book data
1,588 ratings,
3.92
average rating, 182 reviews
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published
November 28th 2006
(first published 1994)
by Ballantine Books
binding
Paperback, 240 pages
isbn
0345491254
(isbn13: 9780345491251)
description
"Until that moment, I hadn't realized how much I'd been needing to meet someone I might be able to say everything to."
They met at a party. ...more
They met at a party. ...more
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avg 3.92
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Read in April, 2008
In this heartbreaking novel about love and letting go, Ann chronicles the powerful story of her best friend Ruth's struggle with breast cancer: from diagnosis, to denial, to fear, and finally to acceptance, as well as sharing her own experience in coping with the tragic truth and nurturing her friend as best as she can. The author superbly captures the female experience, both in the dialogue and actions of the characters. All of her characters are realistic and so easy to relate to, and she ...more
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recommends it for:
women over 35
Talk Before Sleep is a novel that overwhelmed me. I became totally involved with the characters, and find myself unable to analyze this book or discuss it unemotionally. It is a novel that I actually “felt” – the emotion is real, strong, and beautiful, and if there are flaws with the book’s structure, I am unable to identify them. The experience of reading this novel was rich, personal and deeply moving.
Talk Before Sleep is a novel about women and about the bonds betwe...more
Talk Before Sleep is a novel that overwhelmed me. I became totally involved with the characters, and find myself unable to analyze this book or discuss it unemotionally. It is a novel that I actually “felt” – the emotion is real, strong, and beautiful, and if there are flaws with the book’s structure, I am unable to identify them. The experience of reading this novel was rich, personal and deeply moving.
Talk Before Sleep is a novel about women and about the bonds betwe...more
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recommends it for:
Friends, anyone,
I have read this book about 10 times. I recommend it to my friends and have been known to buy this for friends. I have given this to friends and never gotten back and then bought it again because I have to have it in my "library".
It's a book about friends, three friends, who are drawn closer because of one friends illness, cancer. It's about the progress of her disease and what it does to her friends and their friendship.
I love this author. She was in KC onc...more
It's a book about friends, three friends, who are drawn closer because of one friends illness, cancer. It's about the progress of her disease and what it does to her friends and their friendship.
I love this author. She was in KC onc...more
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in February, 2007
recommends it for:
women who know what it's like to have a true friend in another woman
Quick read, but very deep very best. Your typical two best women friends - one is outgoing, free-spirited & artistic, the other is quiet, reserved & safe. The fun one gets a terminal illness, the safe one narrates. And that's where the "run-of-the-mill" feel ends. The does a beautiful job of telling a story without overdoing it, and painting a picture of what it's like to love someone who's dying without doing the experience the injustice of making everything neat and predictible. Havi...more
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recommended to Elizabeth by:
My mother
Elizabeth Berg is one of my favorite authors. I dive right into her books with their compelling story lines and rich characters. Talk Before Sleep was the first book of hers I read. It made me realize at once that I was blessed with the kind of friend that many people never get to have and that I was a selfish, scared woman who nearly lost this rare gem of a friend. I immediately took action to repair this precious gift.
This story speaks of the bond, the love, that can only exis...more
This story speaks of the bond, the love, that can only exis...more
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This is one of my favorite books...and Berg is one of my favorite authors. I came across this book when my friend was in college--she was minoring in drama and had to do a "dramatic reading" from this text. I've read it and even listened to it on audio many times...and it never fails to bring me to a place of both overwhelming sadness and sincere thankfulness for my life and the people who have graced it. The pureness of the emotions in this book cleanses me. I feel emotionally dra...more
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Read in May, 2008
This book is not for you if you are looking for adventure and great plot twists.Berg tells you before the book begins "Not long ago, I lost a very important friend to breast cancer. I wanted to write about my experience in a fictional way, to create characters and events that, although imagined, would testify to the emotional truth of all that happened."
I laughed and cried through this book. I called my best friends to tell them how very much I loved them.
I ...more
I laughed and cried through this book. I called my best friends to tell them how very much I loved them.
I ...more
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Read in January, 2009
After I picked up Berg's new book on writing, I decided to check out some more of her fiction as well. When I read a book about how to write, I feel like I can't really listen to the guiding voice of an author unless I like and respect her other work. Since, I'd only read one or two other books by Berg, I decided I needed to explore some more before putting much more weight into her book on writing.
I was surprised when I went to the B section in the library, to find so many books w...more
I was surprised when I went to the B section in the library, to find so many books w...more
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Read in January, 2008
If you have ever lost a loved one who is also a dear friend to cancer, specifically breast cancer, pick up Talk Before Sleep next time you are at your local library or bookstore. With the turn of the pages I laughed and smiled, and I also cried. It helped me in a unique way to deal with the grief I still have over the death of my lovely and wonderful Aunt Diana last fall. Berg manages to put into eloquent words so many situations and feelings that just ring true. Highly recommended.
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Read in July, 2008
I'm not sure why I picked this book up from the library. I thought this was going to be about female bonding and the nature of close female friends... unfortunately, it was a dramatic (although probably accurate) look at one woman's friend dying of breast cancer. Neither women are particularly endearing, however; there's nothing inspiring about their plight pre-cancer, and Berg's writing doesn't help either. I'd be better off reading Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants again.
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Read in June, 2007
while the main character, ruth, is a bit crass at times, i found the frankness in which she dealt with her death to be thought provoking. it's a good story about female friendships and the strength that women can find in each other.
if you enjoy this book, i recommend "the year of magical thinking" by joan didion. it is a really well written look at the grief process.
if you enjoy this book, i recommend "the year of magical thinking" by joan didion. it is a really well written look at the grief process.
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Read in November, 2007
Very touching, but the friendship feels uneven and a little co-dependent (on Ann's part). Is it mean to say I didn't like a dying lady?? 'cause I wasn't crazy about Ruth. But I did cry, and I loved the portrayal of a community of women. The book was also a little too hard on men, I thought (Ann's husband seemed like a lovely man, and she was pretty hard on him!)
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Read in December, 2008
This is a book about friendship first and foremost. So, keep that in mind! Ruth and Ann become friends in their 40s, and are pretty different, Ruth is wild and Ann is more conservative. Ruth is diagnosed with breast cancer, and Ann along with her other friends, gather around her to care for her as the diseases progresses. It's a lot of exploring thoughts between the friends about dying and different levels of acceptance. But there are many flashbacks describing Ruth and Ann's friendship. I...more
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This was the second Elizabeth Berg book I have read. A co-worker was moved by this book and recommended it. I just don't seem to connect with this particular author. Especially with this topic, I didn't feel as much as I think I should.
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Read in June, 2004
Another well-written novel by an amazingly gifted storyteller!!!
"They met at a party. It was hate at first sight. Ruth was far too beautiful, too flamboyant. Not at all Ann's kind of person. Until a chance encounter in the bathroom led to an alliance of souls. Soon they were sharing hankies during the late showing of Sophie's Choice, wolfing down sundaes sodden with whipped cream, telling truths of marriage, mortality, and love, secure in a kind of intimacy no man could ever kno...more
"They met at a party. It was hate at first sight. Ruth was far too beautiful, too flamboyant. Not at all Ann's kind of person. Until a chance encounter in the bathroom led to an alliance of souls. Soon they were sharing hankies during the late showing of Sophie's Choice, wolfing down sundaes sodden with whipped cream, telling truths of marriage, mortality, and love, secure in a kind of intimacy no man could ever kno...more
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Read in March, 2009
I purchased this book because I enjoyed Durable Goods and noticed that many others that reviewed Durable Goods mentioned this book favorably. I am so glad that I decided to take their advice and read Talk Before Sleep. The story was so moving. Maybe it was that I could relate to Ann so well, or that I have a similar relationship with my very best friend that Ann has with Ruth (thankfully, Jacqui is not sick in any way though).
If you are looking for a good cry and enjoy a story abo...more
If you are looking for a good cry and enjoy a story abo...more
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Read in February, 2007
Before her success as an author, Elizabeth Berg was a nurse (or maybe once you are, you will always be a nurse?). Whether while she was a practicing nurse or after she made a career change to full time writing I do not know, but she took care of a friend who was dying from cancer... this book is based on her time with her friend.
I love the way Ms. Berg writes, she is so in touch with the female emotions and expresses them so well. I can feel myself into her stories and become part of t...more
I love the way Ms. Berg writes, she is so in touch with the female emotions and expresses them so well. I can feel myself into her stories and become part of t...more
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Read in May, 2004
What an incredible book. I bawled my eyes out. Ms. Berg just made the emotion of losing a dear friend to breast cancer so real. This was a book of incredible friendship and love. It reminded me how important it is to be happy in the moment, to find joy in the people in your life. I loved the quirky characters, they were all so real by the end of the book.
This was just an amazingly beautiful book. Everytime I feel a breeze, I'll be reminded of this book and of the eternity of fr...more
This was just an amazingly beautiful book. Everytime I feel a breeze, I'll be reminded of this book and of the eternity of fr...more
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Read in June, 2009
Hard to say which is more depressing: reading this book or seeing a beloved household pet get run over by a car.
The Hartford Courant calls this book "A Triumph". A triumph over what? Joy? Happiness? A direct quote from the book: "I haven't yet let myself feel how grateful I am to be back in my own bed, but I know it's coming. And I know I'd better get ready. Because feeling good will feel awful."
The writing was fine, the sentiments expressed intellige...more
The Hartford Courant calls this book "A Triumph". A triumph over what? Joy? Happiness? A direct quote from the book: "I haven't yet let myself feel how grateful I am to be back in my own bed, but I know it's coming. And I know I'd better get ready. Because feeling good will feel awful."
The writing was fine, the sentiments expressed intellige...more
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Read in October, 2008
recommends it for:
everyone, women especially
This book was sent to me by my BFF and to be honest I was a little reluctant to read it. I tend to stay away from "weepies" and frankly I was terrified to read it because I can't stand the thought of ever losing her.
While it is a book about one woman losing her best friend to cancer I did not find it to be overly emotional - the emotional moments don't hit you over the head; they sneak up on you and only because you recognize yourself in the characters or situations. T...more
While it is a book about one woman losing her best friend to cancer I did not find it to be overly emotional - the emotional moments don't hit you over the head; they sneak up on you and only because you recognize yourself in the characters or situations. T...more
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quotes from this book
"...I hadn't realized how much I'd been needing to meet someone I might be able to say everything to."
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