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Daisy's Choice

Mike Owens (Goodreads Author)

4.71 · Rating details · 14 ratings · 13 reviews

Nothing left to live for…that's how eighteen-year-old Daisy Sugarbush feels after an explosion inflicts deep burns over seventy percent of her body, condemning her to six excruciating months in the hospital, where her pleas to stop treatment are ignored.

Blind and horribly disfigured, she wishes only to end her wretched life as soon as possible. Starvation should push her ...more

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Kindle Edition, 308 pages

Published March 21st 2018 by The Wild Rose Press, Inc

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· 14 ratings · 13 reviews

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Apr 29, 2019 N.N. Light rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, reviews-by-mr-n, women-s-fiction

I have never read a book like this one. The author presents so much between the covers, it is hard to simply convey what this is about. In the end, this book is about the indomitable spirit of humanity.

Daisy stumbled through her life and dealt with what seemed like huge things (some were) and others, in fact, didn't mean so much. Then came the explosion that didn't kill her but destroyed her body. She suffered such a horrible thing that it was no surprise she just wanted to die. Whether she de ...more

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May 17, 2018 Robyn rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Heartfelt and Emotional

Daisy Sugarbush is not your average girl. She rather be fixing cars and unclogging toilets with her father than staying at home with her mother learning how to cook and clean. She always thought she should have been born a boy as anything domesticated surely did not interest her. Daisy could never reach her mother’s high standards in learning how to be the perfect wife and mother. All the wisdom she learned, she learned through her father. Her father was her anchor up unti Heartfelt and Emotional

Daisy Sugarbush is not your average girl. She rather be fixing cars and unclogging toilets with her father than staying at home with her mother learning how to cook and clean. She always thought she should have been born a boy as anything domesticated surely did not interest her. Daisy could never reach her mother’s high standards in learning how to be the perfect wife and mother. All the wisdom she learned, she learned through her father. Her father was her anchor up until he became sick, succumbing to cancer shortly after. Even though her father is gone, she still carries out his domestic chores. However, all of that changes in an instant with one single mistake. Daisy is in an explosion and over seventy percent of her body is badly burned and she is left disfigured and blind.

Life in the burn unit is not what Daisy wants. She has no control over her treatment and the decisions about her life are made as if she is not there. Therapy is painful and all Daisy wants is to die, but no one is listening to her. Her medical team does not consult her and Daisy feels like she is being treated as if she is too stupid to make decisions about her quality of life or lack thereof. I had a really hard time with my own emotions getting through Daisy’s time in the burn unit. I can sympathize with the pain and suffering that she is going through and I can understand why she wants to end things, but at the same time emotions and pain are ruling her thought process. Honestly, if I put myself in her shoes I would want to end things too, not only because of the pain and the suffering, but also because I would not want to be a burden to my family.

"Death was like a destination. It was a matter of not being any more. How could I be unhappy if I didn’t exist? How could I have any feelings at all?"

What really brought this story close to home for me was my grandfather. He was badly burned in a fire and like Daisy, over seventy percent of his body was burned. I was young when this happened, but growing up I can see what he went through and how hard it was for him to do daily chores or even function like he did before the fire. He loved life though and was grateful to be alive. He did eventually pass due to complications, but he lived his life to the fullest with no regrets.

End of life is such a hot topic right now. It is so debatable, but should critically injured or terminally ill patients be in control over their own destiny? It is surely what Daisy wanted, but no one gave her that choice at least not in the hospital. Daisy was still determined though and planned on ending her life once she was released. She considered herself a freak, too ugly to show herself to the world. She felt as if she was damaged and unloveable. It takes one determined therapist and a mothers love to show Daisy that life could still be worth living even in the face of such adversity. Will Daisy learn how to love herself and let others love her in return or is her mind already made up?

"Life is a precious thing, Daisy, and often as not, it doesn’t turn out the way we wanted. Yours certainly didn’t. But you’re here now with family and friends, people who love you, and that means something.
“Every moment we draw breath, it’s special, it’s a gift. That’s how I feel about it. Maybe it doesn’t make sense, but it’s the best I can do."

There are so many wonderful things that I can say about Daisy’s Choice by Mike Owens, but the heart of the story speaks for itself. It is filled with raw emotion and sadness, but, it is also filled with hope. Daisy has been through so much in her young life more than what most people can endure twice her age. It is sad seeing someone so young go through such a terrible tragedy.

Daisy’s Choice pulled me in right from the very first page. Mike Owens really is a talented and gifted writer and makes you feel as if you are part of the story. He paints a picture for us filled with vivid imagery and prose that is almost poetic. The story is just beautifully written. I can’t recommend this book highly enough. Daisy’s Choice has earned the right to be on my keeper shelf. I just want to warn you that if you choose to read this story that you have tissues nearby because you will find yourself crying just like I did.

I want to thank Reading Alley and Mike Owens for allowing me to read Daisy’s story. I am truly moved. ...more

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May 10, 2019 Stephen King rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Daisy’s Choice is a fantastic , breathtakingly well written book.
I do not make this statement lightly; this is story that needs to be read.

I received a copy of this book for an honest review and I wish I could give it 10 stars. While the subject matter is confronting, and looks at an age old contentious issue, I applaud the author not only for writing it, but the beautiful way he has done so.

Mr Owens, make no mistake, is a great writer, and has used tremendous skill to bring the characters to ...more

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Jun 24, 2018 Louetta Waters rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I can't say enough about how I loved this book! To me, a good story evokes feelings, and this story took me on a rollercoaster ride I did not expect. Not many books I would read a second time because there are just to many books out there to read...but this, this book is worth my time for a second read. So so very well written, I found myself lost in its pages.. You know the feeling when you look up and can't quite remember where you are you were so involved in the story. And the characters. I l ...more

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Jul 21, 2018 Ryan Summers rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Emotional and thought-provoking story. I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Daisy Sugarbush starts out the story as her dad’s shadow. A true tomboy, she’d rather be fixing things with him or going places with him or hanging out with the guys. Her mother is resigned to the fact that her daughter is not likely to become a ‘lady’.

Then Daisy’s beloved dad is stolen by cancer. Daisy and her mother are driven further apart than ever. In an attempt to re-connect with her dau Emotional and thought-provoking story. I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Daisy Sugarbush starts out the story as her dad’s shadow. A true tomboy, she’d rather be fixing things with him or going places with him or hanging out with the guys. Her mother is resigned to the fact that her daughter is not likely to become a ‘lady’.

Then Daisy’s beloved dad is stolen by cancer. Daisy and her mother are driven further apart than ever. In an attempt to re-connect with her daughter, Rhoda–Daisy’s mom–takes her out for a makeover. She gets dresses and feminine clothes to replace those old work shirts and ratty jeans. She gets heels, her hair done, nails, the works, all to change her from a tomboy to a young lady of refinement. And it works! Daisy starts to enjoy the reactions of her new look.

Tragedy soon strikes the Sugarbush household again and Daisy is horribly burned in a freak gas fire. For months she languishes in the Trauma Burn Unit and finally the rehab center. She begs everyone to please be spared the painful and endless treatments to her charred skin. Blind, crippled, and disfigured, she only wants to be allowed to die quickly in peace. No more pain!

Mom Sugarbush won’t hear of it. The treatments persist. And so does Daisy’s desire to escape her miserable life. Then she finally goes home with a plan of how to succeed in her choice.

This could easily be a work of non-fiction. The struggles that burn survivors go through is agonizing and it would be natural to want to escape it for a peaceful passing. Daisy does the victims of burn trauma a fine justice with her character behavior. Reading “Daisy’s Choice” could get one’s thoughts going on the ethics of allowing a loved one to have their wishes granted if what happened to Daisy really happened to them. Or if it happened to oneself and they were left with a bleak–at best–prognosis.

Unfortunately the story was also rift with errors and pacing issues that distracted from the emotional impact of Daisy’s story. One secondary character was Charlie or Charley–I’m not sure which as both were used. There was also frequent repeated words in the same paragraph where alternating with similar ones could have livened the writing up. And there were many situations where too much backstory interrupted the showing by breaking in and telling for several paragraphs before resuming the story again. It dragged the story down and led to a herky-jerky feeling at times.

Through it all, despite the work being fiction, I could not help but wonder at the ethical issues being raised. Feeling Daisy’s pain and despair as I did, I had to question if it were me, what would I want? If it were a loved one, would I agree to their choices or override them? Those are some tough questions.

An unexpected twist at the end took me by surprise. All in all, style and errors aside, this is a remarkable book that I can recommend–along with some tissues. ...more

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Apr 04, 2018 Leslie OBrien rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

At the tender age of 18, Daisy Sugarbush's life is drastically changed when an explosion causes burns over 70% of her body. Blind and disfigured, she's ready to end her life but her pleas to stop treatment are ignored. Seeking a means to escape this world, she quickly discovers that her new therapist has other ideas.

I will readily admit that I have difficulty reading stories like this. The absolute emotional heartbreak and depth of pain will quickly bring my tears but once I start, the compulsio ...more

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Mar 25, 2018 Laura rated it liked it

I received a digital ARC of #Daisy'sChoice from #NetGalley for an honest review.

For me this is a hard book to review. It was a good story, but not one I found myself desperate to pick up and carry on reading after taking a break to do other things. It was a hard read in places due to the topics covered. It's definitely not one to read if you want something lighthearted, but then I didn't expect it to be! I found the end to be quite emotional, which I wasn't expecting. Daisy's main issue, which i ...more

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Jul 13, 2019 Sharon rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

What an amazing introduction to a new author (to me)! This book is not for the feint of heart as the author takes us on an amazing journey that is beyond heartbreaking at times and at other times really shows the resilience of the human spirit. The story brings so many different issues to the forefront so they cannot be simply washed over, you have no choice but to think about them. This is a story that demands your full attention and it’s a story that lives on far after finishing the book. It’s ...more

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Apr 16, 2018 Roger rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This story was a compelling story, a heart moving story. Don't expect to read this without experiencing a lot of emotional ups and downs.

The plot is about a young woman badly burned and her experience in the medical system that didn't care what she was feeling or her choices in care. Finally escaping to her mother's care she faced well meaning loved ones, who worked to bend her to their will with the best of intentions.

End of life issues are difficult. Maintaining dignity during medical treatmen ...more

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Jul 12, 2019 Tina rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This was a story that grabs you by the imagination and takes you for a ride. From the beginning to the end, it is an intense thrill ride. The characters are portrayed so clearly that you can imagine them and see them doing the things throughout the book. I recommend this book to one and all.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

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May 21, 2018 Patrick Clark rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Emotional and thought provoking. Daisy's Choice is a contemplative story-line about serious end of life medical and ethical issues and the complications generated by the love of family and friends. This is a serious and heart-warming story for a mature audience. ...more

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