The Spare Room
Helen Gardner
4 out of 5
I almost gave up on this book. Just could not handle one more “friend with cancer” book. But when I gave this book one more chance, I realized that this book of fiction reads more like a memoir – from the point of view that sometimes when a person is battling for their life, it can really annoy the crap out of you. And that’s ok.
We meet Helen as she is preparing her spare room for a friend that is coming to town to undergo three weeks of cancer treatment. How hard could that be, just provide some support and comfort and then Nicola will go home to be with her family. As Helen accompanies Nicola to the Theodore Institute she realizes that her friend of 15 years is being swindled by charlatans. How do you convince a friend that she is being harmed when she herself feels that if she just holds on a little longer a miracle will happen?
Helen must now make the choice between her personal opinion and supporting her friend. How do you hold yourself in check and watch your friend make a truly life threatening decision? Told in a soul searching and at times very funny way, Helen helps her friend live her life and prepare for her death. And to learn that sometimes you can’t make choices for others and you just have to hang on and cherish what little part of themselves that they are willing to share with you.
1 comment:
What a terrific review, Nancy. I read this, too, and found myself wanting to SHAKE both of the main characters from time to time. The way it all came out in the end ... well, it was a lesson in patience and acceptance. I thought the author gave us something really worthwhile, by the time I was finished.
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