trinforeman's review against another edition
4.0
Wow, how much heartache can one family handle? Apparently, a lot, as long as you have each other to get you through. Heartwrenching and absolutely wonderful!
teresat's review against another edition
3.0
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. Here it is: While I found the subject matter intriguing, I just could not connect with the characters. I found them all to be rather selfish. While Colleen did go to help her daughter and son in law, she seemed a little judgmental. Sandy, the daughter, was at times, out and out rude to her mother and seemed to resent her presence, even though it was requested. Tony, the son in law stricken with ALS, told Colleen that Sandy was almost over her resentment that Colleen was not around when they were purchasing their house. Colleen was with her dying mother at the time. Tony's parents seemed ridiculous, inept and completely self serving. Without giving a spoiler, Sandy falls ill while they are on a trip with the in-laws and instead of hospitalizing her where they are, they journey home because they don't feel they can deal with their grandsons or Tony (their son!). I have been blessed to have not had a loved one fall seriously ill, but I would hope if that was to happen, the family would pull together instead of fall apart like they seemed to in this book. Although there is a Jodi Picoultish twist at the end, which was a great twist, I did not "get the feels", which is what I love about reading: whether "the feels" be joy, anger, sadness - this one didn't give me any of that.
trinforeman's review
4.0
Wow, how much heartache can one family handle? Apparently, a lot, as long as you have each other to get you through. Heartwrenching and absolutely wonderful!
bract4813mypacksnet's review
5.0
A subtle, carefully crafted novel that captures the struggles of a family disrupted by Lou Gehrig's disease. Colleen, the mother, attempts to "save" her daughter by becoming caregiver to the son-in-law, Tony, as his disease progresses. Colleen is an admirable character for such self-sacrifice, yet MacDonald captures her moments of being less than likable when Tony's self-centered behavior infuriates her, when her daughter, Sandy, is less than appreciative, and Colleen's loss of a potential love many years ago. This book captures the heartache and the joys of being a caregiver in a long-term care situation.
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