Mango Days: A Teenager Facing Eternity Reflects on the Beauty of Life

by Patty Smith

Most teenagers think of themselves as indestructible. Patty Smith, 17, had no reason to feel otherwise. When a lump on her arm proves not to be benign, life becomes fragile, finite, and precious. How Patty responds could well stand as a model of how we would want to react in similar circumstances.

Genres: Nonfiction

136 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very touching book I found at the McKinley book sale. It's an endearing diary of a 17/18yr old in Hawai'i during her struggle with lymphoma - the last 18 months of her life. Moving and interesting to find wisdom in one so young facing something so unbelievable.

[Cindy (BKind2Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was given to me via a Bookcrossing friend. It's a memoir of the last year or so of Patty Smith's life. Patty was only 17 when a lump was removed from her arm. She was told it was no big deal and likely benign, but the lump was malignant. As she prepares for the last days of her senior year of high school, she is also facing her own mortality. This is mostly told via diary entries and letters written to friends during that time. She is inspirational in her courage and honesty in facing the ups and downs of cancer and its treatment. As the mother of a cancer warrior, I can recognize some of what my daughter faced. My husband and I have often remarked on the resilience and even humor that all the 'cancer kids' we knew embodied. Did they have bad days? Days that were awful and scary? Of course, but they also smiled and joked their way through some of the worst things anyone can face. This was a good book and, although it occurred in early 1980s and was written in the early 90s, it still holds its own as an inspirational and encouraging book. She is thoughtful and wise beyond her years. I am better for meeting Patty if only through her thoughts and words.

Quotes to remember:

Part of a poem Patty wrote:
Now I stride boldly, fearing not to fail
And though I stumble, strong again I rise.

The future holds what we will never find
Until we leave our fear of it behind.

Journal entry: The happiness, or actually joy, comes from the conquering of the pain and suffering. Like yin and yang the two emotions need each other.

...the real strength lies in accepting weakness and fear and overcoming it, not denying problems and burying them inside.

The horror of the dark days makes me love the light even more.

From an essay written for a class: A certain joy comes with bearing the unbearable...My life may be more painful now, but it also is more beautiful.

[Dolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some books knock you on your a$$. This is one that did it for me. Written as a compilation of letters and journal entries in the last year and a half of this young woman's life with minimal editing by her parents, this story is heartbreaking and touching. Her story and courage to not only write down her experiences and emotions is inspiring and makes me nostalgic for the early 80s, when this book takes place. It's a short book and a very quick read; I read it in less than 3 hours. But I have a feeling this book will stay with me for a long time.

I feel a sort of kinship with this remarkable young woman. Whether it's her love for books, the Hawaiian ocean, or the appreciation for the short life we are given on this Earth, I'm not sure what it is, but I feel enriched by her words and I feel honored to have gotten a chance to view her thoughts. The cruelty of her illness weighs heavily on my heart and I wonder what kind of masterpiece the world was deprived of with her life cut so short. I know that this short book was just a glimpse into what she was capable of writing, and I am humbled by her talent and heart.

Some particularly poignant quotes from the book:

"How can we think we're so important when the sea crashes around us? Nobody could ever understand it all."

"You know, I don't think we're 'good' or 'bad' because of what people say to us. I just think we see what works and live that way."

"Live mindful of death; the hour flies." Persius

"Life is precious. I of all people should understand that. But Death is what gives it value. If we lived forever, each day wouldn't mean as much."

"If I think long enough, I can love anyone. For me to hate is laziness and if I detest someone it merely means I don't have the strength (or the imagination) for love."

She mentions so many books and authors in this tale. I considered creating a new folder in my book list and naming it "Patty's books." But since there are both authors and books, I'll just list them here for now. But I will likely add several of these to my to-read list.

books:
The Mountain People by Colin M. Turnbull
Lust for Life by Irving Stone
The Lord of the Rings (the trilogy) by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Blood of the Lamb by Peter DeVries
The Agony and the Ecstacy by Nicholas Royle
Cows, Pigs, Wars and Witches by Marvin Harris
Scribble, Scrabble by Nora Ephram
Manchild in the Promised Land by Claude Brown
Report from Iron Mountain by Leonard C. Lewin
Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis
The Power and the Glory by Graham Green
Free Fall by William Golding
Lark Rise by Flora Thompson
Journey Down a Rainbow by J.B. Priestly and Jacquetta Hawkes
The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey
The Odyssey by Homer
If You Meet the Buddha on the Road, Kill Him by Sheldon Kopp

authors/poets:
P.G. Wodehouse
Wallace Stevens
Hemingway
Dante
Lewis Thomas
Dylan Thomas
Timothy Steele
Edward Gorey

[Cornelia DeDona · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read! It is gut wrenching and real.
It gives Cancer the respect it deserves and yet maintains the dignity of the writer, who is human and so so brave!

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enlighting read.