Death Be Not Proud (Perennial Classics)

by John Gunther

book data

1,256 ratings, 3.75 average rating, 138 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		26%
4		34%
3		27%
2		8%
1		2%

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published

September 1st 1998 (first published 1949) by Harper Perennial Modern Classics

binding

Paperback, 206 pages

isbn

0060929898 (isbn13: 9780060929893)

description

Johnny Gunther Jr. was only seventeen years old when he died of a brain tumor. During the months of his illness, everyone near him was unforgettably i...more

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02/29/08

Yulia rated it:

bookshelves: happy-reads, me-moirs

Read in April, 2008

Someone (okay, mt therapist) suggested I reread this. Was he comparing my MS to a grapefruit-sized brain tumor? Why is it that everyone who has a real medical issue wants to believe it's psychosomatic and everyone with a psychosomatic condition wants it to be real?

My new take on the book, after fourteen years passing since I first read it:

Tonight, I read someone’s review of “Death Be Not Proud” on Goodreads.com, a great review for a classic book, but for some mi...more Someone (okay, mt therapist) suggested I reread this. Was he comparing my MS to a grapefruit-sized brain tumor? Why is it that everyone who has a real medical issue wants to believe it's psychosomatic and everyone with a psychosomatic condition wants it to be real?

My new take on the book, after fourteen years passing since I first read it:

Tonight, I read someone’s review of “Death Be Not Proud” on Goodreads.com, a great review for a classic book, but for some misguided search for understanding I sent this message to the reviewer:

“I, too, cried when I first read this book and I’m sure I’ll cry again when I read it this weekend, as I plan to. But I wonder how much my intervening years will change my perspective on the truth of the portrait. Certainly the boy was a gifted and courageous human being and his father loved him as any parent would. But had he survived and remained disabled, would his father’s love have shown a different form: frustration that his son was now pursuing goals that didn’t match his father’s expectations of brilliance and success; anger that his son couldn’t work full-time like his healthy classmates and earn as many bragging rights as they; pity at himself for being given a wonderful child who’d had an awful physical curse? And had the son read the book in his thirties, would he recognize himself in his father’s depiction of him: would he see his actions as brave and noble, would he understand he had a choice in reacting to his diagnosis as he did, would he cry for his father for not being able to find a cure? I suppose you’d have to know me to understand why I question this portrayal now, when I could otherwise leave it be as a beautiful and heart-wrenching story. But as a former star student who did get all the academic awards despite dealing with disability and did work her way through Harvard, getting summa cum laude because my mom would expect nothing less, and whom everyone called brave and unfazed, I wonder what the boy would grow up to think. No, my mom isn’t proud of me anymore. I didn’t apply for the Rhodes Scholarship, you see. I’m just an adult disabled child, according to the government, trying to find meaning in each day. As for another disabled Presidential Scholar I knew who ended up a classmate at Harvard, he did end up going to grad school in mathematics and he did seem strong or pretended to be for others, but he died several years ago, from suicide I believe.

“I know I put too much of my own perspective in these hypothetical questions, but they are real questions. ”

I did send another email apologizing for my confession but I don’t know if I simply dug myself a deeper (premature) grave:

“P.S. Sorry for the Gunther diatribe. I just wonder if it’d be easier on more parents of chronically ill children if their kids died while they were still perfect.”

The last sentence in the Aftermath, from a doctor of his, Dr. Traegar: "He had the most brilliant promise of any child I have ever known."

Yes, he died still full of promise. (less)

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07/06/07

Kate Fletcher rated it:

(review of isbn 0061230979)

Read in January, 2007

I found this drab. A sad story. It was difficult to relate to the situation. Though Johnny Gunther seemed to have had a spirit even his overbearingly proud father could not dim even through his(father's) storytelling. I felt it was a rather inappropriate publication and seemed to have served the purpose of easing his(author's) own pain rather than enlightening the public with the triumphant soul of a helpless child, which is understandable. This story might better have been told with outside ass...more

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08/29/07

Brooke rated it:

Read in July, 2007

i read this book because a student of mine had to read it for summer reading at FLC (franklin learning center). mostly, the book left me with a sad, disappointed feeling. i think that the topic of death is an important one, especially because my students are well-acquainted with it and should be given avenues through which to discuss it, but i'd like to think there's another, better book out there.

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01/24/08

Rachel Carpenter rated it:

bookshelves: just-read

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in January, 2008

reread this memoir,after many years, of a teenage son's 15-month fight against brain cancer in the mid-1940s. it's moving, and fascinating not only in itself but as a time capsule...

for one thing, gunther references the intelligentsia of the 30s and 40s (somehow without seeming like he's name dropping - but that could also be because the names are older... and some have fallen into obscurity). in a weird way, it reminded me of the movie Quiz Show, in its portrait of a time and (cert...more

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08/09/07

Elise rated it:

bookshelves: personalfave

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in March, 2007

recommends it for: people who enjoy being in touch with their emotional side

This book first caught my attention when I read the title, a reference to a John Donne poem by the same name. I was immediately intrigued, and decided to read this story of a a young boy who dies of a brain tumor.
The book was written by the boy's father after his death, and in many ways is the eulogy of a bereaved father who desperately loves his son. He writes of the genius of the boy, and we, the reader, come to believe with the father that this young man would have truly changed t...more

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12/29/08

Maggie rated it:

Read in December, 2008

The last book I read in 2008. It was a re-read for me, but one I hadn't read in 40 years, so time for a re-read.

I was amazed that brain surgery was as advanced in 1946 as it was. There have clearly been great strides in treating cancers since then, but the type which Johnny Gunther had is still fatal in a very short period.

I thought Johnny was very brave in the face of the procedures they put him through, incredibly intelligent, and his death was a true loss of ta...more

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4 comments

06/26/09

Charlotte rated it:

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in June, 2009

This was a fairly easy read for me, but for someone who has experienced the illness or death of a child, it might not be. Gunther managed to create the perfect balance of fact and memoir, rendering this a believable, but not maudlin, journey through the experience of his young son’s battle and loss to brain cancer. What I took away from the book was how brilliant our healthcare system is, and how our medical knowledge is constantly inventing itself, even during the far-away 1940s of the book. ...more

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01/30/09

Callie rated it:

Read in January, 2009

There are enough summaries for this book that I don't want to write one. I gave it two stars because it certainly didn't evoke emotion out of me. I didn't feel connected to Johnny - he seemed almost inhuman, and not in a perfection sort of way. I felt as though the author's recollection of how his son spoke was a little... off? I can't imagine a seven year old speaking the way that his boy did -- though I suppose it's more believable as he grew.

My point is, the story was interesting...more

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03/10/08

Susanna rated it:

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in March, 2008

Somehow, I keep being drawn to books on death.

This one very dissimilar to my own grief, as it is about the death of a child (17 yrs). Nonetheless it impressed me in various things.
- Gunther himself says at the end that "the whys and wherefores of the celestial bookkeeping involved... I will not go into here." They are presented as an agnostic family. Rather he states that "the central pith and substance of what I am trying to write" is "that it was h...more Somehow, I keep being drawn to books on death.

This one very dissimilar to my own grief, as it is about the death of a child (17 yrs). Nonetheless it impressed me in various things.
- Gunther himself says at the end that "the whys and wherefores of the celestial bookkeeping involved... I will not go into here." They are presented as an agnostic family. Rather he states that "the central pith and substance of what I am trying to write" is "that it was his spirit ... that kept him invincibly alive against such dreadful obstacles for so long." This is making me think. On the one hand it sounds very humanist to say its all about our will to live, yet I accept there is a truth there, being as a do believe that the sheer force of our will and mind and attitude is so powerful in our physical health -- and yet even this is God's grace. There is no denying that I would like to exhibit the same fight and dignity as this victim of a brain tumour should I ever have to face the same.
- His mom writes a few pages at the end that are truly beautiful. I have taken her admonition and fierce truthfulness to heart: "Today, when I see parents impatient or tired or bored with their children, I wish I could say to them, But they are alive, think of the wonder of that! They may be a care and a burden, but think, they are alive! You can touch them -- what a miracle! You don't have to hold back sudden tears when you see just a headline about the Yale-Harvard game because you know your boy will never see the Yale-Harvard game, never see the house in Paris he was born in, never bring ome his girl, and you will not hand down your jewels to his bride and will have no grandchildren to play with and spoil. Your sons and daughters live. Think of that-- not dead but alive! Exult and sing."
- Interesting to read about how tumours were treated in 1946. I have a scary feeling in 50 years we will read about chemotherapy with the same shock and horror. (Oh, guess the one thing that works for a while ... yes, that's right, a radical diet!)

Just for the record (again), I miss my mama.(less)

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09/09/07

Marc Lacuesta rated it:

Read in January, 2005

Losing a child to cancer is tragic. But this book, a father's eulogy to his gifted son, felt like being caught in a conversation with someone who needs to talk about their grief, and although you want to help, you are somewhat bored. Instead of being overly involved in the conversation, you listen to all the unnecessary details, let all the hyperbole pass, because you know they are in pain, and they just want to talk, and because you care, you just let them.

At first, it feels this ...more

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03/21/07

Xio rated it:

(review of isbn 0061230979)

bookshelves: booksfromyouth

Read in January, 1985

I was given this novel to read in English class after my teacher Mr Pietrafitta (see how teachers can affect you?) grew tired of me causing trouble. I was bored bored and had completed all the work for the rest of the year or something, precocious brat. He allowed me to read it in class and I was to write a report on it after.

For those not familiar with this novel it is a memoir by a father for his son. The son was diagnosed with some kind of incurable brain tumor. I was riveted wit...more

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12/02/08

Doreen rated it:

bookshelves: non-fiction

Read in December, 2008

This story written by a grieving father, chronicles the discovery of his teenage son's tumor, his illness, and eventual death. I had mixed emotions while reading this book. At some points I was tempted to skip over paragraphs when I found myself feeling distant from the story, but would quickly re-commit myself in reverence to the great loss John Gunther experienced. Not having experienced this kind of loss myself, I wondered how relatable this experience was to others whom have walked in the...more

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11/20/07

Alyson rated it:

(review of isbn 0061230979)

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in November, 2007

this book is about a father telling the story of his son's battle with a deadly brain tumor. it was a sad story that told about johnny- a seventeen year old boy who, during his struggle with cancer, always tried to stay positive and strong so that his parents wouldn't worry too much. he made light of the situation and joked with the doctors. everyone loved him.
it was a nice gesture for his father to write a book in his memory about his strength but, it fell just a little short as far as st...more

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08/13/08

Becky rated it:

bookshelves: --2009--, 4-star, non-fiction, owned, owned-read, owned-willing-to-trade, reviewed, tnbbc-spring-challenge-09

Read in March, 2009

Thank goodness this book is so short. If it was any longer I really doubt I'd have made it through. It definitely touched me. There were some unrealistic moments, namely how Johnny was supposed to have talked. But maybe that is me being jaded and thinking of him with a 2009 mentality. Regardless, John Gunther's recounting of his son's illness and subsequent death was touching and heart-wrenching for me.

I am terrified by death. I'll admit it. The mere thought frightens the shit out of...more

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05/25/09

S Schwartz rated it:

Read in January, 1956

I read this as a high school senior and was very moved by the story. The author, John Gunther, told the story of his son, a high school youngster, dying of a brain tumor. The book was beautifully written. It was my first experience, even though it wasn't personal, with the death of someone in my age bracket. It touched me so deeply that, so many years later, I still remember it.

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01/10/09

Maralise rated it:

Read in January, 2009

Written about the death of a child. The author's child. But in a mysteriously objective tone, journalistic in style. I liked it. It made the madness and agony of the situation approachable to one who has never experienced it. I just fell in love with Johnny, day dreamed about him during the day, made my husband listen to his story as the sun set in the evening.

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04/29/08

Jennie rated it:

bookshelves: autobiography

While Gunther's attempt to write about his son's death is admirable, I was distracted by his repeated assertion that this was not a story about his son's resilient personality. Instead he belabors his goal behind recording his account - to provide a raw description of his son's battle with cancer. This narrative style lends a cold detached feeling to Gunther's prose and made it difficult, for me at least, to feel strongly about Gunther's tragedy. It didn't surprise me to learn that Gunther was ...more

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05/19/09

Creativegenius rated it:

bookshelves: one-of-a-kind-

You have to be a hard core reader to get through this book, because it can get u depressed. it still is an awesome book though. its very descriptivce and makes u feel like u are experiencing it first hand , but all in all its an awesome book, makes u wonder what today would be like if people like him didn't die so young...

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06/05/07

Lisa Vegan rated it:

(review of other edition)

bookshelves: biography, non-fiction, reviewed

Read in September, 1965

recommends it for: those with an interest in cancer patients & those who enjoy memoirs

My mother died from cancer shortly before my twelfth birthday and this might have been the first book about a cancer patient that I read; I did read it around that time. The first of many books as since that time period I’ve developed a rather morbid interest in reading books about cancer and cancer patients. I remember appreciating this one because it unflinchingly described what it was like to live with and die from cancer (the honesty extremely unusual for its time) and because I liked the ...more

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05/13/09

Shawn rated it:

i sort of a differnt book for me its starts of sad its about the death of jimmy ab how that main event effects other charctersit takes place in new york massachettsand conneticut in the year 1945-1947 the main charter name is gunther

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