Staying Alive: A Family Memoir

by Janet Reibstein

They were three promising sisters, Mary, Fannie and Regina - young women during the post-war depression. In a tragic twist of fate, all three were to be diagnosed with breast cancer. Fannie died first and then Mary. Told by Janet, Regina's daughter, this is their story.

Genres: Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1969

Reviews

[Mya · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I started this book thinking it was a story related to surviving the second World War (and if, unlike me, you read the blurb, you'll know that it isn't). I felt a little blindsided once I realised my mistake as I've recently had a family member undergo treatment and surgery for breast cancer, so almost put it down worrying about "triggers". However, I decided to give it a chance.

It's a pretty solid read and didn't drag, which I liked. It tells the stories of mainly the two generations and how their experience of breast cancer parallels the developments in medical science and the disease's movement from "the shadows" to how we talk about it today. Some of the story is told through the form of journals and there are poems written by the author's mother scattered through the book. This creates a sense of authenticity for both the author's personal journey as well as her mother's.

I think most women should probably read this story, if only to know a bit more about the options out there and the reality of dealing with breast cancer.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book would be interesting. It was written by a woman who’s mother, two aunts and cousin all had breast cancer (mom and aunts died from it). Back in the 40s-70s, Breast cancer was a private, shameful disease and only old women supposedly got it. There wasn’t much support or understanding.
The first half of the book was mostly about her mother and two aunts and their lives and battles with cancer. I kept thinking it should be interesting but instead, I ended up skimming most of it because I felt like it should have been kept as a family memoir. I didn’t care about her mom’s schooling or jobs and didn’t find it added to the story. The second half of the book was more interesting as it was more about the author’s decision to have her breasts removed prophylactically.

[Lorre Goldberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book engaging, easy to read, enlightening and educational. It's encouraging to see how women have taken charge of a profession and care that is so personal to them. I felt history unfold in front of me with the sheer determination that Janet Reibstein relayed as she revealed the journey her mother, her aunts, her cousin and she herself took. B"h, I know nothing personal about breast cancer. I feel I can be more compassionate to those around me who have battled it because of the honest account that Janet Reibstein shared with us.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rate this a 4 since I can relate to the this family cancer memoir. Sometimes being part of a larger group of women with a genetic mutation helps soothe my own personal loneliness with cancer. I would not recommend this to people unless they are interested in breast cancer. After reading I thought Renee or I should have written a book too.