bethreadsandnaps's review
4.0
Ephron dealt with the death of her beloved husband Jerry, and then she (quickly) meets a new man Peter, who she had once dated when she was young. Unfortunately, her famous sister Nora's leukemia has a genetic link, and soon Ephron herself is diagnosed with a (different form of) leukemia. Peter stands by her side and marries her while she's starting treatment. She thinks things are back on track, and then she is out of remission and has to decide whether to do a bone marrow transplant.
What Ephron went through is full of ups and downs and I appreciated hearing her story, but there is a tone throughout the memoir that I didn't really like. For instance, some people wanted to speak at Jerry's funeral, and she said no to them. She wants a private room while she's in the hospital. She seems like she lives in her own privileged world, where she can email her doctor with immediate responses. She feels "handled" by so many people and perhaps...not self-reliant and almost helpless combined with entitled? I don't think I would enjoy being around her.
What Ephron went through is full of ups and downs and I appreciated hearing her story, but there is a tone throughout the memoir that I didn't really like. For instance, some people wanted to speak at Jerry's funeral, and she said no to them. She wants a private room while she's in the hospital. She seems like she lives in her own privileged world, where she can email her doctor with immediate responses. She feels "handled" by so many people and perhaps...not self-reliant and almost helpless combined with entitled? I don't think I would enjoy being around her.
lutheranjulia's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
amberivas's review
4.0
Imagine reading a novel about the most wonderful, caring people...and coming to the end and realizing they're REAL! Such was my experience with Left on Tenth (I'm notoriously bad at reading subtitles).
4 stars because at times it felt a little long, but overall it was very well written and kept my interest. I learned a lot about the process of bone marrow transplants. I picked this up based on the cover (I know...) and loved reading through the story of Delia Ephron's later years. I kept thinking over the way she describes her friends and the relationships she's built. I hope that when I'm in 70s, I will also have decades worth of friendships and nothing but good things to say of them.
4 stars because at times it felt a little long, but overall it was very well written and kept my interest. I learned a lot about the process of bone marrow transplants. I picked this up based on the cover (I know...) and loved reading through the story of Delia Ephron's later years. I kept thinking over the way she describes her friends and the relationships she's built. I hope that when I'm in 70s, I will also have decades worth of friendships and nothing but good things to say of them.
cstanovich's review
4.0
This year I realized that I’m sentimental for the way words are strung together. Delia Ephron strings words together with such beauty and care. I mean anyone who’s anyone can see that from You’ve Got Mail. Her memoir of grief, loss, hope, & love does this too. I loved it!
“conversation, friendship, laughter, and understanding are my favorite sports, and, for me, the game is better played here than anywhere else.”
Side note: this is very very sad — lots about sickness & death. But very very good with lightness.
“conversation, friendship, laughter, and understanding are my favorite sports, and, for me, the game is better played here than anywhere else.”
Side note: this is very very sad — lots about sickness & death. But very very good with lightness.
cahogan's review
4.0
Delia Ephron’s memoir is heartbreakingly beautiful. I listened to her talk about it on Danny Pellegrino’s podcast and wanted to give it a try. She delves deep into the grief she experienced after losing her husband and sister, and facing her own mortality with her cancer diagnosis. So while this memoir is very heavy there are many moments of light and inspiration when she talks about the wonderful friends that carried her through difficult times, and her love story with her second husband Peter. Ephron’s prose is delightful and it was an added bonus to listen to her narrate the audio version.