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rennegade's review against another edition
5.0
Review pending. I plan on writing a blog post about this one and will link to it once it is complete.
*Update* The belated review is up here: http://morwesong.wordpress.com/2013/08/31/review-the-dog-lived-and-so-will-i-by-teresa-j-rhyne/
*Update* The belated review is up here: http://morwesong.wordpress.com/2013/08/31/review-the-dog-lived-and-so-will-i-by-teresa-j-rhyne/
jasonpellegrinibooks's review against another edition
1.0
It is a super rare occasion where I will actually stop reading a book. Usually I'll troop it out until the end just to see how it all ends. This was one of those rare occasions. I'm sorry, but I couldn't stand another second of this book. 65% was my breaking point.
It is essentially a step-by-step, day-by-day, play-by-play of cancer treatments for a dog and then a woman. And despite the powerful message the story has, it isn't a story that hasn't been told already a million times over.
Unless you are a cancer survivor or someone battling to survive cancer, there is nothing in this book worth while, even for animal lovers, this book might be a stretch. I feel bad knocking it because it was meant inspirational nonfiction, but it was jus not a good story and is drawn out and boring.
I think it is the third book in my entire adult life that I put down because it was so boring.
It is essentially a step-by-step, day-by-day, play-by-play of cancer treatments for a dog and then a woman. And despite the powerful message the story has, it isn't a story that hasn't been told already a million times over.
Unless you are a cancer survivor or someone battling to survive cancer, there is nothing in this book worth while, even for animal lovers, this book might be a stretch. I feel bad knocking it because it was meant inspirational nonfiction, but it was jus not a good story and is drawn out and boring.
I think it is the third book in my entire adult life that I put down because it was so boring.
thuismuis's review against another edition
4.0
The title says it all, everybody lives at the end, but the author is just so damn good at expressing her whirlwind of doubts about relationships/cancer/work/dog, the reader gets sort of swept along in the journey. A cancer memoir about a realistic couple and their spoiled rotten also-cancer-survivor pooch.
jessicagatimu's review against another edition
3.0
Very real memoir by an author who has kept her sense of humor through many trials. With a new boyfriend and a new dog, she is suddenly faced with a cancer diagnosis. One for her dog that is. She fights to get the best care for her dog and stays by his side the whole time. A few years after the dog's struggles, she faces her own cancer diagnosis. Her boyfriend has to remind her that she needs to demand the same standard of care that she demanded for her dog. She learned life lessons through it all and inserts humor as well.
rattie's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this book! Having been through a very similar situation with both my dog and myself, it hit very close to home and was a fantastic read.
laurla's review against another edition
5.0
"one of the many great things about dogs is that they dont mind being blamed for things that arent their fault." (the house is a mess...)
(after her two dogs died) "i had wanted to be alone, but not that alone. i never wanted to be without my dogs."
"seamus could lose 4/5 of his appetite and still consume the daily food intake of a linebacker midseason."
"he's been in chemo for how long now?"
"six months. or a hundred years. i cant really remember."
"when the pac-man instrument (to take a sample of her tumor) was inserted, i didnt feel a thing. but i heard it. when they numb the breast they should do the same for the ears."
"by the time a breast cancer mass can actually be felt, those dastardly cancer cells have been hard at work in the breast for six to eight years. YEARS! i've had cancer for years! modern technology cant detect the cancer in the beginning years of growth. its only after they've divided and multiplied and turned into a gang that they get discovered. only at eight years have they divided in number to get to the 1 cm size, which is considered the smallest palpable tumor."
"we're mixing up your chemo cocktail now."
"i've never been so disappointed to hear the word cocktail."
"it was hard not to launch into a full blown pity party. i came close. more than once. but luckily i had seamus, and he abhors pity parties."
"seamus had taught me this before. i needed to remember the very important lesson: sometimes, you just need to focus on the cookies. and if i focused on the cookies, i couldnt help but see the love from this dog, and more importantly, from chris. and thats what really mattered."
(after her two dogs died) "i had wanted to be alone, but not that alone. i never wanted to be without my dogs."
"seamus could lose 4/5 of his appetite and still consume the daily food intake of a linebacker midseason."
"he's been in chemo for how long now?"
"six months. or a hundred years. i cant really remember."
"when the pac-man instrument (to take a sample of her tumor) was inserted, i didnt feel a thing. but i heard it. when they numb the breast they should do the same for the ears."
"by the time a breast cancer mass can actually be felt, those dastardly cancer cells have been hard at work in the breast for six to eight years. YEARS! i've had cancer for years! modern technology cant detect the cancer in the beginning years of growth. its only after they've divided and multiplied and turned into a gang that they get discovered. only at eight years have they divided in number to get to the 1 cm size, which is considered the smallest palpable tumor."
"we're mixing up your chemo cocktail now."
"i've never been so disappointed to hear the word cocktail."
"it was hard not to launch into a full blown pity party. i came close. more than once. but luckily i had seamus, and he abhors pity parties."
"seamus had taught me this before. i needed to remember the very important lesson: sometimes, you just need to focus on the cookies. and if i focused on the cookies, i couldnt help but see the love from this dog, and more importantly, from chris. and thats what really mattered."
katie_esh's review against another edition
4.0
I read this specifically for the Read Harder challenge of "Read a book featuring a beloved pet that doesn't die." I saw the title and was optimistic that this could check that box!
Teresa is a successful lawyer with a handsome younger boyfriend, but still recovering from the emotional toll of her second divorce and the loss of two beloved pets. When the pet adoption center calls her with news of a new beagle, she jumps at the chance to become a dog mom once more! Seamus is ornery and adorable, and Teresa is obsessed. After some concerns about a lump, Teresa learns that Seamus has cancer. Her time advocating for Seamus's care unknowingly prepares her for her own cancer diagnosis of triple negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms.
As someone who is equally dog-obsessed about her own beagles, I really really enjoyed this book. She was candid about her experience with the healthcare system, but also the price her relationship with her boyfriend Chris and family took as a result. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves their dog and wants a lighthearted look at a tragic situation.
Read Harder 21 - read a book with a beloved pet that doesn’t die
Teresa is a successful lawyer with a handsome younger boyfriend, but still recovering from the emotional toll of her second divorce and the loss of two beloved pets. When the pet adoption center calls her with news of a new beagle, she jumps at the chance to become a dog mom once more! Seamus is ornery and adorable, and Teresa is obsessed. After some concerns about a lump, Teresa learns that Seamus has cancer. Her time advocating for Seamus's care unknowingly prepares her for her own cancer diagnosis of triple negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms.
As someone who is equally dog-obsessed about her own beagles, I really really enjoyed this book. She was candid about her experience with the healthcare system, but also the price her relationship with her boyfriend Chris and family took as a result. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves their dog and wants a lighthearted look at a tragic situation.
Read Harder 21 - read a book with a beloved pet that doesn’t die
brookecannotread's review against another edition
5.0
This book was such a good read. The only reason it took me so long to read it was that i was on vacation and couldnt find any time to read it. I laughed so much while reading this and almost cried a few times. Recommend it to anyone whos a dog person and just anyone in general honestly!
amanaceerdh's review against another edition
3.0
This memoir is about Teresa Rhyne, who is diagnosed with breast cancer right after she has gone through a cancer scare with her beloved beagle, Seamus.
Teresa is an attorney who is having a fling with a much younger man when she decides to adopt another dog. She is still mourning the death of her two other beagles when she stops by to see Seamus and falls immediately in love with him.
Seamus is a handful. He is mischievous, barks constantly when left alone and is always getting into something. When Teresa finds out Seamus has cancer, she is devastated and willing to go broke if necessary in hopes to save him.
Once it looks like Seamus may survive his cancer scare, Teresa herself discovers a lump and finds out she has breast cancer. Meanwhile, her little fling has turned into something serious and the boyfriend’s parents have made it clear that they do not approve of the relationship.
Teresa starts a blog and describes in detail her experience of having cancer. The book really is funny, even though it tackles such a serious subject. Seamus helps Teresa with her cancer battle the way no one else could.
Highly recommend for dog lovers and breast cancer survivors.
Teresa is an attorney who is having a fling with a much younger man when she decides to adopt another dog. She is still mourning the death of her two other beagles when she stops by to see Seamus and falls immediately in love with him.
Seamus is a handful. He is mischievous, barks constantly when left alone and is always getting into something. When Teresa finds out Seamus has cancer, she is devastated and willing to go broke if necessary in hopes to save him.
Once it looks like Seamus may survive his cancer scare, Teresa herself discovers a lump and finds out she has breast cancer. Meanwhile, her little fling has turned into something serious and the boyfriend’s parents have made it clear that they do not approve of the relationship.
Teresa starts a blog and describes in detail her experience of having cancer. The book really is funny, even though it tackles such a serious subject. Seamus helps Teresa with her cancer battle the way no one else could.
Highly recommend for dog lovers and breast cancer survivors.
awashinfeeling's review against another edition
3.0
When I started reading this memoir, I was convinced I was going to end up greatly disliking it. However, the second half of the book changed my mind. The first half of the book gave me the impression that it was a memoir strictly reserved and meant for dog lovers. I love dogs but I'm sure I don't love them as much as Terese Rhyne does. The first half is about her newly adopted beagle Seamus being diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. And the first half is also pretty much entirely dedicated to Seamus and his crazy Beagle-personality... However, things turn around with the second part when Rhyne is diagnosed with breast cancer. It focuses more on her relationship with her much younger boyfriend Chris and on how she finds the strength to battle the illness. Seamus constantly serves as an inspiration for her to overcome cancer since the lively beagle went through the same ordeal and survived.
Rhyne's humour keeps this memoir light and fresh. There are a couple of sad moments but they never get too depressing. I'm glad I read this. It is an inspiring and hopeful read.
Rhyne's humour keeps this memoir light and fresh. There are a couple of sad moments but they never get too depressing. I'm glad I read this. It is an inspiring and hopeful read.