Goodreads Mobile | see what your friends are reading

Jun 29, 2011

Xiaojuanwu rated it:

Have you ever imagine how heavy the duty would be for a man when his wife is about to leave this beautiful world? We can never be able to feel the pressure he has inside.The protagonist, Elliot, who attempts to keep best smile and comfort toward his wife. Hellen, the wife of Elliot, encounters an illness of a tumor inside her brain. Life becomes a risk to her in which she can leave in any time. He uses his best ability and strength to protect his wife and his daughter. Although his self-esteem w More...

0 comments like

Oct 06, 2010

Mary Lou rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

0 comments like

Jun 25, 2010

Karen rated it:

A sweet and smartly written book about the cycle of life; beginnings and endings. This was the author's first novel and one containing deep truths about grief, aging, love and uncertainties. It tells the story about a woman in her mid 40's who is dying of brain cancer. To mark her upcoming 20th anniversary-her husband arranges for a week-long stay at a resort in the mountains of NH that sounds exactly like the MT Washington Hotel. He also arranges for 6 friends to come and celebrate with them More...

0 comments like

Jul 26, 2011

Liberty rated it:

I honestly don't know where to begin. This book was a very emotional read for me. I wouldn't say the book is full of sad moments, it's not. I think it's because my personal life is experiencing a similar situation. This book made me cry. It made me laugh. It made me shake my head. I connected with each and every character presented. In my opinion, this book was real. It was raw. It was fantastic.

It tells the story of Elliott, Helen and Abby. Helen, the mother has been diagnosed with More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jan 26, 2012

Stephanie rated it:

I'm surprised the overall rating of this book isn't higher. It's well written, and flows beautifully, but while a little flawed (I'll get into that in a minute), I enjoyed spending my time with it.

One of my major complaints in novels, particularly novels that are best sellers and ones people gush all over about (The Notebook, anyone?) is that every character is similar, everyone is beautiful and perfect, and you have no surprises, no hurdles, no conflict.

My 2011 started out More...

0 comments like

Sep 12, 2011

Deana rated it:

This is the story of how the members of a small family cope with the fact that the mother/wife is diagnosed with brain cancer, as well as a sort of coming-of-age of the teenaged daughter. With regard to both of those major life occurrences, the book is extremely well written. The moods conveyed are appropriate, and the author is sure to show both the bad and the good.

I didn't care for the way the book was written -- in third person with the perspective changing each chapter. Normally More...

0 comments like

May 18, 2009

Jennifer rated it:

OK, so I know a little of the backstory here, even though it's fiction. I recognize some of the characters' quirks. But regardless, this is an absolutely FANTASTIC book.

I was invested from the first page. And that's saying ALOT, since I'm so used to reading for analysis, not for pleasure.

I read the entire book over two days, whenever I could.

I could relate to being Abby. I could relate to the relationship between Abby and her parents and their eccentric fri More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jul 09, 2011

Courtney rated it:

I was very disappointed with the book. When I read the plot, I had some high expectations. It started off slow, and I hoped and prayed that it would pick up....but it didn't. There was a lot of unnecessary flashes between the past and present, which became a bit confusing at times. I also found myself getting highly agitated at the daughter for looking for love while on what could be the last vacation her mother will ever be going on. I found her selfish and wanted to slap her and ask her ho More...

0 comments like

Aug 15, 2011

Wendy T rated it:

This was such a sad but beautiful story about how illness effects one family.

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Aug 27, 2011

Mindy rated it:

At first I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book - it had the potential to be a long and depressing story filled with repetition of the pain of grief. However, Chenoweth exceeded my expectations and offered a novel that was so sincere and realistic that it often had me crying. This is certainly going to be a book I remember to offer friends going through the loss of a loved one. The best part about this book is that it covers different types of grieving - by switching perspectives between More...

0 comments like

Jul 11, 2011

Alison rated it:

While this book doesn't neatly wrap up in a tidy package, it is a very human story. The writer does a very good job of creating a host of characters, most of whom are made real by their honest (and haphazard) attempts to grapple with terminal illness. There were times when I wanted to smack Elliot and Abby for their seeming selfish attitudes; the voice of Helen was fragile and precious, and I wish the reader were given more chances to hear the story from her perspective.
This story has many More...

0 comments like

Nov 23, 2009

Walter rated it:

This novel received good reviews, and was, indeed, a solid effort. It contains some lovely passages and nicely identifies some truths.

However, overall the novel is trapped somewhere between an awkward young adult novel and an unsatisfying novel for adults about a family's grief. For as many passages that pleased there were an equal number that caused a grimace ("the rustling leaves said, Hush, hush," and "In her chest, a box opened and something fell out").
More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

May 11, 2010

Kathy rated it:

I would give this book ten stars if I could. Beautifully written, with gorgeous prose and deep emotion, it tells the tale of a woman with terminal brain cancer, and the struggle of her family to spend their last days together. A farewell gathering of old friends, wrapped up in the guise of an anniversary party, takes center stage as each person who knows and loves Helen says their goodbyes. Her husband and daughter each connect to Helen in their own way, and the emotion is so heartfelt and re More...

0 comments like

Jul 21, 2011

Hannah rated it:

Is it bad to admit that my favorite thing about this book was the cover? I picked this book up from the library and was intrigued by the premise. While it sounded a little somber, an exploration of life and loss, I thought it was worth a shot. Unfortunately, I was pretty disappointed with this book. It was very well written, but I just couldn't connect to it. I kept waiting for the story to pick up and hoping I'd become more attached to the characters. I was halfway through when I realized I sti More...

0 comments like

Jul 20, 2009

Lynn rated it:

Sweet, sad book about endings and beginnings. Abby, a college freshman is home for the summer and staying at a posh New Hampshire hotel with her family. Her parents, Helen and Elliot are celebrating their 20th anniversary and have invited their closest friends to celebrate with them. In the midst of a celebration, it is an ending because it is also an opportunity for these friends to say goodbye to Helen who has terminal cancer and has been given a matter of months to survive. It is a begin More...

0 comments like

Feb 23, 2010

TBML rated it:

Emily Chenoweth's first novel pairs good writing with a thoughtful but provocative pace. I cared about the characters from the start. A newly collegiate Abby comes home to a vacation with her mother, Helen, who has brain cancer. The vacation takes place at a hotel where a cast of characters, life-time friends of Helen's and her husband Elliot gather. Partly a coming-of-age story, this novel intertwines an appreciation and bitter-sweet yearning for more time in a life well-lived.

http://chile.las-cruces.org/search~S1?/t... More...

0 comments like

Sep 13, 2011

Beth rated it:

When I first started reading this, I couldn't decide whether I liked it or not. The pace is slow at first, and the plot doesn't seem to go anywhere intriguing in the first few chapters. The characters were also hard to keep track of at times; they all seemed to blend together at one point.

The book starts to pick up towards the end, though, and I found myself emotionally invested in Abby, one of the main characters. Chenoweth writes with such poise and uses deft descriptions that manage More...

0 comments like

Jul 08, 2011

Athira rated it:

Helen returns back one morning from a refreshing run, looking forward to her day, only to get a seizure. This sends her off to plenty of hospital tests after which it is determined that Helen has inoperable brain cancer. The doctors tells her husband, Elliot, that she has 9 months, but Helen doesn't know that yet***, since it's her hope that's holding her so far. With just 3 months left out of the original estimated 9, Elliot plans to spend their wedding anniversary at the Presidential hotel in More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Aug 29, 2009

Candice rated it:

A very good read. This is Emily Chenoweth's first novel, and I hope she will write many more. It reminded me a lot of Elizabeth Berg's novels. There is lots of detail in the everyday things, lots about relationships, too.

It is the story of a woman, Helen, dying of a brain tumor. She, her husband, and their 18-year-old daughter invite the couple's friends to celebrate their 20th anniversary at a New Hampshire resort, but it's really a time to say good-bye to Helen. A particularly More...

0 comments like

Jun 22, 2011

Heather rated it:

I did not enjoy this book. This was a book I started reading with the hopes of it getting better and by the time i was halfway through it I wanted it to be over. I found it very slow moving with little hills throughout. something small would happen and then you would be back to mundane everyday living...something small...back to everyday living, etc. The positive in this book is I do think it did well touching on the characters feelings about death and showing how each dealt with it. However, I More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Feb 28, 2010

Kiersten rated it:

A sad and sweet story. A pretty simple plot, but I liked the characters and there was a lot of emotion. Too many F-words though. I'm getting so sick of reading that word, especially in completely unnecessary places. Guess what, authors, no one talks like that. Especially not upper-middle class midwestern headmasters of private schools. It's just ridiculous and unnecessary and it makes it look like you're trying too hard to be cool or something. Just cut it out.

0 comments like

Nov 01, 2009

ccqdesigns rated it:

This book has taken my breath away. It is a heart wrenching tale of a family in crisis trying to get through it with love, honesty and courage. Emily Chenoweth has once again painted such a wonderful picture that even includes the cat named Pig that Elliot taught to stand on her hind legs and beg to the Peacock named The Duke. Her attention to detail in all aspects of her writing bring the page to life, leave me wanting more and looking for the next chapter at the last page.

0 comments like

Jan 19, 2012

Kyetra rated it:

If I am being honest, I didn't love this book. I didn't even like it enough to finish it in a timely manner. It's not that it was horrible, but just slow. It did nothing to hold my attention. At this point in my life (with a small child and no time to read), a book as to grab my attention and not let go. This was not one of those books for me.
I have read great reviews for it so I am sure that it is truly a personal issue.

0 comments like

Dec 29, 2011

Laura rated it:

Let me start by saying that despite what the blurbage said, this was not "luminous" (I strongly suspect that people don't quite understand what the word means).

Helen has a brain tumor, which her husband knows is inoperable and untreatable, and she has fewer than nine months to live. Eliott's response is to invite all their close friends to a 20th anniversary vacation at the Presidential Hotel in New Hampshire, at which he will tell everyone about Helen's condition. Even More...

0 comments like

Apr 23, 2010

Nicolemauerman rated it:

I read this book earlier this month and didn't get around to writing the review until know and honestly, I don't really remember too much about it. Ok, so here is what I remember: This is about a family where the mother has been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. You pretty much know from the start that's terminal, but the daugther and mother do not. They travel to an ocean side hotel to spend time with friends before she passes. This book was a total snooze feast and I never though it woul More...

0 comments like

Aug 10, 2010

Becky rated it:

4 stars

Helen Hansen has terminal brain cancer, and only her husband Elliot knows the full extent of her condition. Elliot plans a getaway vacation for his family, and he invites friends of the family to join them for a few days to create some final memories with Helen. The story unfolds during this week in New Hampshire, and chapters alternate from Helen's point of view, to Elliot's, to their daughter Abby's, and back and forth again and again.

While this book is extre More...

0 comments like

Feb 04, 2010

Jennifer rated it:

According to The Oregonian, one of the top books of 2009 written by an Oregonian. It's a calmly paced story about a couple and their 18-year-old daughter who spend a week in New Hampshire to spend time with old friends at a beautiful hotel. It's also a chance for the wife to say goodbye as she has terminal cancer. Why oh why am I attracted to tragic books?

0 comments like

Jun 29, 2011

Angela rated it:

The ending cuts the entire story short, unfortunate because it desperately needs closure. The writing style is confusing, switching back and forth between present and past tenses in an incredibly awkward manner. All around, slow. I found myself wishing it would end, and several times debated just not finishing it at all.

0 comments like

May 30, 2010

Carole rated it:

Reader's Choice book at the library. Picked it up on a slow day. Note to self: stop reading sappy novels....

One quote I liked: when the teenage daughter was faced with peer pressure to skinny dip, she resisted. "Confidence and bravery, after all, would come to Abby with time, but innocence certainly wouldn't."

0 comments like

Mar 24, 2011

Jon rated it:

I am a sucker for a tear-jerker, and this book certainly qualifies. It has that Woolfian quality of going in and out of lifetimes, all in the space of a week. The concept -- a group of friends gathering to say goodbye to someone whose death is imminent -- is tragic and beautiful. And this girl can write!

0 comments like