I picked up this tear-jerker at the library. It is the first novel by author Ka Hancock. I probably picked a bad time to read this novel--I read it the week after the unexpected death of the husband of one of our beloved book group members. It is the story of a man who suffers from bi-polar disorder and a woman with a genetic predisposition to cancer who meet and fall in love and get married. It is well written and has a good cast of supporting characters. This couple, due to their conditions, decide not to have children. They actually have a written, framed list of rules, a marriage contract, hanging in their bedroom closet. It is an agreement outlining how they will handle the many challenges their particular health situations bring to their marriage. One day when the wife goes in for her annual exam she is shocked to learn she is pregnant. The novel deals with what happens in their lives as a result of this stunning surprise. I guess since I already indicated it is a tear-jerker, I can tell you that one of them succumbs to their illness. This was a moving story. It explores the world of mental illness, living with and loving someone who is bi-polar. It also explores life before, during and after cancer, and how death impacts multiple generations. Side stories address infertility, adoption (gone wrong), and the tremendous love and friendship that can exist in a family and in a community. If you want a good cry and a fast read, this is the novel for you.
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AuthorMy name is Elizabeth. I love to read. In college I took speed reading and kept a list of everything I read (I wish I could find that list!). As a teen I would read under the blankets half the night. As a child I first patronized the book mobile and later read entire sections of books from the school library. Now, with dozens of books on my "want to read" list, I tend to doze off if I read at night and I am usually in the middle of several books at one time. Archives
September 2015
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