"Moonface" is a hilarious, incredibly moving memoir about how one woman foundromance and laughter in the most unlikely way: by having a kidney tran...
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Apr 01, 2011
Tara
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This is a memoir written by a woman who has a kidney disease. I won't get into all the medical jargon that none of us can spell or pronounce, but just try to sum it up real quick.
Angela's kidney began failing her when she was in College. It would no longer clean her blood. Her brother stepped in and gave her his kidney. Ten years later, she rejects the kidney and has to go on dialysis. By this point, she is with Charlie.
Charlie is a really likable guy. He remains posit More...
Angela's kidney began failing her when she was in College. It would no longer clean her blood. Her brother stepped in and gave her his kidney. Ten years later, she rejects the kidney and has to go on dialysis. By this point, she is with Charlie.
Charlie is a really likable guy. He remains posit More...
Jun 13, 2011
Jenny
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I know it’s been said again and again, but reviewing memoirs is such a difficult thing to do; the contents of these books are the authors’ actual lives, so to critique them in any way just seems wrong. Anyway, it’s been a few days since I finished this one and I’ve had time to let it simmer in my mind. While I didn’t at all dislike the book while I was reading it, I do feel that it took time to mull it over for a while to really appreciate it. This is probably because I had all these outrageous
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May 05, 2011
Diane
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I remember reading the "Modern Love" column that inspired this terrific book and thinking, "Wow- that is true love!" When I heard that the column was expanded into a book, I had to read it.
I have a very good friend who has also undergone the same transplant. She has had kidney problems for over 20 years, and I didn't truly understand everything that she had gone through until I read Angela's book.
It's hard to believe that people like Charlie exist: a boyf More...
I have a very good friend who has also undergone the same transplant. She has had kidney problems for over 20 years, and I didn't truly understand everything that she had gone through until I read Angela's book.
It's hard to believe that people like Charlie exist: a boyf More...
Feb 13, 2011
June
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Moonface is the very touching autobiographical account of Angela Balcita's determination to live life to the fullest despite the difficulties she encountered with the failure of her kidneys. In her freshman year in college, she has to return home because of the failure of her kidneys to function. You live with her turmoil of the disruption kidney disease causes her loving family. She receives her first donor kidney from her brother. It is a successful surgery enabling her to return to school whe
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Feb 06, 2011
Chocolate & Croissants
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Moonface is a memoir and romance rolled into one. It is about the most selfless gift a person could give another, their kidney.
During her first year in college, Author Balcita becomes ill. As the child of a physician her parents summon her home where she enters the world of medical tests and kidney transplant and dialyses. This book is not for the faint of heart. This poor women has had more than one kidney tranplant. Her first kidney was donated by her brother. She then receive More...
During her first year in college, Author Balcita becomes ill. As the child of a physician her parents summon her home where she enters the world of medical tests and kidney transplant and dialyses. This book is not for the faint of heart. This poor women has had more than one kidney tranplant. Her first kidney was donated by her brother. She then receive More...
Jun 08, 2011
Jess
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First and foremost thanks to Erica at Harper Perennial for sending me a copy of this for review!
I'm not a big fan of memoirs or non-fiction, for that matter, but I flew through the pages of this little book. I couldn't put it down! When I first read the synopsis of this one, I was rather intrigued mostly due to the fact that my own mother has had a pancreas transplant that failed, so I was curious to read about Angela Balcita's own experience. Not only that, but it seemed like the mak More...
I'm not a big fan of memoirs or non-fiction, for that matter, but I flew through the pages of this little book. I couldn't put it down! When I first read the synopsis of this one, I was rather intrigued mostly due to the fact that my own mother has had a pancreas transplant that failed, so I was curious to read about Angela Balcita's own experience. Not only that, but it seemed like the mak More...
Feb 28, 2011
Gmr
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Angela is a girl who knows what she wants in life; her dreams and aspirations echoing so many others round the world. Gain an education, find love, and make lasting friendships. There is one however that sets her a bit apart from the crowd. One wish that she would rather not have on her list of wants and desires; one hope that if given the chance, she’d gladly erase from her "things I want in life" tally with a smile upon her face. That deep seeded wish…for her recently transplante
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Feb 08, 2011
Leeswammes
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Moonface is the autobiographical story of a young woman who suffers from kidney disease. Amazingly, her boyfriend offers up one of his kidneys
so that she doesn’t have to suffer dialysis three times a week and so she has the chance to live a reasonably normal life.
The book describes the onset of the disease, how Angela meets Charlie, her boyfriend, and how he stays with her through all her
difficult moments and supports her in every way he can.
I loved reading t More...
so that she doesn’t have to suffer dialysis three times a week and so she has the chance to live a reasonably normal life.
The book describes the onset of the disease, how Angela meets Charlie, her boyfriend, and how he stays with her through all her
difficult moments and supports her in every way he can.
I loved reading t More...
Feb 12, 2011
Laura
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Probably 4.5 stars, but I'm willing to round up.
By far, the thing that sticks with me from Moonface is the author's voice. She has a way of writing that is funny without being comic, that makes her feel like someone that would be really interesting to know, and that I was getting to know her through her book. She was funny and very human.
And yes, she was an interesting character, beyond being an interesting person. She faced real challenges (She had kidney disease that ca More...
By far, the thing that sticks with me from Moonface is the author's voice. She has a way of writing that is funny without being comic, that makes her feel like someone that would be really interesting to know, and that I was getting to know her through her book. She was funny and very human.
And yes, she was an interesting character, beyond being an interesting person. She faced real challenges (She had kidney disease that ca More...
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Mar 28, 2011
Rachel
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I read this today during spring break while the kids had friends to play with -- it felt like vacation, alrighty!
The thing I kept thinking about as I read this medical story was HOW did they pay for all her medical bills? Were the parents/inlaws wealthy? Did they go on Medicaid? They seemed to have very good health insurance, or at least the author really didn't describe worrying about how her treatments were covered. In America, financing a major chronic illness has got to be expensive. I More...
The thing I kept thinking about as I read this medical story was HOW did they pay for all her medical bills? Were the parents/inlaws wealthy? Did they go on Medicaid? They seemed to have very good health insurance, or at least the author really didn't describe worrying about how her treatments were covered. In America, financing a major chronic illness has got to be expensive. I More...
Jul 20, 2011
Patricia
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Apr 25, 2011
Meghan
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I didn't get through this medical memoir, because it gave the impression of consisting in large part of visits to doctors and hospitals and hard-to-read descriptions of being in pain from kidney disease. But the true story behind it is interesting: receiving a donated kidney from your husband.
Aug 04, 2011
Jenn
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This book reads very easily, but it's very hard to critique a memoir. I honestly feel like this story would be most interesting to those that personally know Angela and her husband. That being said, it really is a beautiful love story.
Apr 20, 2011
Kelli
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This was a quick read. It's a story of the author's struggle with kidney disease and her boyfriend's decision to donate a kidney to her. The book follows their relationship from beginning to present. Very well written, charming and funny.
Feb 10, 2011
Ashley
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I thought this was just a fresh read! Its super cute and kept me stuck in it til i finished a few short hours later! I did not want put it down. Shes a brave person with so many loving people surrounding her! THIS IS TRULY A ROMANCE!!!
Mar 26, 2011
Joan
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Sophomoric. It's ironic that a good writer can take a simple story and make it great, and this woman has an advanced degree in nonfiction writing and took her own intriguing story and made it so boring.
Feb 19, 2011
Gertrude
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Didn't think there was anything moving or hilarious about this woman or her story. Have
to agree with her husband when he said, "you got exactly what you want.". I wanted to slap her.
to agree with her husband when he said, "you got exactly what you want.". I wanted to slap her.
Feb 12, 2012
Anne
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Another true story - very interesting subject matter (girl gets kidney transplant from her boyfriend) but I'm not really getting to know or understand the characters. I'll stick with it - because I'm curious and stubborn.
Sep 04, 2011
Megan
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I read this book after reading a review about in in a magazine. A great story of what love and a fighting attitude can do for someone! She's one hell of a fighter!
Apr 14, 2011
Michelle
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May 10, 2011
This book was truly amazing.
Check out my review - www.blogabooketc.wordpress.com - will be posted 11th May 2011
Check out my review - www.blogabooketc.wordpress.com - will be posted 11th May 2011
Feb 12, 2011
I just found out this is an advanced copy and it's not be released to the public to Feb 1, 2011.....so I am going to try and get this book read before it's release date so I can submit a review for everyone :)
Feb 01, 2012
Lisa
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Apparently expanded from Angela's Balcita's "Modern Love" column in the NY Times, this memoir is a bit scattered and suffers from not being in chronological order. But Balcita -- who has a MFA in nonfiction writing from the University of Iowa -- is a good writer and shares the story about her kidney disease and transplant (from her boyfriend) with unflinching honesty, with the love between the duo clearly evident on each page.
Apr 17, 2011
Janice
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Put this book on preorder - goes to sale in February and is very enjoyable to read. True Romance takes you thru health and comedy and shows you that yes, good people still do exist in this world. When things get unbearable, comedy takes over and shows you a way thru the toughest times! Definitely put this one on your reading list!
