The Vow: The True Events that Inspired the Movie

by Kim Carpenter, Krickitt Carpenter, Dana Wilkerson

Overview

Life as Kim and Krickitt Carpenter knew it was shattered beyond recognition on November 24, 1993. Two months after their marriage, a devastating car wreck left Krickitt with a massive head injury and in a coma for weeks.

When she finally awoke, she had no idea who Kim was. With no recollection of their relationship and while Krickitt experienced personality changes common to those who suffer head injuries, Kim realized the woman he had married essentially died in the accident.

And yet, against all odds, but through the common faith in Christ that sustained them, Kim and Krickitt fell in love all over again. Even though Kim stood by Krickitt through the darkest times a husband can ever imagine, he insists, “I’m no hero. I made a vow.”

Now available in trade paper with a new chapter and photo insert, The Vow is the true story that inspired the major motion picture of the same name starring Rachel McAdams (The Notebook), Channing Tatum (Dear John), Sam Neill (Jurassic Park), and Academy Award winner Jessica Lange.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781433675942
Publisher:	B&H Publishing Group
Publication date:	02/10/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	208
Sales rank:	613,024
File size:	8 MB
Age Range:	3 Months to 18 Years

About the Author

Kim Carpenter has two children and live in Farmington, New Mexico, where Kim is deputy CEO for San Juan County.


Krickitt Carpenter has two children and lives in Farmington, New Mexico, where Krickitt works as a substitute schoolteacher.

Editorial Reviews

"A horrific 1993 car accident left the newly married authors with injuries that included head trauma and the loss of wife Krickitt’s memory. The story is about how her husband persevered to rebuild their marriage—as a stranger, at first—and how their Christian faith helped them persevere. Written from the husband’s point of view, the book describes the contradictory roles a man must accept when caring for an impaired partner and the struggles they both had with the notoriety of their story, which became a movie. John McLain’s resonant voice and theatrical chops highlight the inspirational aspects of the couple’s story without overplaying the melodrama. His splendid interpretation uncovers more emotional depth in the husband’s perspective than would be obvious from the narrative and dialogue alone." 
T.W.  © AudioFile Portland, Maine

From the Publisher

A horrific 1993 car accident left the newly married authors with injuries that included head trauma and the loss of wife Krickitt’s memory. The story is about how her husband persevered to rebuild their marriage—as a stranger, at first—and how their Christian faith helped them persevere. Written from the husband’s point of view, the book describes the contradictory roles a man must accept when caring for an impaired partner and the struggles they both had with the notoriety of their story, which became a movie. John McLain’s resonant voice and theatrical chops highlight the inspirational aspects of the couple’s story without overplaying the melodrama. His splendid interpretation uncovers more emotional depth in the husband’s perspective than would be obvious from the narrative and dialogue alone. T.W. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

APRIL 2012 - AudioFile

A husband's vapid memoir about a car crash that left his wife unable to recognize him. Never underestimate what a star-studded Hollywood movie can do for a poorly written book. Carpenter's account of the 1993 car crash that changed his family's life was first published in 2000. The recent film retold the story with leads Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams. Unfortunately, the actual narrative leaves much to be desired. Carpenter's book opens with the author reminiscing about how he met his wife Krickitt over the telephone. One conversation with her was enough to make him feel like a "nervous, lovesick teenager." Soon, Carpenter, who lived in New Mexico, was calling Krickitt, who lived in California, almost every day. After a brief Christian courtship, the two decided to marry. But their conjugal bliss was shattered when the newlyweds were involved in a collision that changed everything "in the blink of an eye." Carpenter escaped with physical injuries that eventually healed, but Krickitt experienced brain trauma that changed her personality and took away all recollection of her husband and their shared past. Carpenter eventually won back his wife by helping her through a long rehabilitation process, but Krickitt never recovered any of her memories of their courtship and marriage. Despite the story's inherent drama, Carpenter only skims the surface of the underlying emotional tension, and the amateurish writing ("It was as if she decided to be the friendliest, most helpful person her customers talked to every day. If that was the case then she was a roaring success in my mind") and flat character portraits further hamstring the narrative. A saccharine, thoroughly lackluster paean to the power of eternal love.

Kirkus Reviews