Helpful Score: 3
I read this for my book club. While very enlightening in terms of the struggles of an MS patient, I did not resonate with the characters. Maybe it was our difference in value systems, their trash talk, or our disparate life stages, but I didn't feel a connection to anyone in the book. Not a page-turner, although I did appreciate the format: it was written in the natural flow of conversation, with a main timeline which would break away to reminisce on a related anecdote.
Helpful Score: 2
I'll be honest and say right away that I did not enjoy reading this book. If it had not been an early reviewers book I might not have finished it at all. It was confusing at best. As hard as Cathie tried to pull me into the experience, I could not bring myself to like either she or Denise. Their friendship seemed to be wildly frenetic and unstable, girlfriend camaraderie yes, but also a lot of drinking, lying and fighting. I understand that Cathie saw this as a life changing relationship for her, but I thought the whole thing was rather sad. Aside from the subject matter, this book was not well written. The prose was often hackneyed and trite, even childish and it certainly was not edited. In spite of what Cathie saw as a magnificent friendship, she let her friend down when she needed her most. She did not respond when Denise called her one last time. Yes, Denise was an extremely difficult person who made a habit out of driving people away, and yes, their friendship had been broken for many months due to Cathie's misguided attempt to help by calling her therapist, but she knew that Denise was feeling desperate and yet she let the moment to step up and help her pass. Very sad for both she and Denise.... ( )
Helpful Score: 2
I really wanted to like this book, but, unfortunately, that wasn't the case. Too much looping through time periods and alternately feeling sorry for herself and bragging. Not the memorable memoir I was hoping for.
