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Life in the Balance
The story of a doctor's personal journey with breast cancer. Very insightful, honest and inspirational.
Hardcover
First published September 13, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 4, 2016
I wasn't expecting to read this book, but having heard anecdotes about this woman from people who had seen her speak in person (namely, that she was a bit arrogant and didn't even talk to fans who came up to her) and having found a copy of the book for dirt-cheap at a thrift shop, I figured it was worth a shot.
I certainly didn't regret it.
Life in the Balance opens with the literary equivalent of a flash bomb being thrown onto the deck of a ship. It starts with Shapiro waking up in the middle of the night and discovering that her youngest son, Jason, has just died from SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). If there was an award for the best opener to a celebrity biography, I'm fairly sure this would be near the top of the list. It colors the book right from the get-go and tells you everything you need to know about the writer, her previous challenges in life and what's to come.
What follows is an almost-brutal examination of Shapiro's struggles with breast cancer, starting from when she goes for a routine checkup and gradually goes through several biopsies, then learning soon after that she may have cancer in both breasts and going through a harrowing series of surgeries.
I'm fairly certain that I'm not the target audience for this book, but I'm man enough to admit that I was welling up with tears at one point after reading how she was struggling to tell her children what had happened, how they didn't understand fully, and how her husband was dealing with the revelation. This book is extremely frank with its discussion of the procedures involved in treating cancer, almost at an uncomfortable level.
If there is one downside to the book, though, it's that all of this harrowing drama is punctuated with pointless namedropping of media personalities and doctors. A bit of the edge in the early chapters is also dulled when you discover that she pulls a lot of strings to get herself earlier dates for medical appointments and procedures, which is kind of counterproductive to the message she's trying to get across (that anyone can survive breast cancer). It's easy to say that when you have a fleet of the most capable doctors in the country on speed-dial.
Nonetheless, Life in the Balance is a fascinating character study of a woman who lost a lot in her life, but continued to persevere and push through those challenges with a brave face. At this point, I think she's entitled to be a bit arrogant.
I certainly didn't regret it.
Life in the Balance opens with the literary equivalent of a flash bomb being thrown onto the deck of a ship. It starts with Shapiro waking up in the middle of the night and discovering that her youngest son, Jason, has just died from SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). If there was an award for the best opener to a celebrity biography, I'm fairly sure this would be near the top of the list. It colors the book right from the get-go and tells you everything you need to know about the writer, her previous challenges in life and what's to come.
What follows is an almost-brutal examination of Shapiro's struggles with breast cancer, starting from when she goes for a routine checkup and gradually goes through several biopsies, then learning soon after that she may have cancer in both breasts and going through a harrowing series of surgeries.
I'm fairly certain that I'm not the target audience for this book, but I'm man enough to admit that I was welling up with tears at one point after reading how she was struggling to tell her children what had happened, how they didn't understand fully, and how her husband was dealing with the revelation. This book is extremely frank with its discussion of the procedures involved in treating cancer, almost at an uncomfortable level.
If there is one downside to the book, though, it's that all of this harrowing drama is punctuated with pointless namedropping of media personalities and doctors. A bit of the edge in the early chapters is also dulled when you discover that she pulls a lot of strings to get herself earlier dates for medical appointments and procedures, which is kind of counterproductive to the message she's trying to get across (that anyone can survive breast cancer). It's easy to say that when you have a fleet of the most capable doctors in the country on speed-dial.
Nonetheless, Life in the Balance is a fascinating character study of a woman who lost a lot in her life, but continued to persevere and push through those challenges with a brave face. At this point, I think she's entitled to be a bit arrogant.
July 23, 2013
On the plus side, lots of information about the treatment options and decisions that have to be made by women diagnosed with breast cancer. Also, very frank and personal (that turns out to be both a plus and a minus). On the minus side, found it depressing and potentially misleading for women in this situation (everything that could go wrong, does; she stays very angry for much of the process; she tries to prove she's superwoman). Every woman reacts differently and kudos for being so honest, but....
March 29, 2008
Dr. Marla Shapiro is an amazing woman and doctor. This book taught me so much about her life and how she struggled with breast cancer. It's informative, frank and intimate.
This book should be read by every woman whether they're going through this disease or not.
This book should be read by every woman whether they're going through this disease or not.
June 20, 2013
DR. MARLA'S BOOK IS RAW AND PAINFUL AND HONEST.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews