Find this book at your library
Helen Garner’s first novel in 15 years is a moving, funny account of a woman dying of cancer and her friend, who tries to help her. The novel begins as Helen gets her spare room ready for Nicola, who is coming down from Sydney for three weeks to undergo an alternative treatment in the hope that it will cure her cancer. Helen’s skepticism about this radical treatment which leaves Nicola exhausted and in pain, is contrasted with Nicola’s determined optimism. Helen feels inadequate to cope with Nicola’s pain and helpless in the face of Nicola’s refusal to accept that she is dying. One of Helen’s friends describes the situation when he says, “Maybe she wants you to be the one… The one to tell her she’s going to die.” There’s a lot of humour in the novel and, as always in Garner’s work, beautiful descriptions of domestic life. This book is an emotional journey which raises questions about love, friendship and honesty.
---- Reviewed by Lyn, Headquarters
Helen Garner’s first novel in 15 years is a moving, funny account of a woman dying of cancer and her friend, who tries to help her. The novel begins as Helen gets her spare room ready for Nicola, who is coming down from Sydney for three weeks to undergo an alternative treatment in the hope that it will cure her cancer. Helen’s skepticism about this radical treatment which leaves Nicola exhausted and in pain, is contrasted with Nicola’s determined optimism. Helen feels inadequate to cope with Nicola’s pain and helpless in the face of Nicola’s refusal to accept that she is dying. One of Helen’s friends describes the situation when he says, “Maybe she wants you to be the one… The one to tell her she’s going to die.” There’s a lot of humour in the novel and, as always in Garner’s work, beautiful descriptions of domestic life. This book is an emotional journey which raises questions about love, friendship and honesty.
---- Reviewed by Lyn, Headquarters
No comments:
Post a Comment