tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post6695268156588951994..comments2024-03-28T15:00:12.581-04:00Comments on Letters from a Hill Farm: The Spare Room by Helen GarnerNanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-18464691748532239172009-05-04T08:52:00.000-04:002009-05-04T08:52:00.000-04:00Kay, I am really surprised I read it since this is...Kay, I am really surprised I read it since this isn't my ususal fare, as Les noted. I'm with you on the happy endings. I think you would love the mystery I'm now reading from the 1940s - Craig Rice's Home Sweet Homicide. Good mystery, good family, and the children are the main sleuths! One of the great Rue Morgue editions.Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-78877633124946513032009-05-03T10:16:00.000-04:002009-05-03T10:16:00.000-04:00Thanks for sharing this book report. I don't thin...Thanks for sharing this book report. I don't think it is for me right now, but I'll tuck away the suggestion for another year or maybe several years down the road. All I seem to be reading now are happy ending stories (i.e. women's fiction or romance-type things) or lovely mysteries that have complete justice in the end (a mystery lover's type of happy ending, eh?). I think I'll get back to more "serious" reading at some point perhaps, or perhaps not. Reading for me seems to be an escape in so many ways and, therefore, needs to not be about traumatic issues. Again, thanks for sharing. Lovely cover on the book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-5278774192169069842009-04-30T18:17:00.000-04:002009-04-30T18:17:00.000-04:00Jeff, you know, I've been thinking, and I almo...Jeff, you know, I've been thinking, and I almost wonder if it isn't a book for the caregiver more than the person with cancer. The author had a lot of trouble with alternative therapy people. I echo your hope.<br /><br />Les, you are so right. This is not my kind of book, at all. :<)Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-4025270264721792212009-04-30T15:55:00.000-04:002009-04-30T15:55:00.000-04:00I'm late to comment, but wanted to tell you how mu...I'm late to comment, but wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your beautiful book report, Nan. This doesn't sound like your type of book, but you made it sound so loving and honest. And, oh, what a beautiful cover! Not sure I'd want to read this, but then again, I've read about other illnesses, such as in Still Alice. Maybe someday.Leshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08345657431432380804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-88057795712468159042009-04-30T14:12:00.000-04:002009-04-30T14:12:00.000-04:00From reading the comments above, one realizes how ...From reading the comments above, one realizes how difficult cancer is. It's probably one of the most terrifying diagnoses you can hear. And that fear goes straight to your core. <br /><br />I don't talk much about the disease either although I find myself considering it from time to time. As odd as it may sound, I don't find it as terrifying as I used to. Oh, I respect it, I watch for it, and realize that it might yet be in my future again. It's not something that you can run away from - and certainly not something you want to run towards. Anger certainly isn't unusual either.<br /><br />I wouldn't read the book for catharsis. But I do admit that sometimes I read these types of stories to re-experience the emotion, to integrate, to understand it. Cancer is incredibly complex. The mistake is just to approach it clinically. <br /><br />I do hope that all the people above who have endured the disease, their families, friends, co-workers - never have to go thru it again....Jeffhttp://www.lazarusdodge.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-31249418225783116092009-04-30T06:38:00.000-04:002009-04-30T06:38:00.000-04:00Yes, Margaret, I believe you did mention Sarah C. ...Yes, Margaret, I believe you did mention Sarah C. And I wouldn't want to read about it either. I'd be just like you and wanting to move forward. Thank God you are doing so well.Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-1447737085401816562009-04-30T03:51:00.000-04:002009-04-30T03:51:00.000-04:00I'm pretty sure that I have mentioned Sarah Challi...I'm pretty sure that I have mentioned Sarah Challis's Blackthorn Winter to you. She is one of my fav contemporary writers and I have enjoyed all her books. <br />I find reading fiction on the subject of cancer - which I was diagnosed as having in 2004 (had the treatment, now hopefully - fingers crossed time - in remission) a no go area. I don't wish to read about it, I want to put it all behind me.<br />Margaret Pgalanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14190356279359463949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-69644084891736833812009-04-29T17:05:00.000-04:002009-04-29T17:05:00.000-04:00Gosh, Margaret, I know. It isn't an easy book by ...Gosh, Margaret, I know. It isn't an easy book by any means, and I don't see why you should have to read it. You lived it, and that's enough.Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-45711743010059156302009-04-29T15:00:00.000-04:002009-04-29T15:00:00.000-04:00I heard about this book when my sister was diagnos...I heard about this book when my sister was diagnosed with cancer. Recently I got a copy through LibraryThing, but I've not read it yet. After my sister's death it still seems just too hard to even open it. She wanted to try any new treatment and like Nicola she refused to admit how serious her illness was- she just wouldn't speak about it. It made it all so hard - and she was very angry too. <br /><br />Thank you for writing about it - maybe I'll try reading it soon. I even waited a few days before reading your post after I saw you'd written it.BooksPleasehttp://www.booksplease.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-13742230047579953882009-04-28T18:01:00.000-04:002009-04-28T18:01:00.000-04:00Thank you, dear Carole.Thank you, dear Carole.Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-76244487066342417302009-04-28T17:50:00.000-04:002009-04-28T17:50:00.000-04:00As a cancer survivor, it took a while for me to re...As a cancer survivor, it took a while for me to read this book, and in the end I picked it up because I liked the cover! I am very glad I read it, I have been on both sides of the fence as it were, patient and caregiver, and I think this well written book makes some very important points. I particularly welcomed her telling of the awful 'alternative' treatment. I am very keen on some of these but there are still too many charlatains out there preying on the helpless.<br />Lovely review, as ever Nan.<br />CaroleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-12230727085373551892009-04-28T14:32:00.000-04:002009-04-28T14:32:00.000-04:00Thank you, Jeff. Your note means a lot to me.Thank you, Jeff. Your note means a lot to me.Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-80352450756849425922009-04-28T13:58:00.000-04:002009-04-28T13:58:00.000-04:00Some really interesting observations you have abou...Some really interesting observations you have about the book. I haven't read it but I share the territory of cancer with Nicola. It brought back many images and thoughts I had going thru diagnosis and treatment - and some of the people I met who didn't have the caregivers that Helen wondered about. Or the strain on those that were witness to the disease.<br /><br />The outside world does fall away, Nan. The disease doesn't - and you mustn't let it - take over your life. But it all becomes a work-around - eating, sleeping, getting dressed in the morning, carrying on your life in as normal a way as possible. <br /><br />This would be a tough book for me to read since I'm still assimilating the experience. I'm a survivor - but at once it also brands you as someone who will always have cancer.<br /><br />Thanks, Nan, for the review... :)<br /><br />- J.Jeffhttp://www.lazarusdodge.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-83082546741231166232009-04-28T07:49:00.000-04:002009-04-28T07:49:00.000-04:00Thank you, Tara. What a nice thing to say. It me...Thank you, Tara. What a nice thing to say. It means so much to me.Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-73718803881307283692009-04-27T21:17:00.000-04:002009-04-27T21:17:00.000-04:00You've done a beautiful job with this book report ...You've done a beautiful job with this book report Nan and have explained this book to me better than anyone else so far. I'm going to keep this one in my mind.Tarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07208766776468157501noreply@blogger.com