary faith, outlook and life story. She finds herself widowed and dying in a hospice. Although her future is sad, she is determined to keep her spunk and positive attitude. Aidyn Kelley is an ambitious young journalist who feels her talents are not being used. She makes a wrong move by going over the head of her boss and gets assigned to write Clara’s obituary. She goes not realizing her boss sees her potential and wants to draw Clara’s life story from her. As she keeps going back to interview this spirited elderly woman she finds herself having more questions that need answering. She finds Mrs. Kip’s journey from a young woman to where she is now was nothing short of incredible. This book while beautifully written was not for me. I found it heavy and depressing even with the light hearted moments. It is a testimony of strong Christian faith and the hope one has when this life is over. I received this book from Revell Publishing through LibraryThing Early Reviewers. The opinions stated are my own.

[alekee_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a gift this read was, not exactly what I was expecting, but so much more! Yes, I loved this book!A young woman, given one more chance, is sent to do an obituary for a woman that was still alive. She is about to be gifted with Clara Lu Kip, and what a wonderful gift she receives. Mrs. Kip is a woman who loves God, and wears her faith on her sleeve, she wants everyone to know her Savior!Enter Aidyn Kelley, a fresh new reporter, trying to prove herself, but she is really in for a treat and not really expecting the impact of Mrs. Kip.This is a story about dying, but really it is about life, both are not easy, but go hand and hand, but with Mrs Kip the walk is with God, and she shares her joy with all.I am now looking for more by this author!I received this book through the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.

[susan0316 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a beautiful look at an woman who is dying of cancer. She's feisty and friendly and talkative. The best thing about her is that she really cares for other people and wants to share God's love with everyone she meets. A young reporter is assigned to write an obituary about her. She starts off with just the usual question but then realizes that Mrs. Kip has had an extraordinary life and begins to ask her more questions about the effects that her life of caring and sharing God's love have had on her life. It's beautiful look at a life well lived.

[nbmars · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The main character of this novel, Clara Kip, is a remarkable woman who at 79 succumbed to metastatic cancer after a brief stay at the Sacred Promise Senior Care Hospice in Kansas City. In just over a week there, however, she changed the lives of all who encountered her, by her caring, her sense of humor, her strong faith, and the love that seemed to exude from every pore.A parallel story concerns Aidyn Kelley, a young reporter at the “Kansas City Star” who is given the job of going to see Mrs. Kip to help her write her obituary since Mrs. Kip had no family. Aidyn resented what she thought was a throwaway assignment. But Aidyn’s editor, Bella Woods, told Aidyn she didn't want a formulaic obit: “ . . . sit with her, and listen, Kelley. Listen better than how you listen to me. . . . A good writer knows how to find the story. She can hear it where no one else does. That’s the essence of what we do.”The book goes back in time between the current day, in 2016, and seminal periods in Mrs. Kip’s life, beginning in 1969, nine years after her young husband John’s death; they had been married less than a year. Mrs. Kip never remarried, but redirected her love toward others, with, as Aidyn discovered, quiet courage, and immeasurable compassion.In particular, after a chance meeting with Mai Khab, a Laotian refugee whose children were endangered trapped back in Laos, Mrs. Kip dedicated her life to helping the Laotian refugees that the US Government had abandoned in spite of their aid in Vietnam. Although the US had promised protection to Laotians, when they withdrew from Laos, as Brunsvold writes, “the US effectively reneged and abandoned the people to face the consequences of their allegiance. Alone and unarmed.” [Readers may be reminded of similar situations with the US abandoning the Kurds in Syria, or in Afghanistan at the time of US withdrawal, when the many Afghani translators and guides and their families, once hoping for sanctuary in the US in exchange for their services, were desperate to get out. Some did, but many did not. It's a recurring pattern whether during Democrat or Republican administrations. And yet, oppressed people in other countries continue to take chances in the hope the US might make good their promises.]Mrs. Kip’s faith was strong, and she believed, as she told Aidyn, “The grave is not my final home. I want to live as if I believe that. By God’s grace, I will live because I believed that.” But she also cautioned Aidyn: “Authentic love is the greatest joy there is, Miss Kelley, but it requires a thousand little deaths to self.”Mrs. Kip asked Aidyn to write her “a death with pizzazz.” She said:“At the end of my obit, I want you to write a new death for me. Something that wakes people up, gets them riled. Something riveting. Something memorable. Something . . . extraordinary!”By the conclusion of the eight days Aidyn spent with Mrs. Kip before her life ended, Aidyn was indeed prepared to grant Mrs. Kip’s wishes, and without having to make something up. By watching and listening to Mrs. Kip, Aidyn found out just how extraordinary Mrs. Kip really was.When Aidyn took her leave of Mrs. Kip for the last time, she said to her, “Thank you, Mrs. Kip. Thank you for helping me find a life that matters.”For Mrs. Kip’s obituary, Aidyn wrote of her:“She claimed her life was ‘exceedingly unimpressive,’ but in her time on earth, she went toe-to-toe with the most vicious killers, thieves, and liars this world has ever known. They go by the names of fear, grief, despair, hopelessness, and pride. She slayed away at their schemes, inch by hard inch winning territory for the kingdom of God. She fought especially for those who could not fight for themselves . . . ”Evaluation: This book definitely falls into the category of “Christian fiction,” but the emphasis on faith serves as an explanation for Mrs. Kip’s life choices and how she adapted to whatever fate threw her way. The interwoven story about the Laotian refugees is an interesting one, and as the author notes in an afterword, was inspired by real people and events in Kansas City in the mid-1970s.It is a story that will appeal to readers regardless of which faith they are.

[simmmba · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have absolutely ONLY good things to say about this book. It was interesting, inspirational, and even something of a "how to" manual for living. It has been nominated for my Top 10 Books of the Year list.First, the story was excellent. Aidyn, a young reporter, is supposed to interview an elderly hospice patient to gather information for her obituary. The woman, Mrs. Kip, has other ideas, and soon Aidyn finds herself engrossed in Mrs. Kip's life story. As a reader, I enjoyed both storylines: present-day Aidyn interacting with Mrs. Kip and trying to move ahead in her career, and the high-impact story of Mrs. Kip's past. These two are seamlessly woven together, and I found myself as anxious as Aidyn to learn what happened next.The two main characters are extremely well-written. By the end, I felt like I truly knew and understood both women. Each character's personality is unique and detailed, and beautiful in its own way. I appreciated how the gentle character moments were interspersed with information about Mrs. Kip's life story.As a Christian, the highlight of this book for me was the incredible depth and breadth of Christian content included. Mrs. Kip is a beacon of hope and love, and shares her faith with everyone with whom she comes in contact. I was inspired by both the life she lived and the slow death she was currently enduring. This character is so special, and anyone with an open mind can walk away from reading about her with some new ideas about how to approach both life and its inevitable conclusion.When reading more about the author, I was stunned to learn that she is quite young, and that this is her debut novel. The quality of the writing, plus the depth of the faith demonstrated in the story, left me imagining an older writer with many (many) more years of life experience to draw from. I'm beyond impressed that someone so young could so beautifully and realistically capture the aging and dying process with such sensitivity.The Christian Fiction world is definitely lucky to have many more years of Ms. Brunsvold's work to look forward to!Definitely five out of five perfectly-arranged cheese platters. (Honestly....this one was TOO GOOD to limit to just one type of cheese in my rating!)

[estherfilbrun · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It’s hard to know how to review some books, because Aaah!! This was so good! Mom read this book before me, and after reading her review, I knew I needed to fit it into my reading schedule sometime soon. Unfortunately, my life at the time didn’t allow sit-down reading, but the audiobook came to my rescue, and I could hardly bear to put it down when I had to stop and focus on something else at times. Being a story about two women—one who was young, impulsive, and working her tail off to try to advance herself, and another who was old and entering hospice care as cancer got the better of her—I wondered at first what kind of story this could turn out to be. It’s not an exciting, adventurous premise or start to the book, but regardless, a few chapters in, I was hooked.I could relate to Aidyn’s sense of ambition and drive for accomplishment as the story started; I could see myself steamrolling over other people the way she almost did, just to try to get the “more important” things done. Watching Mrs. Kip’s reaction to that, though, was fascinating, and I soon fell in love with her sense of adventure, wisdom, and heart for following and serving the Lord—even when it got physically difficult for her to do so. I was challenged by her strength and the way she looked to the Lord for direction, and delighted by her childlike sense of wonder and appreciation of beauty. Overall, this was an amazing book, I highly recommend it, and I can’t wait to see what kind of stories Sara Brunsvold comes out with next!

[Frances O'Connor · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful story! Very well written. The characters are very realistic. It is quite likely to be one of this year's favorite books. I listen to approximately 3 books a week, so it's not easy to be one of my favorites. In a couple years I will want to read again. I am looking forward to more from this author. The reader was also excellent. Thank you Scribd for recommending.

[khoyt-43756 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I don't have the words to say what I am thinking about this book right now. What a stunning debut! I just keep thinking about the quote (paraphrased by me): "Just think what one man can accomplish who is wholly devoted to God." This novel is inspirational, fantastically world-building, and will linger in your mind for a long time. The main character, Mrs. Kip, is delightful and someone you wish was your best friend. She is a role model and mentor. This book should be on everyone's bookshelf. I am marking it as re-readable so I will remember to visit this wonderful tome. I can't wait for Ms. Brunsvold's second novel!

[fcplcataloger · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip is Sara Brunsvold's debut novel, and it is extraordinary itself! It is an inspiring, faith-filled story of two women, years apart in age and in spiritual maturity, who become friends through a work assignment. Aidyn Kelly thinks she's been given the task of writing an obituary for a dying woman and believes that it will be a matter of checking places and dates. Wow, is she ever wrong! Clara Kip becomes her friend, her mentor, and eventually, the one who changes her life.“But he is a God of new life, Miss Kelley. A God of rescue and redemption .... No effort in Jesus's name is ever wasted.”Brunsvold has packed a powerful faith message into this story that alternates between dates beginning in 1969, and the time that Clara and Aidyn meet in 2016. It is a relevant look at a life well lived, and Clara's determination to spread the gospel. It's also a tale that keeps you invested until the very end."Thank you, Mrs. Kip. Thank you for helping me find a life that matters."As I finished this book, I began to remember the people who've influenced me in my own life and realized that I could easily insert their names into the above quote. It also challenged me to become the person who helps another person find their own 'life that matters'. The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip is a satisfying, life-changing story that will make you cry but leave you smiling when you come to the end. It's also a book that I'll read again!I received a copy of this book from Revell. There was no obligation for a positive review.

[TAMMY OBERLIN · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Read via Scribd audiobook. 5 stars.

The narrator did a great job! It took me a little while to get into the book but then Mrs Kip took over! I miss my Grandmas and all the things they taught me. I later bought the Kindle e-book and I am going to re-read the book itself.

I loved the extraordinary Mrs Kip. I enjoyed the brief, but meaningful friendship made with the main character. The lessons in this book are powerful.

My favourite scene was when Mrs Kip had the main character read and re-read the Bible passage from Psalm 16.

Understanding the seemingly odd title of the book struck a huge chord with me.

I read this at a point in my life where I am striving to become a Mrs Kip type of person. Through God’s grace and direction-and a lot of growth-I hope to see it through.

[M. Malcolm · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Quite a good listen. I'm not as enamored with it as many others have been.; nevertheless, it was an interesting story written well.

[virginia51-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I recommend having a box of tissues close by because this will bring you to tears. Clara and Aidyn are fantastic characters that show how humans should be. I love how Clara helps Aidyn become a better journalist and a better human being. Aidyn helps Clara realize her true self. I love that this book shows how we can be better people. This is sad and funny and inspirational. I received a copy of this book from Revell for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

[Cindy Evans · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the best books I've read in recent months, and I've read a lot! Heart wrenching and inspiring. About a woman who wants to be useful to her dying days and leave a legacy that will carry on. Very intentionally preachy, but well done! Our lives should be telling the story of our wonderful creator and lover of our souls! Very well narrated too!

[robbyefaye · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold piqued my interest with its intriguing title. I simply wasn't sure about reading it. But I felt compelled to read it after hearing so much about it and after reading all the positive reviews. I'm so grateful I did. The depth and significance of this book prevents me from fully doing it justice.Aidyn Kelly, a tyro for The Kansas City Star, was assigned to write Mrs. Kip's obituary. Because Mrs. Kip is still living, Aidyn felt as though the task was a punishment.The 79-year-old Mrs. Kip (Clara) has a lot to teach Aidyn, a young woman who is just starting her profession. She actually has a lot to teach anybody who reads this transcendent, inspirative story.The book is a stirring and beautiful debut that is packed with countless Biblical truths and nuggets of wisdom that are sure to touch readers' hearts. Clara's memories and her current antics and kindnesses are all covered. Brunsvold succeeds in giving you the feeling of journeying with Clara through her recollections yet connecting with her present friendship.If you only read one book this year, I implore you to chose The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip.I received a review copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own, and I am voluntarily leaving this review.

[dana Leet · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was amazing. The characters were so real and relatable. Every emotion you can imagine you will experience while reading this book.

[tamidale · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was a sweet story with likable and interesting characters--most especially Mrs. Kip. A wonderful example of how Christians need to be sharing their faith.

[LibbyLintonSellers · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It was the title that caught my eye and started me reading but it was Mrs Kip that made me stay What a character! It left me wishing I had a Mrs Kip in my life.