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Found Art: Discovering Beauty in Foreign Places
Found Art is a memoir of the year author Leeana Tankersley lived in the Middle East with her Navy SEAL husband during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. After a whirlwind courtship, a move across the world, and the unexpectedly difficult re-entry from a year overseas, Leeana finds her life (and her soul) has been changed forever. With an artist’s eye, Tankersley uses each chapter to piece together moments and memories from her journey―a handwritten note from Kuwait, a braid of fringe from a Persian rug, an original poem, a bit of basting thread, a swatch of black silk from a borrowed abaya, a mesquite leaf, a Navy SEAL trident, a receipt from the Russian-Georgian restaurant on Louisiana Street―to create a work of unexpected beauty. Found art emerges … a literary collage created from salvaged stories of loss, hope, and belief that just might change your soul, too.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
9 people are currently reading
99 people want to read
About the author
Leeana Tankersley
10 books132 followersLeeana Tankersley is the author of Breathing Room and holds English degrees from Liberty University and West Virginia University. She and her husband, Steve, are currently stationed in San Diego, California, with their three children: Luke, Lane, and Elle. Leeana writes about living from the spacious place on her blog, www.leeanatankersley.com.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 17, 2018
Audio. I thought I’d love this book because the author and I lived in similar regions of the world at similar points in our lives. It fell flat for me. I’m not sure why. Maybe it felt a bit inauthentic, like the author was holding me at arm’s length, divulging only the pieces of her story that would sell a book. There are aspects of personal transformation, but for reasons I can’t put my finger on, this transformation rang hollow to me. And transformation is what makes a good memoir).
On the narration: read by the author, which I like, but normal audio speed was fast. It felt rushed and read, not conversational and lilting.
On the narration: read by the author, which I like, but normal audio speed was fast. It felt rushed and read, not conversational and lilting.
December 11, 2009
An honest, thoughtful journal of the delicate relationship with self, Found Art is a book born of strange circumstance. Leeana Tankersley's memoir chronicles her whirlwind engagement to a Navy SEAL officer, the couples' brisk but memorable first married year stationed in Afghanistan at the brink of the gulf war, and ends with the shift to 'normal' life back in the U.S. — or as regular as it gets for the wife of a SEAL during wartime.
As she tries to process the bleary pace of navy life and reassess her goals, Leeana is forced to address her personal roadblocks. Loneliness, social anxiety, how God works, the existence of war, constant fear of loss, self-confidence, and death are all issues Tankersley wrestles privately, all smeared across these pages.
An easy read with some profound messaging, Found Art has some overworked prose where Tankersley mimics a freshman angling for extra points, though she's not lacking in sincerity. Her voice is calm and seasoned, just not quite settled or secure with itself. Which, at its core, is what she addresses here: coming to terms with oneself is a lifelong process.
As she tries to process the bleary pace of navy life and reassess her goals, Leeana is forced to address her personal roadblocks. Loneliness, social anxiety, how God works, the existence of war, constant fear of loss, self-confidence, and death are all issues Tankersley wrestles privately, all smeared across these pages.
An easy read with some profound messaging, Found Art has some overworked prose where Tankersley mimics a freshman angling for extra points, though she's not lacking in sincerity. Her voice is calm and seasoned, just not quite settled or secure with itself. Which, at its core, is what she addresses here: coming to terms with oneself is a lifelong process.
June 8, 2017
Picked up based on the cover art really, which doesn't really represent the book accurately. Was curious what the author had to add on the experience of traveling to new places as a generator for new artistic expression. Her personal story didn't resonate with me for the most part or I wasn't seeing the growth and insight I was expecting.
January 22, 2020
I appreciate her honesty of how her own spirituality was lacking for a while and how she found it back, as well as realness of marrying someone who is so involved in our military, but this book wasn't as much Christian meditation and worship as it seemed. It's more along the lines of her time spent living in Bahrain, and her longing for it after they leave.
March 3, 2018
Ugh. Not the book for me. Very poorly written, full of cliches and pop psychology. And Amazon did not makie it clear that this is a religious, almost devotional book. Not a dealbreaker for me, but I would have appreciated knowing that before purchasing.
July 12, 2018
Love Leanna Tankersley...she shares deeply from her heart. I feel as if I am walking alongside her through her spiritual journey, and even though I haven't experienced similar circumstances, her insights speak deeply to my soul and help me connect more with Jesus. Thank you Leanna for Found Art!
March 9, 2017
Wow!
Thank you!
Thank you!
June 10, 2017
I won this book as part of a basket in a silent auction...not something I would have normally picked up but truly a gift of a read. Leeana is a very talented writer-I didn't want this book to end!
August 25, 2019
Loved this book.
February 9, 2017
So enjoyed this book. I found the author's writing thoughtful and most of all REAL! Some parts were very timely. Some favorites:
pg 54
I've made a habit out of filling up most every quiet moment with at least a little bit of noise -- enough to keep me distracted from the discomfort of not really knowing myself.
pg57
I got quiet. And then I got quieter. And then I got silent. That's when the magic happened. I began to keep good company with myself, the kind of company you would keep with a friend instead of an enemy.
pg127
Throughout my entire life, I have spoken Christian, dressed Christian, studied Christian, dated Christian, sang Christian, read Christian, and usually thought Christian. I have simply been immersed in Christianity in the very same way that Fatima had been immersed in Islam.
A possible consequence of this immersion was that my faith had become rehearsed and ingrained and flat. I believe God knew ll this -- that I was lulled and tired. He felt forever away, and I felt and all-pervasive numbness, though I knew what to say and think to convince myself otherwise.
pg131
The layers of numbness began dying a slow death that day. In their place sparked an inkling of desire. And desire, as we all know, is the most scandalous freedom there is.
pg 54
I've made a habit out of filling up most every quiet moment with at least a little bit of noise -- enough to keep me distracted from the discomfort of not really knowing myself.
pg57
I got quiet. And then I got quieter. And then I got silent. That's when the magic happened. I began to keep good company with myself, the kind of company you would keep with a friend instead of an enemy.
pg127
Throughout my entire life, I have spoken Christian, dressed Christian, studied Christian, dated Christian, sang Christian, read Christian, and usually thought Christian. I have simply been immersed in Christianity in the very same way that Fatima had been immersed in Islam.
A possible consequence of this immersion was that my faith had become rehearsed and ingrained and flat. I believe God knew ll this -- that I was lulled and tired. He felt forever away, and I felt and all-pervasive numbness, though I knew what to say and think to convince myself otherwise.
pg131
The layers of numbness began dying a slow death that day. In their place sparked an inkling of desire. And desire, as we all know, is the most scandalous freedom there is.
June 29, 2012
Leeanna Tankersley weaves together her experiences as a SEAL wife living in Bahrain and San Diego with God's work in her life in a book that kept me glued to it, from beginning to end. She took me back to the Souq, the Grand Mosque, and any number of other memorable places in Bahrain, skillfully showing how God worked in her life while she was living as a foreigner, and again when she arrived back in San Diego, experiencing the feeling of being a foreigner in her home town. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the pieces of Bahrain she has woven into her story...memorabelia which takes me back to my own experiences there, and prompts me to growth in my own spiritual journey.
December 26, 2014
Pain. Pilgrimage. Presence.
Leanna explores each of these as she shares the transformative first years of her marriage to a Navy SEAL. As she allows God to find her, speak to her, and walk with her we discover the importance of the three word phrase, "Let it go." God asks us to let go. Of people or things we consider most precious. Of loss. Of wounds that scar us deeply. Of suffering.
In Found Art, Leanna shares various ways we can move from being wounded and broken to being healed and made whole. She captures and shares the beauty that God brings from our brokenness.
A must read if you are looking for healing. For things to make sense. For peace in a messed up life.
Leanna explores each of these as she shares the transformative first years of her marriage to a Navy SEAL. As she allows God to find her, speak to her, and walk with her we discover the importance of the three word phrase, "Let it go." God asks us to let go. Of people or things we consider most precious. Of loss. Of wounds that scar us deeply. Of suffering.
In Found Art, Leanna shares various ways we can move from being wounded and broken to being healed and made whole. She captures and shares the beauty that God brings from our brokenness.
A must read if you are looking for healing. For things to make sense. For peace in a messed up life.
October 26, 2010
I enjoyed Leeana's book very much. She has an artistic gift of weaving together images, memories, and heart aches with words that capture the reader. Not only was I invited into her life, but the truths she discovered were applicable most often to my own.
And on top of all that, I know her husband and his family. This added even more interest as I read chapter after chapter.
My respect and prayers for those in the military, and for their families at home.
And on top of all that, I know her husband and his family. This added even more interest as I read chapter after chapter.
My respect and prayers for those in the military, and for their families at home.
December 11, 2016
I really did not like this book. I couldn't understand why it was published as a Christian book. The author talks a lot but has very little of any substance to say. I found it shallow and couldn't find the purpose for the book. I didn't really get the impression the author was being honest. I don't recommend it at all. I read this in my book club and one lady thought it was marvellous. It takes all sorts.
January 31, 2010
Sweet little book, author seems like a sincerely nice, thoughtful person, rare for a memoir these days.
June 15, 2010
beautiful. a life story that's real and inspiring.
May 13, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. It was a a fresh approach to being forever changed by a life experience...very well written.
June 21, 2012
I love Leeana's writing style. She shares her story, yet leaves room for readers to resonate and respond.
October 16, 2012
Upon arrival here in Bahrain I read this book. It's breathtakingly good. It completely sums up living, growing, being an American woman in a foreign place.
October 25, 2012
What a beautiful and gifted writer! Leeanna gives so much of herself here her decriptions are epic, I felt so many times like I was here.. part of her story as well. It is truly inspired.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews