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Another Way to Fall
What would you do if you could write the story of your life?
After battling a brain tumour twenty-nine year old Emma thinks she is in the clear, but her world comes crashing down around her when she is told her fight was in vain, and there is nothing more the doctors can do.
Realising that she won’t now have time to achieve the things she dreamed of, Emma decides to write her perfect life in a story. She imagines all the things she would have done, the places she would have seen, the husband she would have shared her life with and the family they would have raised. And, mysteriously, as she writes her story, she starts to notice that some of her dreams seem to be coming true.
Now with a real love in her life, and her fading hope burning brighter, reality and fiction start to become blurred. As she writes their life-long love story Emma dares to believe that anything is possible, but can she really change her fate?
After battling a brain tumour twenty-nine year old Emma thinks she is in the clear, but her world comes crashing down around her when she is told her fight was in vain, and there is nothing more the doctors can do.
Realising that she won’t now have time to achieve the things she dreamed of, Emma decides to write her perfect life in a story. She imagines all the things she would have done, the places she would have seen, the husband she would have shared her life with and the family they would have raised. And, mysteriously, as she writes her story, she starts to notice that some of her dreams seem to be coming true.
Now with a real love in her life, and her fading hope burning brighter, reality and fiction start to become blurred. As she writes their life-long love story Emma dares to believe that anything is possible, but can she really change her fate?
416 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 2013
28 people are currently reading
951 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Brooke
19 books276 followersAmanda Brooke lives in Liverpool with her teenage daughter, Jessica. When her three-year-old son died from cancer, Amanda was determined that his legacy would be one of inspiration. Yesterday's Sun is inspired by her experiences of motherhood.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
September 11, 2013
I’m going to make a confession: I was unsure initially whether I wanted to read this book. It wasn’t that I didn’t like the sound of the book or wasn’t interested, but more that it hit a particular personal note with me. Like the main character in the story, I too have a brain tumour, and since I was three years old have had to live the best I can with the damage and effects that it has had on me. And I was nervous with this story, that I would dissolve into a mess of tears or that it would be too much for me. But I was intrigued and so I started reading…and I was so glad I did. Wow – I was really blown away by what I read!
Emma has been battling a brain tumor and is hopeful that finally she may get the all-clear, but instead her world is torn apart as the doctors tell her that there is nothing more that they can do. As Emma realises there is so much that she will never be able to do, she decides that instead she will write a story in which she achieves all of her dreams…
I LOVED this story. From the first moment I liked Emma as a character. I in particular could identify with her, I knew how she was feeling as she sat in the corridoor waiting to go in to see the consultant for the results, I knew the anxiety and fear she felt. And although I knew she didn’t get the results she wanted, I poured my heart into the story whilst I was reading and I was inspired by the constant bravery and courage that she showed. Emma is such a strong character and I very much admired her determination.
The other characters were very-well written, especially Emma’s mum Meg. A illness such as this affects not only the individual but also the friends and family of that person, and it was heartbreaking to read about Meg as she tried to deal with and come to terms with it all. I found Meg and Emma’s relationship with each other really moving, and it touched me.
I particularly loved the ‘story’ life that Emma created for herself, I enjoyed escaping into the story-world with Emma and throughout the book I wished that this had been her path in reality, she so deserved her own happy ending.
Another Way To Fall is emotional, it is moving and it is heartbreaking. But it is also a powerful story of hope, and of love between family and friends. Amanda Brooke has written this book with such delicacy and care and I feel as though each word has been carefully selected. I was gripped throughout and I am definitely recommending this beautifully written novel. Wow.
Emma has been battling a brain tumor and is hopeful that finally she may get the all-clear, but instead her world is torn apart as the doctors tell her that there is nothing more that they can do. As Emma realises there is so much that she will never be able to do, she decides that instead she will write a story in which she achieves all of her dreams…
I LOVED this story. From the first moment I liked Emma as a character. I in particular could identify with her, I knew how she was feeling as she sat in the corridoor waiting to go in to see the consultant for the results, I knew the anxiety and fear she felt. And although I knew she didn’t get the results she wanted, I poured my heart into the story whilst I was reading and I was inspired by the constant bravery and courage that she showed. Emma is such a strong character and I very much admired her determination.
The other characters were very-well written, especially Emma’s mum Meg. A illness such as this affects not only the individual but also the friends and family of that person, and it was heartbreaking to read about Meg as she tried to deal with and come to terms with it all. I found Meg and Emma’s relationship with each other really moving, and it touched me.
I particularly loved the ‘story’ life that Emma created for herself, I enjoyed escaping into the story-world with Emma and throughout the book I wished that this had been her path in reality, she so deserved her own happy ending.
Another Way To Fall is emotional, it is moving and it is heartbreaking. But it is also a powerful story of hope, and of love between family and friends. Amanda Brooke has written this book with such delicacy and care and I feel as though each word has been carefully selected. I was gripped throughout and I am definitely recommending this beautifully written novel. Wow.
March 7, 2018
Three and a half stars
Emma has been battling to live with her illness. But then comes the news she most fears. Both she and her mother Meg react as you would expect, with denial and anger but also bravery. Not everyone in Emma’s life can deal with what is happening, and that includes her boyfriend Alex. Emma is a fighter and she decides she needs to find a way to deal with this diagnosis. She determines to write a book detailing how her life could have been. So we have two stories, the reality of her life with chemotherapy, search for alternate treatments and operations and the dream life she creates for herself. The two are spliced together in the narrative.
While I thought this was a good idea and relieved the tension and heartbreak of what was really happening, for me it didn’t quite work. The dream life was all written in italics and I found pages of italics hard to read. As a result, I tended to skim these.
The relationship between Emma and her mother Meg is very believable. Any mother who has had a seriously ill child, even if they are adult, could understand Meg and why she struggled so long to accept the ultimatum. Emma is a spirited, character, stubborn and determined but likeable. Despite the heartbreaking situation there is a romance as well as a lot about family dynamics. I don’t know that enjoyed is the word to use about this book, but it was at interesting read. At times though I had to dip into something lighter just to relieve that tension. I picked this book up once and up it straight back down before I finally picked it up again and started. I wouldn’t want to be in the wrong frame of mind when reading. It is one that will play on the emotions and likely produce tears, so I suggest you keep the tissue box close by. That said, I didn’t end up sobbing as I have been known to with certain books. But I do admit to some tears. Even though it seemed a bit drawn out at times, this felt like an honest portrayal of how a family might react given these circumstances.
Emma has been battling to live with her illness. But then comes the news she most fears. Both she and her mother Meg react as you would expect, with denial and anger but also bravery. Not everyone in Emma’s life can deal with what is happening, and that includes her boyfriend Alex. Emma is a fighter and she decides she needs to find a way to deal with this diagnosis. She determines to write a book detailing how her life could have been. So we have two stories, the reality of her life with chemotherapy, search for alternate treatments and operations and the dream life she creates for herself. The two are spliced together in the narrative.
While I thought this was a good idea and relieved the tension and heartbreak of what was really happening, for me it didn’t quite work. The dream life was all written in italics and I found pages of italics hard to read. As a result, I tended to skim these.
The relationship between Emma and her mother Meg is very believable. Any mother who has had a seriously ill child, even if they are adult, could understand Meg and why she struggled so long to accept the ultimatum. Emma is a spirited, character, stubborn and determined but likeable. Despite the heartbreaking situation there is a romance as well as a lot about family dynamics. I don’t know that enjoyed is the word to use about this book, but it was at interesting read. At times though I had to dip into something lighter just to relieve that tension. I picked this book up once and up it straight back down before I finally picked it up again and started. I wouldn’t want to be in the wrong frame of mind when reading. It is one that will play on the emotions and likely produce tears, so I suggest you keep the tissue box close by. That said, I didn’t end up sobbing as I have been known to with certain books. But I do admit to some tears. Even though it seemed a bit drawn out at times, this felt like an honest portrayal of how a family might react given these circumstances.
August 22, 2013
Review first posted to http://beanieboo78.wordpress.com/2013...
How am I supposed to sum up this book in a spoiler free review? I don’t even know where to start.
When I received the email from Harper Collins asking if I would be interested in this book I cried at the synopsis. I figured if the book could draw that kind of emotion from me with just the synopsis then I had to read the whole book. When the book arrived I quickly rushed through the book I had been reading so that I could get to this one. It’s taken me 3 days to read this, well not quite, it’s been 3 reading sessions. The longest session being last night, where I read until 1 am and I only put the book down because my face was so wet from the tears that had fallen. I finished reading the last 100 pages this morning whilst my children played, but clearly I should have waited until they were in bed because the whole time I was met by concerned looks and hugs to make me feel better as once again the tears flowed freely.
One of the hardest parts of this book was reading the story that Emma was writing. The life she would have lived if her diagnosis had been different. In some ways this was more heart wrenching than her real life, probably because she knew she would never have the chance to do the things she had written about.
Brooke has written an amazingly poignant book. One that grabs the reader and pulls them into Emma’s world. One that I can see myself reading again. I’ll just need to remember the tissues next time.
How am I supposed to sum up this book in a spoiler free review? I don’t even know where to start.
When I received the email from Harper Collins asking if I would be interested in this book I cried at the synopsis. I figured if the book could draw that kind of emotion from me with just the synopsis then I had to read the whole book. When the book arrived I quickly rushed through the book I had been reading so that I could get to this one. It’s taken me 3 days to read this, well not quite, it’s been 3 reading sessions. The longest session being last night, where I read until 1 am and I only put the book down because my face was so wet from the tears that had fallen. I finished reading the last 100 pages this morning whilst my children played, but clearly I should have waited until they were in bed because the whole time I was met by concerned looks and hugs to make me feel better as once again the tears flowed freely.
One of the hardest parts of this book was reading the story that Emma was writing. The life she would have lived if her diagnosis had been different. In some ways this was more heart wrenching than her real life, probably because she knew she would never have the chance to do the things she had written about.
Brooke has written an amazingly poignant book. One that grabs the reader and pulls them into Emma’s world. One that I can see myself reading again. I’ll just need to remember the tissues next time.
August 31, 2013
When I was asked to review Another Way to Fall, I was torn. I am known to like the slightly more depressing books that are on offer rather than the cheery chick-lit, but I wasn't sure if even I could handle this one as it was going to strike a somewhat personal chord. This is a book about a woman with a terminal brain tumour. Earlier this year, I was diagnosed with Pseudotumour Cerebri, a rare problem that is thankfully not life-threatening, but it means that I will live with the symptoms of a brain tumour for the rest of my life. As you'll be able to tell, my curiosity overpowered my slight wariness, and it didn't take me long to pick this book up and start reading.
We're introduced to Emma as she awaits to receive her results from the hospital, letting her know whether or not she is clear of cancer. Emma is hopeful that the news will be good and that she will be able to continue her life in a healthy, happy manner. Unfortunately, the results are far from positive and she is told that unfortunately nothing more can be done as her tumour is terminal. This book tells the story of Emma, her friends and her family coming to terms with her inevitable passing. Of course, this news is both devastating for Emma and the people around her.
One thing that struck me about this book was just how normal the characters were - they were very realistic and so it was so easy to imagine yourself in their position. Emma was an extremely strong character, but again, she was also very realistic and acted as I suspect a lot of people would in her situation. We get to learn a lot about all of the characters through the way that they react to bad news but it works really well - it gives us a true feeling of them as raw characters and what they're truly like. As well as meeting Emma, we meet several other characters, the most prominent ones being Ben, her romantic interest, her mother Meg and sister Louise. I also have to give a special mention to Iris and her friend, the two complaining old ladies who helped add a spark of humour to a dark time and really helped to liven the novel up a bit!
It was interesting to see how each character interacted with the other and in particular, I found the relationship between Emma and her mother, Meg, to be the most touching. I think that Meg was the character that I could connect to most - whether you are someone's daughter or someones mother, I'd imagine that knowing you're about to lose each other, for most people, is a very difficult one. I can't put really put the emotions into words, but Brooke has done a spectacular job of describing such a strong relationship. Undoubtedly, I found the saddest scenes to be those between Emma and Meg, both realising that they would be parting from each other. Whilst it felt different, I did really enjoy reading about Emma's relationship with Ben. It was quite obvious that they were going to end up together and I did find myself both rooting for them and feeling a little upset and knowing their time was limited.
As well as reading about Emma's real life, we get to read the book that she has planned to write before she dies - a story of hope, a story of Emma with an all-clear diagnosis who goes on and has the exact life she will miss. It was really interesting to see what Emma valued most and what she would have done had she gotten the all-clear. Though the book she is writing holds a somewhat fantasy world for her, with the help of Ben, she actually manages to achieve a lot of positive things and enjoyable experiences in her real life. Ben was truly the perfect man to Emma, not pushing her but encouraging her and surprising her, allowing her to do the things that she thought she couldn't do. It was difficult but understandable to see Emma push Ben away, but I am so glad that we got to read of their time together. It was lovely getting lost in their thoughts and adventures and for some moments forgetting the awful thing inside her head.
When you have a brain tumour, it's unfortunately very difficult to let go and forget about it for a while, but Brooke allowed Emma some freedom, whilst still managing to make sure we knew she was battling something that has no remorse. I thought that Brooke did a good job of describing the tumour that Emma had and portraying the symptoms without overcomplicating things. Personally, I found reading a lot of the symptoms or bad episodes that Emma had, quite difficult to read (due to having the same symptoms!) and so I read the book relatively slowly. The author clearly knows what she is talking about, what she is tackling and she handles it with just the right amount of both sincerity and delicacy.
Overall, this was a very well written book that I would recommend to any adult who thinks that they would 'enjoy' (probably not the most appropriate word) reading about the subject matter. Brooke hasn't just wrote about a brain tumour, but instead she has written about independence, hope and love. She has allowed us to really think of what we value, or what we dream to do. I really admire Brooke for writing this book, she has such a natural talent and sensitivity that shines through. I will certainly be looking forward to picking up more of her books in the future.
We're introduced to Emma as she awaits to receive her results from the hospital, letting her know whether or not she is clear of cancer. Emma is hopeful that the news will be good and that she will be able to continue her life in a healthy, happy manner. Unfortunately, the results are far from positive and she is told that unfortunately nothing more can be done as her tumour is terminal. This book tells the story of Emma, her friends and her family coming to terms with her inevitable passing. Of course, this news is both devastating for Emma and the people around her.
One thing that struck me about this book was just how normal the characters were - they were very realistic and so it was so easy to imagine yourself in their position. Emma was an extremely strong character, but again, she was also very realistic and acted as I suspect a lot of people would in her situation. We get to learn a lot about all of the characters through the way that they react to bad news but it works really well - it gives us a true feeling of them as raw characters and what they're truly like. As well as meeting Emma, we meet several other characters, the most prominent ones being Ben, her romantic interest, her mother Meg and sister Louise. I also have to give a special mention to Iris and her friend, the two complaining old ladies who helped add a spark of humour to a dark time and really helped to liven the novel up a bit!
It was interesting to see how each character interacted with the other and in particular, I found the relationship between Emma and her mother, Meg, to be the most touching. I think that Meg was the character that I could connect to most - whether you are someone's daughter or someones mother, I'd imagine that knowing you're about to lose each other, for most people, is a very difficult one. I can't put really put the emotions into words, but Brooke has done a spectacular job of describing such a strong relationship. Undoubtedly, I found the saddest scenes to be those between Emma and Meg, both realising that they would be parting from each other. Whilst it felt different, I did really enjoy reading about Emma's relationship with Ben. It was quite obvious that they were going to end up together and I did find myself both rooting for them and feeling a little upset and knowing their time was limited.
As well as reading about Emma's real life, we get to read the book that she has planned to write before she dies - a story of hope, a story of Emma with an all-clear diagnosis who goes on and has the exact life she will miss. It was really interesting to see what Emma valued most and what she would have done had she gotten the all-clear. Though the book she is writing holds a somewhat fantasy world for her, with the help of Ben, she actually manages to achieve a lot of positive things and enjoyable experiences in her real life. Ben was truly the perfect man to Emma, not pushing her but encouraging her and surprising her, allowing her to do the things that she thought she couldn't do. It was difficult but understandable to see Emma push Ben away, but I am so glad that we got to read of their time together. It was lovely getting lost in their thoughts and adventures and for some moments forgetting the awful thing inside her head.
When you have a brain tumour, it's unfortunately very difficult to let go and forget about it for a while, but Brooke allowed Emma some freedom, whilst still managing to make sure we knew she was battling something that has no remorse. I thought that Brooke did a good job of describing the tumour that Emma had and portraying the symptoms without overcomplicating things. Personally, I found reading a lot of the symptoms or bad episodes that Emma had, quite difficult to read (due to having the same symptoms!) and so I read the book relatively slowly. The author clearly knows what she is talking about, what she is tackling and she handles it with just the right amount of both sincerity and delicacy.
Overall, this was a very well written book that I would recommend to any adult who thinks that they would 'enjoy' (probably not the most appropriate word) reading about the subject matter. Brooke hasn't just wrote about a brain tumour, but instead she has written about independence, hope and love. She has allowed us to really think of what we value, or what we dream to do. I really admire Brooke for writing this book, she has such a natural talent and sensitivity that shines through. I will certainly be looking forward to picking up more of her books in the future.
August 23, 2013
When I was offered the chance to review Amanda Brooke’s second novel Another Way To Fall, it was a no-brainer. I’d already spotted the novel on Amazon and I adored the cover (Just LOOK at it! It’s beautiful) and I thought it sounded like an amazing novel. The synopsis sounded like something Jodi Picoult might write, and I was incredibly intrigued about the dual-storyline involving Emma. I actually started the book a week or so ago, but put it down – not for any reason, it wasn’t a bad start to the novel or anything, I just knew that for a story this heavy I had to be in the right frame of mind, and so I put it down. Until a Friday afternoon, where I picked it back up and dived straight back in, finishing it in a matter of hours.
Another Way To Fall is probably the most emotional novel I will read this year. I generally don’t cry when I read books (I may get teary-eyed, but the only books I can remember making me cry are Harry Potter 5, 6 and 7, as well as My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult). Loads of people seem to cry at the drop of a hat, and while I’m generally quite emotional it takes a lot for a book to make me cry. But I will tell you right here, right now, Another Way To Fall made me cry. I spent the last 15 pages with tears streaming down my face. I’m not spoiling A THING when I tell you it’s because Emma’s losing her battle (It’s there in the synopsis) and I just felt like the author had such knowledge of that battle, such knowledge of what comes at the end of a cancer fight (and the beginning, and the middle, pretty much all of it to be fair) and to see Emma, Emma who wanted to live, who had everything to live for, slowly fading away, it killed me. Amanda actually does have that knowledge of a cancer fight, having seen it first hand with her son and the writing was just so powerful and consuming.
The novel isn’t just about that, though. It isn’t about Emma saying goodbye, because on the flip side, Emma is writing a novel all about her life if, when she had walked into the doctor’s office that day, he had told her she had gotten the all-clear. She’s able to use her writing as therapy, to jot down all the things she might have done, all the things she might have accomplished. Yep, it was bittersweet to read at times, but it was also so hopeful. You really root for Emma – both versions of her, the real and the fictional. I loved how her family never wanted to give up on her, how she didn’t want to give up on herself. I loved the love story with Ben, beautiful Ben, the perfect foil for Emma. I just kept flipping the pages, to see what fantastic adventures the fictional Emma would be going on and to see how it helped the real Emma fight on and show that cancer doesn’t win.
Another Way To Fall just blew me away completely. It brought sharply to focus that cancer doesn’t always get beaten, and it showed that it doesn’t just afect the suffered, it affects the family massively, too. It reminded me, I must admit, of Lisa Lynch, the most wonderful person I’ve ever met online who sadly died earlier this year, who fought cancer so bravely and Emma sort of reminded me of Lisa, and what Lisa’s fight must have been like. And even though the novel made me immeasurably sad, and even though I’ll remember it as a sad book, I will never forget reading it, I’ll never forget Emma’s battle and never forget Emma as a character because she shone so brightly. This was such a fabulous book, Amanda Brooke is such a terrific writer and I’m definitely going to go and pick up her debut novel quick sharp. She’s written a book that will stay with me forever, and I adored it. I look forward to reading more from her because she is really, really talented and knows how to pull at the heartstrings.
Another Way To Fall is probably the most emotional novel I will read this year. I generally don’t cry when I read books (I may get teary-eyed, but the only books I can remember making me cry are Harry Potter 5, 6 and 7, as well as My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult). Loads of people seem to cry at the drop of a hat, and while I’m generally quite emotional it takes a lot for a book to make me cry. But I will tell you right here, right now, Another Way To Fall made me cry. I spent the last 15 pages with tears streaming down my face. I’m not spoiling A THING when I tell you it’s because Emma’s losing her battle (It’s there in the synopsis) and I just felt like the author had such knowledge of that battle, such knowledge of what comes at the end of a cancer fight (and the beginning, and the middle, pretty much all of it to be fair) and to see Emma, Emma who wanted to live, who had everything to live for, slowly fading away, it killed me. Amanda actually does have that knowledge of a cancer fight, having seen it first hand with her son and the writing was just so powerful and consuming.
The novel isn’t just about that, though. It isn’t about Emma saying goodbye, because on the flip side, Emma is writing a novel all about her life if, when she had walked into the doctor’s office that day, he had told her she had gotten the all-clear. She’s able to use her writing as therapy, to jot down all the things she might have done, all the things she might have accomplished. Yep, it was bittersweet to read at times, but it was also so hopeful. You really root for Emma – both versions of her, the real and the fictional. I loved how her family never wanted to give up on her, how she didn’t want to give up on herself. I loved the love story with Ben, beautiful Ben, the perfect foil for Emma. I just kept flipping the pages, to see what fantastic adventures the fictional Emma would be going on and to see how it helped the real Emma fight on and show that cancer doesn’t win.
Another Way To Fall just blew me away completely. It brought sharply to focus that cancer doesn’t always get beaten, and it showed that it doesn’t just afect the suffered, it affects the family massively, too. It reminded me, I must admit, of Lisa Lynch, the most wonderful person I’ve ever met online who sadly died earlier this year, who fought cancer so bravely and Emma sort of reminded me of Lisa, and what Lisa’s fight must have been like. And even though the novel made me immeasurably sad, and even though I’ll remember it as a sad book, I will never forget reading it, I’ll never forget Emma’s battle and never forget Emma as a character because she shone so brightly. This was such a fabulous book, Amanda Brooke is such a terrific writer and I’m definitely going to go and pick up her debut novel quick sharp. She’s written a book that will stay with me forever, and I adored it. I look forward to reading more from her because she is really, really talented and knows how to pull at the heartstrings.
August 16, 2013
Time taken to read - 6 days
Publisher - HarperFiction (HarperCollins)
Blurb From Goodreads
What would you do if you could write the story of your life?
After battling a brain tumour twenty-nine year old Emma thinks she is in the clear, but her world comes crashing down around her when she is told her fight was in vain, and there is nothing more the doctors can do.
Realising that she won’t now have time to achieve the things she dreamed of, Emma decides to write her perfect life in a story. She imagines all the things she would have done, the places she would have seen, the husband she would have shared her life with and the family they would have raised. And, mysteriously, as she writes her story, she starts to notice that some of her dreams seem to be coming true.
Now with a real love in her life, and her fading hope burning brighter, reality and fiction start to become blurred. As she writes their life-long love story Emma dares to believe that anything is possible, but can she really change her fate?
My Review
Emma is 29, sitting in the doctors office waiting to hear if her cancer is gone. Her life has been on hold and now is her chance to get it back on track. However the news she receives is far from positive and Emma has to face the harsh reality that there is nothing more to be done. Emma decides to write a book, chronicling her life how she feels it should have been had fate and her body not cheated her.
The story splits between reality and Emma's book, her fantasy world. In her real life she is trying to cope with her diagnosis, her mother’s inability to accept it and trying everything in her power to save her daughter. Her relationships and things she has to tie up before she dies. Her fantasy world is written in italics so you know the story has switched and goes into depth on what would have happened had she got the all clear that day at the doctor’s office.
I felt this story had a bit of a lull at parts and yet others I couldn't stop reading. It pulls on your heart strings and you can't help but wonder what if it was you or your daughter or sister. What would you do differently?
We meet some characters who have amazing strength and character, Emma of course and her mother and some who are not. Cancer can change a life and this story gives an insight into it and how it touches the lives of not just the person suffering but also their nearest and dearest. As I mentioned there were some lulls in the story, however the last quarter I actually couldn't put down. You find yourself on a bit of an emotional and thought provoking journey with this book. This is a new author for me, I would definitely read her again. 4/5 for me this time, thanks to HarperFiction and Jaime Frost (at HarperCollins) for giving me an ARC copy of this and for introducing me to a new author. This book is out to buy, in paperback for £7.99 from the 22nd of August 2013.
Publisher - HarperFiction (HarperCollins)
Blurb From Goodreads
What would you do if you could write the story of your life?
After battling a brain tumour twenty-nine year old Emma thinks she is in the clear, but her world comes crashing down around her when she is told her fight was in vain, and there is nothing more the doctors can do.
Realising that she won’t now have time to achieve the things she dreamed of, Emma decides to write her perfect life in a story. She imagines all the things she would have done, the places she would have seen, the husband she would have shared her life with and the family they would have raised. And, mysteriously, as she writes her story, she starts to notice that some of her dreams seem to be coming true.
Now with a real love in her life, and her fading hope burning brighter, reality and fiction start to become blurred. As she writes their life-long love story Emma dares to believe that anything is possible, but can she really change her fate?
My Review
Emma is 29, sitting in the doctors office waiting to hear if her cancer is gone. Her life has been on hold and now is her chance to get it back on track. However the news she receives is far from positive and Emma has to face the harsh reality that there is nothing more to be done. Emma decides to write a book, chronicling her life how she feels it should have been had fate and her body not cheated her.
The story splits between reality and Emma's book, her fantasy world. In her real life she is trying to cope with her diagnosis, her mother’s inability to accept it and trying everything in her power to save her daughter. Her relationships and things she has to tie up before she dies. Her fantasy world is written in italics so you know the story has switched and goes into depth on what would have happened had she got the all clear that day at the doctor’s office.
I felt this story had a bit of a lull at parts and yet others I couldn't stop reading. It pulls on your heart strings and you can't help but wonder what if it was you or your daughter or sister. What would you do differently?
We meet some characters who have amazing strength and character, Emma of course and her mother and some who are not. Cancer can change a life and this story gives an insight into it and how it touches the lives of not just the person suffering but also their nearest and dearest. As I mentioned there were some lulls in the story, however the last quarter I actually couldn't put down. You find yourself on a bit of an emotional and thought provoking journey with this book. This is a new author for me, I would definitely read her again. 4/5 for me this time, thanks to HarperFiction and Jaime Frost (at HarperCollins) for giving me an ARC copy of this and for introducing me to a new author. This book is out to buy, in paperback for £7.99 from the 22nd of August 2013.
May 1, 2015
Mich hat der Klapptext unheimlich neugierig auf das Buch gemacht. Ich weiss, Bücher über Krebs gibt es haufenweise, aber dieses hier hat mich speziell in seinen Bann gezogen. Vielleicht liegt es daran, dass Emma in der Zeit, die ihr bleibt, ihr Leben, wie sie es sich wünschen würde, nachdem sie den Krebs das erste Mal besiegt hat, beginnt zu schreiben. Und durch das Schreiben ihres Buches lernt sie einige schöne Seite des Lebens kennen, die sie bereits für verloren geglaubt hat.
Mir hat das Buch unheimlich gut gefallen - immer wieder hat man Ausschnitte aus dem Buch zu lesen bekommen, die sich super in die ganze Geschichte eingegliedert haben. Das hat mir wirklich gut gefallen. Es mich den Charakteren ein wenig näher gebracht und dem ganzen etwas Spezielles verliehen.
Ein, für mich gravierender, Kritikpunkt ist, dass mich das Buch leider gefühlsmässig eher weniger berührt hat. Das erste Mal musste ich erst auf Seite 280 schlucken, bei einer Szene, die mir sehr ans Herz ging. Und danach war erst wieder auf den letzten 4-5 Seiten Gefühlschaos bei mir angesagt.
Ich hätte mir von dem Buch erhofft, dass es mich mehr berührt, vielleicht auch etwas tragischer ist bzw. so geschrieben wird. Krebs ist eine schreckliche Sache und ich denke, die meisten von uns sind schon damit in Berührung gekommen (vielleicht hat es einen selbst getroffen oder Freunde und Verwandte). Und genau weil diese Krankheit so heimtükisch und schrecklich ist, dachte ich mir, die Geschichte müsste emotionaler sein. Das fand ich etwas schade, es hätte das Ganze noch abgerundet.
Der Schreibstil hat mir unheimlich gut gefallen! Amanda Brooke schreibst unheimlich gut und ich habe es geliebt, Emma zu begleiten.
Charaktere
Die Charaktere haben mir gut gefallen. Natürlich erfährt man von Emma am meisten, da es ja hauptsächlich um sie geht - die Kranke. Ein wenig schade fand ich, dass man zwar über ihre Mutter und ihre Schwester schon einiges erfahren hat, aber doch etwas zu wenig. Vielleicht hätte ich mir das ein oder andere ernstere Gespräch gewünscht - was dann wieder zu meiner Kritik passt, dass es mich leider emotionstechnisch nicht so gepackt hat.
Alles in allem sind Amanda Brooke die Charaktere gelungen und ich finde, sie hat Emma gut geschrieben; autentisch und man konnte sich in sie hineinversetzen. Nur leider hat mir ein wenig das Gefühl gefehlt, erneut.
Cover
Was soll ich sagen? Ich habe mich in das Cover verliebt! Es ist einfach ein Traum und passt von der Stimmung, die es vermittelt, einfach perfekt.
Fazit
Eine ernste und wundervolle Geschichte, die mich leider emotional zu wenig gerührt hat. Darum bekommt das Buch von mir 4 Sterne.
Mir hat das Buch unheimlich gut gefallen - immer wieder hat man Ausschnitte aus dem Buch zu lesen bekommen, die sich super in die ganze Geschichte eingegliedert haben. Das hat mir wirklich gut gefallen. Es mich den Charakteren ein wenig näher gebracht und dem ganzen etwas Spezielles verliehen.
Ein, für mich gravierender, Kritikpunkt ist, dass mich das Buch leider gefühlsmässig eher weniger berührt hat. Das erste Mal musste ich erst auf Seite 280 schlucken, bei einer Szene, die mir sehr ans Herz ging. Und danach war erst wieder auf den letzten 4-5 Seiten Gefühlschaos bei mir angesagt.
Ich hätte mir von dem Buch erhofft, dass es mich mehr berührt, vielleicht auch etwas tragischer ist bzw. so geschrieben wird. Krebs ist eine schreckliche Sache und ich denke, die meisten von uns sind schon damit in Berührung gekommen (vielleicht hat es einen selbst getroffen oder Freunde und Verwandte). Und genau weil diese Krankheit so heimtükisch und schrecklich ist, dachte ich mir, die Geschichte müsste emotionaler sein. Das fand ich etwas schade, es hätte das Ganze noch abgerundet.
Der Schreibstil hat mir unheimlich gut gefallen! Amanda Brooke schreibst unheimlich gut und ich habe es geliebt, Emma zu begleiten.
Charaktere
Die Charaktere haben mir gut gefallen. Natürlich erfährt man von Emma am meisten, da es ja hauptsächlich um sie geht - die Kranke. Ein wenig schade fand ich, dass man zwar über ihre Mutter und ihre Schwester schon einiges erfahren hat, aber doch etwas zu wenig. Vielleicht hätte ich mir das ein oder andere ernstere Gespräch gewünscht - was dann wieder zu meiner Kritik passt, dass es mich leider emotionstechnisch nicht so gepackt hat.
Alles in allem sind Amanda Brooke die Charaktere gelungen und ich finde, sie hat Emma gut geschrieben; autentisch und man konnte sich in sie hineinversetzen. Nur leider hat mir ein wenig das Gefühl gefehlt, erneut.
Cover
Was soll ich sagen? Ich habe mich in das Cover verliebt! Es ist einfach ein Traum und passt von der Stimmung, die es vermittelt, einfach perfekt.
Fazit
Eine ernste und wundervolle Geschichte, die mich leider emotional zu wenig gerührt hat. Darum bekommt das Buch von mir 4 Sterne.
March 25, 2015
Cover
Ein wunderschönes, melancholisches Cover ziert dieses Buch. Es passt ausgesprochen gut zum Inhalt des Buches. Das Cover hat mich dazu bewogen, mir das Buch näher anzusehen. Ich werde bei schönen Covern unglaublich schnell schwach und so auch hier. Die Farben sehen unglaublich toll aus.
Meine Meinung
"Für immer und einen Tag" hinterlässt bei mir äußerst gemischte Gefühle. Einerseits hat das Buch so ziemlich meinen Erwartungen entsprochen. Man durchlebt als Leser zusammen mit Emma die Höhen und Tiefen iheres Lebens. Zusammen mit ihr meistert der Leser den Alltag.
Emma ist 29 Jahre jung und hat Krebs. Für sie bricht eine Welt zusammen. All ihre Träume und Wünsche werden hinfällig. Während dem Lesen habe ich mich selbst immer wieder gefragt, was ich mir denn von meinem Leben erwarte. Wie würde ich an Emmas Stelle reagieren? Doch wenn ich ehrlich bin, so genau kann ich das gar nicht sagen. Sicher ist aber, ich wäre nicht so stark wie Emma. Voller Tatendrang und mit einem ziemlich deutlich hervortretenden Befehlston in der Stimme geht sie ihr Leben an.
Zusammen mit ihrer Familie und ihren Freunden schafft sie es, das Beste aus dem einen Jahr zu holen.
Aus Angst zu Spoilern möchte ich an dieser Stelle nicht auf weitere Charaktere eingehen. Nur so viel: Sie sind schön gestaltet und gut herausgearbeitet. Niemand kommt zu kurz und die meisten davon sind unglaublich liebenswert. Schön fand ich auch, dass unwichtige Charakter ebenso eine Wandlung vollzogen haben, wie Emma selbst.
Mir hat das Buch gut gefallen. Der Schreibstil ist schön flüssig und auch der Sprung zwischen Realität und Emmas Buch war durch die kursive Formatierung schön ersichtlich. Die eingefügten Buchpassagen haben den Lesefluss nicht so sehr gestört, wie ich am Anfang vermutet hatte. Ich fand es sehr schön, zusammen mit Emma in ihre Fantasiewelt einzutauchen und das Leben zu führen, das sie sich gewünscht hat.
Obwohl das Buch wirklich sehr traurig ist, habe ich es geschafft nicht zu weinen. Erst bei der Danksagung der Autorin standen mir dann Tränen in den Augen. Amanda Brooke hat selbst Erfahrungen mit Krebs gemacht. Ihr Sohn ist im Alter von drei Jahren an Leukämie gestorben. Ich finde es unglaublich stark und mutig das sie trotzdem und auch gerade deswegen dieses Buch geschrieben hat.
Wertung (4/5)
Ein wunderschönes, melancholisches Cover ziert dieses Buch. Es passt ausgesprochen gut zum Inhalt des Buches. Das Cover hat mich dazu bewogen, mir das Buch näher anzusehen. Ich werde bei schönen Covern unglaublich schnell schwach und so auch hier. Die Farben sehen unglaublich toll aus.
Meine Meinung
"Für immer und einen Tag" hinterlässt bei mir äußerst gemischte Gefühle. Einerseits hat das Buch so ziemlich meinen Erwartungen entsprochen. Man durchlebt als Leser zusammen mit Emma die Höhen und Tiefen iheres Lebens. Zusammen mit ihr meistert der Leser den Alltag.
Emma ist 29 Jahre jung und hat Krebs. Für sie bricht eine Welt zusammen. All ihre Träume und Wünsche werden hinfällig. Während dem Lesen habe ich mich selbst immer wieder gefragt, was ich mir denn von meinem Leben erwarte. Wie würde ich an Emmas Stelle reagieren? Doch wenn ich ehrlich bin, so genau kann ich das gar nicht sagen. Sicher ist aber, ich wäre nicht so stark wie Emma. Voller Tatendrang und mit einem ziemlich deutlich hervortretenden Befehlston in der Stimme geht sie ihr Leben an.
Zusammen mit ihrer Familie und ihren Freunden schafft sie es, das Beste aus dem einen Jahr zu holen.
Aus Angst zu Spoilern möchte ich an dieser Stelle nicht auf weitere Charaktere eingehen. Nur so viel: Sie sind schön gestaltet und gut herausgearbeitet. Niemand kommt zu kurz und die meisten davon sind unglaublich liebenswert. Schön fand ich auch, dass unwichtige Charakter ebenso eine Wandlung vollzogen haben, wie Emma selbst.
Mir hat das Buch gut gefallen. Der Schreibstil ist schön flüssig und auch der Sprung zwischen Realität und Emmas Buch war durch die kursive Formatierung schön ersichtlich. Die eingefügten Buchpassagen haben den Lesefluss nicht so sehr gestört, wie ich am Anfang vermutet hatte. Ich fand es sehr schön, zusammen mit Emma in ihre Fantasiewelt einzutauchen und das Leben zu führen, das sie sich gewünscht hat.
Obwohl das Buch wirklich sehr traurig ist, habe ich es geschafft nicht zu weinen. Erst bei der Danksagung der Autorin standen mir dann Tränen in den Augen. Amanda Brooke hat selbst Erfahrungen mit Krebs gemacht. Ihr Sohn ist im Alter von drei Jahren an Leukämie gestorben. Ich finde es unglaublich stark und mutig das sie trotzdem und auch gerade deswegen dieses Buch geschrieben hat.
Wertung (4/5)
December 26, 2015
'this book sucks'
the words i keep on repeating when i was reading the last few chapters bcs it made me sobs like a baby :'(((
this book was way too good and i don't want it to come to an end. but oh well, life is unfair you don't always get what you want. I'd like to thank kak yat for this amazing book, thank you i think i grew up. a lot.
the words i keep on repeating when i was reading the last few chapters bcs it made me sobs like a baby :'(((
this book was way too good and i don't want it to come to an end. but oh well, life is unfair you don't always get what you want. I'd like to thank kak yat for this amazing book, thank you i think i grew up. a lot.
March 8, 2019
Just. Wow.
I absolutely loved this.
As someone who has illnesses myself (not terminal but I do struggle to live a life), it really tugged at me. I started a book a few years ago and didn’t finish it, but with this book I have the motivation again to start it again soon. But yeah, loved this book. Amanda Brooke is becoming one of my favourites!
I absolutely loved this.
As someone who has illnesses myself (not terminal but I do struggle to live a life), it really tugged at me. I started a book a few years ago and didn’t finish it, but with this book I have the motivation again to start it again soon. But yeah, loved this book. Amanda Brooke is becoming one of my favourites!
January 4, 2025
Loved this book. Just sad and beautiful
May 10, 2015
Kurzbeschreibung:
Was wäre, wenn du die Geschichte deines Lebens selbst schreiben könntest?
Die neunundzwanzigjährige Emma ist voller Hoffnung, den Krebs besiegt zu haben. Doch dann erfährt sie, dass sie nur noch ein Jahr zu leben hat. Aber ein Jahr ist viel zu kurz für Emmas Pläne: Sie will den Mann ihres Lebens finden und gemeinsam mit ihm alt werden, sehen, wie Kinder und Enkel aufwachsen, und schließlich nach einem erfüllten Leben im Kreis ihrer Familie Abschied nehmen. Also beginnt Emma, die Geschichte ihres erträumten Lebens aufzuschreiben – und auf wundersame Weise scheinen mit der Zeit mehr und mehr ihrer Träume in Erfüllung zu gehen ...
Autor:
Amanda Brooke lebt mit ihrer Tochter in Liverpool, England. Der Ursprung ihrer Schriftstellerkarriere liegt in einer persönlichen Tragödie: Als bei ihrem kleinen Sohn Krebs diagnostiziert wurde und er schließlich mit nur drei Jahren starb, stand für Amanda Brooke fest, dass diese schmerzliche Erfahrung eine Quelle der Inspiration, nicht der Verzweiflung, sein sollte. So erzählt sie in ihren Romanen berührende, aufrichtige Geschichten von der Liebe, dem Leben und der Kraft der Hoffnung, die stärker ist als der Tod.
Meine Meinung:
Amanda Brooke war mir bisher unbekannt. Da ich aber gerne neue Autoren kennen lerne und der Klappentext mich auch angesprochen hat, habe ich dieses Buch über das Bloggerportal als Rezensionsexemplar erhalten. Vielen Dank dafür.
In Für immer und einen Tag begleiten wir Emma. Emma ist 29 Jahre jung und hatte Krebs. So dachte sie zumindest. Doch bei einer Routine Untersuchung wurde erneut Krebs festgestellt. Dabei hatte sie doch fast die magische 5 Jahresgrenze geschafft. Nun sollte sie nochmals den Kampf gegen das Unheil vornehmen? Sie wollte doch endlich aus ihrem Leben etwas machen. Endlich den Mann fürs Leben finden, mit ihm eine Familie gründen und gemeinsam alt werden. Sehen wie ihre Enkelkinder aufwachsen. Und das sollte nun wieder alles in der Schwebe hängen? War sie wirklich bereit erneut den Kampf aufzunehmen? Gemeinsam mit der Unterstützung ihrer Familie tut sie es und bekommt den nächsten großen Stein in den Weg gelegt. Ihr wird gesagt das sie höchstens nur noch ein Jahr zu leben hat, der Krebs sei aggressiver als zuvor zurück gekehrt. Emma fängt darauf hin an zu schreiben und lebt mit diesen Worten ihr Leben was sie ohne Krebs gehabt hätte. Nie hätte sie geahnt das sich das ein oder andere auch in ihren richtigen Leben erfüllen wird.
Für immer und einen Tag ließ sich sehr angenehm lesen. Alles war super beschrieben, die Gefühle von Emma, das Hoffen und Bangen. Man kämpfte mit ihr und lebte mit ihr ihr Leben und ihr Wunschleben. Die Protagonistin ist mir sehr ans Herz gewachsen und zum Ende des Buches hatte ich auch Tränen in den Augen.
Liest man dann noch die Danksagung dann verschwinden die Tränen auch nicht. Kompliment an die Autorin. Wie bereits in der Kurzvorstellung von Amanda Brooke, erfährt man dort das sie ihren Sohn mit gerade mal 3 Jahren verloren hat. Der kleine Kerl hatte noch nicht mal die Chance das Leben so richtig kennen zu lernen. Und dann auch noch ein Buch zu schreiben in dem es um den Kampf um Krebs geht - Kompliment. Ich stelle mir es auf jeden Fall sehr schwer vor, man durchlebt die Gefühle und Verzweiflung, die man selbst zuvor erlebt hat. doch nochmals.
Auch das Cover hat mir hier sehr gut gefallen. Der Blick auf den See, das Boot was nicht mehr ganz taufrisch zu sein scheint. Dazu der Baum mit seinen rötlichen Blättern - Melancholie pur. Es spiegelt das Gefühl des Buches in meinen Augen wieder.
Wenn auch ihr erfahren wollt, was Emma gerne für ein Leben gelebt hätte und was sie in ihrem Jahr noch so alles erlebt, kann ich euch dieses Buch wirklich ans Herz legen.
Daher vergebe ich auch hier 5 Sterne.
Was wäre, wenn du die Geschichte deines Lebens selbst schreiben könntest?
Die neunundzwanzigjährige Emma ist voller Hoffnung, den Krebs besiegt zu haben. Doch dann erfährt sie, dass sie nur noch ein Jahr zu leben hat. Aber ein Jahr ist viel zu kurz für Emmas Pläne: Sie will den Mann ihres Lebens finden und gemeinsam mit ihm alt werden, sehen, wie Kinder und Enkel aufwachsen, und schließlich nach einem erfüllten Leben im Kreis ihrer Familie Abschied nehmen. Also beginnt Emma, die Geschichte ihres erträumten Lebens aufzuschreiben – und auf wundersame Weise scheinen mit der Zeit mehr und mehr ihrer Träume in Erfüllung zu gehen ...
Autor:
Amanda Brooke lebt mit ihrer Tochter in Liverpool, England. Der Ursprung ihrer Schriftstellerkarriere liegt in einer persönlichen Tragödie: Als bei ihrem kleinen Sohn Krebs diagnostiziert wurde und er schließlich mit nur drei Jahren starb, stand für Amanda Brooke fest, dass diese schmerzliche Erfahrung eine Quelle der Inspiration, nicht der Verzweiflung, sein sollte. So erzählt sie in ihren Romanen berührende, aufrichtige Geschichten von der Liebe, dem Leben und der Kraft der Hoffnung, die stärker ist als der Tod.
Meine Meinung:
Amanda Brooke war mir bisher unbekannt. Da ich aber gerne neue Autoren kennen lerne und der Klappentext mich auch angesprochen hat, habe ich dieses Buch über das Bloggerportal als Rezensionsexemplar erhalten. Vielen Dank dafür.
In Für immer und einen Tag begleiten wir Emma. Emma ist 29 Jahre jung und hatte Krebs. So dachte sie zumindest. Doch bei einer Routine Untersuchung wurde erneut Krebs festgestellt. Dabei hatte sie doch fast die magische 5 Jahresgrenze geschafft. Nun sollte sie nochmals den Kampf gegen das Unheil vornehmen? Sie wollte doch endlich aus ihrem Leben etwas machen. Endlich den Mann fürs Leben finden, mit ihm eine Familie gründen und gemeinsam alt werden. Sehen wie ihre Enkelkinder aufwachsen. Und das sollte nun wieder alles in der Schwebe hängen? War sie wirklich bereit erneut den Kampf aufzunehmen? Gemeinsam mit der Unterstützung ihrer Familie tut sie es und bekommt den nächsten großen Stein in den Weg gelegt. Ihr wird gesagt das sie höchstens nur noch ein Jahr zu leben hat, der Krebs sei aggressiver als zuvor zurück gekehrt. Emma fängt darauf hin an zu schreiben und lebt mit diesen Worten ihr Leben was sie ohne Krebs gehabt hätte. Nie hätte sie geahnt das sich das ein oder andere auch in ihren richtigen Leben erfüllen wird.
Für immer und einen Tag ließ sich sehr angenehm lesen. Alles war super beschrieben, die Gefühle von Emma, das Hoffen und Bangen. Man kämpfte mit ihr und lebte mit ihr ihr Leben und ihr Wunschleben. Die Protagonistin ist mir sehr ans Herz gewachsen und zum Ende des Buches hatte ich auch Tränen in den Augen.
Liest man dann noch die Danksagung dann verschwinden die Tränen auch nicht. Kompliment an die Autorin. Wie bereits in der Kurzvorstellung von Amanda Brooke, erfährt man dort das sie ihren Sohn mit gerade mal 3 Jahren verloren hat. Der kleine Kerl hatte noch nicht mal die Chance das Leben so richtig kennen zu lernen. Und dann auch noch ein Buch zu schreiben in dem es um den Kampf um Krebs geht - Kompliment. Ich stelle mir es auf jeden Fall sehr schwer vor, man durchlebt die Gefühle und Verzweiflung, die man selbst zuvor erlebt hat. doch nochmals.
Auch das Cover hat mir hier sehr gut gefallen. Der Blick auf den See, das Boot was nicht mehr ganz taufrisch zu sein scheint. Dazu der Baum mit seinen rötlichen Blättern - Melancholie pur. Es spiegelt das Gefühl des Buches in meinen Augen wieder.
Wenn auch ihr erfahren wollt, was Emma gerne für ein Leben gelebt hätte und was sie in ihrem Jahr noch so alles erlebt, kann ich euch dieses Buch wirklich ans Herz legen.
Daher vergebe ich auch hier 5 Sterne.
February 24, 2014
Der erste Satz
Ich wartete geduldig vor Dr. Spellings ausladendem Schreibtisch, der fast das ganze Zimmer einnahm.
Meine Meinung
Inhalt
Emma hat noch so viel vor: Sie möchte heiraten, Kinder bekommen und einen Roman schreiben, doch das Leben macht ihr einen Strich durch die Rechnung. Der Krebs bricht erneut bei ihr aus und reißt ihr den Boden unter den Füßen weg. Sie setzt alles daran, sich wenigstens noch ein paar Wünsche erfüllen zu können, denn sie denkt, ihr wird nicht mehr viel Zeit bleiben. Kann sie ihre Krankheit erneut besiegen?
"Wir finden eine andere Möglichkeit, und wenn ich das Restaurant verliere, ist das auch nicht das Ende der Welt. Dich zu verlieren, wäre das Ende der Welt."
Seite 118
Charaktere
Bei Emma hatte ich wieder einmal das Bedürfnis sie fest zu umarmen. Ich stelle es mir total schlimm vor, wenn man gesagt bekommt, dass man die Krankheit doch nicht überstanden hat. Emma geht vorbildlich mit der Diagnose um. Sie versucht vor ihren Freunden und Verwandten die Starke zu markieren, doch in Wirklichkeit sieht es innerlich in ihr komplett anders aus. Sie hat zurecht große Angst.
"Es ist völlig egal, ob der Wind draußen heult oder wir das Rauschen der Brandung hören. Sobald ich deine Lippen spüre, bin ich zu Hause."
Seite 248
Gesamt
Der Roman fängt mit Emmas Roman an. Sie schreibt ihr Leben auf, jedenfalls das, was sie sich vom Leben erträumt hatte. Amanda Brooke hat die eigentliche Geschichte und den Roman von Emma durch Kursiv-Schrift gekennzeichnet, so dass man sofort bemerkt um was es gerade geht. Es hat mich nicht ein einziges Mal durcheinander gebracht. Die kleinen Ausflüge in Emmas Roman haben mir sehr gut gefallen. Ich habe oft mit einem dicken Kloß im Hals da gegessen, als ich gelesen habe, wie sehr sich die Protagonistin etwas Bestimmtes wünscht und dies so voller Leben niederschreibt. Emmas Buch hat einen komplett anderen Schreibstil, als der Rest der Geschichte. Ich hatte beim Lesen das Gefühl, als hätten wirklich zwei verschiedene Personen geschrieben.
Zu diesen für mich absoluten Pluspunkt kommt noch ein entscheidender hinzu: Ich habe mit gelitten. Die Krankheit von der Protagonistin hatte sich irgendwann auf mich übertragen und so fühlte auch ich mich total hilflos und verängstigt. Ich wollte nicht, dass Emma den Kampf verlieren wird und habe auf jeder einzelnen Seite gehofft, dass vielleicht doch noch ein medizinisches Wunder geschehen mag. Wie bei Emma gingen auch bei mir die Gedanken und Gefühle ständig auf und ab. Geschah etwas schönes, ging mir das Herz auf, wurde Emma emotional herunter gerissen, nahm sie mich mit sich in die Tiefe.
Amanda Brooke hat es geschafft ein wirklich ernstes Thema sehr gut umzusetzen. Der eigentliche Roman, gespickt mit dem von Emma ist wirklich eine hervorragende Idee. Die Autorin hat beides sehr gut umsetzen können.
Das Einzige, was mich ein bisschen gestört hat ist, dass Emmas Freunde und Familie leider ein bisschen im Dunkeln gelassen worden. Gerade ihre Mutter ist eine so starke Persönlichkeit, dass ich gern noch mehr von ihr gelesen hätte. Ansonsten gibt es bei "Für immer und einen Tag" aber absolut nichts zu meckern.
Fazit
Hach, das Buch ist schon so wunderschön anzusehen. Ist man davon schon total begeistert, wird einen auch die Geschichte nicht enttäuschen. Man spürt förmlich wie zerrissen Emma ist und erlebt ihre Geschichte mit eigenem Körper und eigener Seele. Der gesamte Roman ist sehr realitätsnah geschrieben, was mir sehr gut gefallen hat. Einzig, dass ich manche Charaktere gern noch besser kennen gelernt hätte hat dazu geführt, das ich eine Blümchen abziehen musste. Ansonsten kann ich "Für immer und einen Tag" nur empfehlen.
© www.mybooksparadise.de
Ich wartete geduldig vor Dr. Spellings ausladendem Schreibtisch, der fast das ganze Zimmer einnahm.
Meine Meinung
Inhalt
Emma hat noch so viel vor: Sie möchte heiraten, Kinder bekommen und einen Roman schreiben, doch das Leben macht ihr einen Strich durch die Rechnung. Der Krebs bricht erneut bei ihr aus und reißt ihr den Boden unter den Füßen weg. Sie setzt alles daran, sich wenigstens noch ein paar Wünsche erfüllen zu können, denn sie denkt, ihr wird nicht mehr viel Zeit bleiben. Kann sie ihre Krankheit erneut besiegen?
"Wir finden eine andere Möglichkeit, und wenn ich das Restaurant verliere, ist das auch nicht das Ende der Welt. Dich zu verlieren, wäre das Ende der Welt."
Seite 118
Charaktere
Bei Emma hatte ich wieder einmal das Bedürfnis sie fest zu umarmen. Ich stelle es mir total schlimm vor, wenn man gesagt bekommt, dass man die Krankheit doch nicht überstanden hat. Emma geht vorbildlich mit der Diagnose um. Sie versucht vor ihren Freunden und Verwandten die Starke zu markieren, doch in Wirklichkeit sieht es innerlich in ihr komplett anders aus. Sie hat zurecht große Angst.
"Es ist völlig egal, ob der Wind draußen heult oder wir das Rauschen der Brandung hören. Sobald ich deine Lippen spüre, bin ich zu Hause."
Seite 248
Gesamt
Der Roman fängt mit Emmas Roman an. Sie schreibt ihr Leben auf, jedenfalls das, was sie sich vom Leben erträumt hatte. Amanda Brooke hat die eigentliche Geschichte und den Roman von Emma durch Kursiv-Schrift gekennzeichnet, so dass man sofort bemerkt um was es gerade geht. Es hat mich nicht ein einziges Mal durcheinander gebracht. Die kleinen Ausflüge in Emmas Roman haben mir sehr gut gefallen. Ich habe oft mit einem dicken Kloß im Hals da gegessen, als ich gelesen habe, wie sehr sich die Protagonistin etwas Bestimmtes wünscht und dies so voller Leben niederschreibt. Emmas Buch hat einen komplett anderen Schreibstil, als der Rest der Geschichte. Ich hatte beim Lesen das Gefühl, als hätten wirklich zwei verschiedene Personen geschrieben.
Zu diesen für mich absoluten Pluspunkt kommt noch ein entscheidender hinzu: Ich habe mit gelitten. Die Krankheit von der Protagonistin hatte sich irgendwann auf mich übertragen und so fühlte auch ich mich total hilflos und verängstigt. Ich wollte nicht, dass Emma den Kampf verlieren wird und habe auf jeder einzelnen Seite gehofft, dass vielleicht doch noch ein medizinisches Wunder geschehen mag. Wie bei Emma gingen auch bei mir die Gedanken und Gefühle ständig auf und ab. Geschah etwas schönes, ging mir das Herz auf, wurde Emma emotional herunter gerissen, nahm sie mich mit sich in die Tiefe.
Amanda Brooke hat es geschafft ein wirklich ernstes Thema sehr gut umzusetzen. Der eigentliche Roman, gespickt mit dem von Emma ist wirklich eine hervorragende Idee. Die Autorin hat beides sehr gut umsetzen können.
Das Einzige, was mich ein bisschen gestört hat ist, dass Emmas Freunde und Familie leider ein bisschen im Dunkeln gelassen worden. Gerade ihre Mutter ist eine so starke Persönlichkeit, dass ich gern noch mehr von ihr gelesen hätte. Ansonsten gibt es bei "Für immer und einen Tag" aber absolut nichts zu meckern.
Fazit
Hach, das Buch ist schon so wunderschön anzusehen. Ist man davon schon total begeistert, wird einen auch die Geschichte nicht enttäuschen. Man spürt förmlich wie zerrissen Emma ist und erlebt ihre Geschichte mit eigenem Körper und eigener Seele. Der gesamte Roman ist sehr realitätsnah geschrieben, was mir sehr gut gefallen hat. Einzig, dass ich manche Charaktere gern noch besser kennen gelernt hätte hat dazu geführt, das ich eine Blümchen abziehen musste. Ansonsten kann ich "Für immer und einen Tag" nur empfehlen.
© www.mybooksparadise.de
August 8, 2013
Review originally posted on my blog at:
http://www.pagetostagereviews.com/201...
29-year-old Emma is devastated when she receives the news that her brain tumour has returned in such a severe way that she likely only has a few months left to live. Being so young there are many things she still dreams of doing and achieving in her life, so she decides to write them all down in the form of a novel. As fictional Emma gets the job she's always wanted and the perfect man to share her life with, the lines between fact and fiction start to blur and some of the things Emma puts to paper start happening to her in real life...
When a novel opens with the horrible news that the main character will likely not make it till the end you know you're in for a heartbreaking story. As expected this is an utter tearjerker throughout, and the last few chapters in particular were read by me with a heavy lump in my throat (I tried to hold it together as I desperately wanted to finish the story and I also did not want to weep all over my beautiful copy of the novel).
But this isn't just a very sad story about the final months in Emma's life and all the things she is missing out on. It's also one of hope and accomplishment as despite the terrible disease weakening Emma's body, making it extremely difficult for her to do the things she still wants to experience, she is a very strong and determined person and she manages to do it all at least to some extend. It makes you realise that if she can do this despite all the obstacles in her way then (almost) anything is possible.
The characters surrounding Emma were equally inspirational. Her mother at times is suffocating and overprotective, but the reader can sympathise with the character and completely understand why she's acting this way. There is something so fundamentally wrong about the idea of a parent losing a child that her stubbornness is a very relatable way to try and cope with this. And of course there are the wonderful friends surrounding Emma. They not only support her but they also give Emma a reason to not give up as she tries to do everything within her power to make them as happy as possible so she will not worry about what will to happen them after she's gone.
And then there's Ben. There are not enough words for me to describe how much I fell in love with him. He's the most generous, sweet and caring person you can imagine and Emma and Ben are exactly what they both need in their lives. They're perfect for each other, which makes it even more devastating and unfair that their relationship is not meant to last decades, like the good ones are supposed to. But perhaps because it is so short-lived they ensure to make the most of the precious time given to them.
Another Way to Fall is one of the most moving books I've read in a long time. Beautiful and inspirational yet also distressing and utterly heartbreaking. The compelling story about love and loss pulled me in straight away and kept me gripped until the final page. This is one of my favourite reads of 2013 and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
http://www.pagetostagereviews.com/201...
29-year-old Emma is devastated when she receives the news that her brain tumour has returned in such a severe way that she likely only has a few months left to live. Being so young there are many things she still dreams of doing and achieving in her life, so she decides to write them all down in the form of a novel. As fictional Emma gets the job she's always wanted and the perfect man to share her life with, the lines between fact and fiction start to blur and some of the things Emma puts to paper start happening to her in real life...
When a novel opens with the horrible news that the main character will likely not make it till the end you know you're in for a heartbreaking story. As expected this is an utter tearjerker throughout, and the last few chapters in particular were read by me with a heavy lump in my throat (I tried to hold it together as I desperately wanted to finish the story and I also did not want to weep all over my beautiful copy of the novel).
But this isn't just a very sad story about the final months in Emma's life and all the things she is missing out on. It's also one of hope and accomplishment as despite the terrible disease weakening Emma's body, making it extremely difficult for her to do the things she still wants to experience, she is a very strong and determined person and she manages to do it all at least to some extend. It makes you realise that if she can do this despite all the obstacles in her way then (almost) anything is possible.
The characters surrounding Emma were equally inspirational. Her mother at times is suffocating and overprotective, but the reader can sympathise with the character and completely understand why she's acting this way. There is something so fundamentally wrong about the idea of a parent losing a child that her stubbornness is a very relatable way to try and cope with this. And of course there are the wonderful friends surrounding Emma. They not only support her but they also give Emma a reason to not give up as she tries to do everything within her power to make them as happy as possible so she will not worry about what will to happen them after she's gone.
And then there's Ben. There are not enough words for me to describe how much I fell in love with him. He's the most generous, sweet and caring person you can imagine and Emma and Ben are exactly what they both need in their lives. They're perfect for each other, which makes it even more devastating and unfair that their relationship is not meant to last decades, like the good ones are supposed to. But perhaps because it is so short-lived they ensure to make the most of the precious time given to them.
Another Way to Fall is one of the most moving books I've read in a long time. Beautiful and inspirational yet also distressing and utterly heartbreaking. The compelling story about love and loss pulled me in straight away and kept me gripped until the final page. This is one of my favourite reads of 2013 and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
September 7, 2013
I was sent this by Harper Collins and as soon as I read the blurb I knew it was something I wanted to read. And that something I would get emotionally invested in and probably need tissues for.
I wanted to keep the review close to the release date so it would hopefully encourage people to read it.
It certainly did get me emotionally invested and creating a lot of tears. This book is amazingly written, Amanda Brooke really knows how to create characters and a plot line that is so solid I can't really find many faults. I felt the whole thing was realistic, which made it so much more gut wrenching.
I felt it was really easy to get in to, the reading time it took was very minimal, I managed it in around three days.
The book is based around Emma, who is told that the tumour she suffers with is winning out, and she is terminal. The story follows her and her family coming to terms with the fact, which is difficult for all involved. Emma begins to write a story in which she is cancer free, with all the things she would have experienced, the places she would go if her diagnosis was different.
I felt extremely thankful that I was able to read this story, one that lets you feel as the reader that you are let in to this world and see it with realism and truth. There are no prisoners kept where Brooke's writing is concerned.
The characters were all special in their own right. Emma especially, because of the strength of her character - for everything she gives us in this novel. Or should I say Brooke, as afterall she is the author of a spectacular novel.
I wish I had known to bring more tissues in to it, as it definietly it a tear jerker. It is worth it though, similar in respects to reading The Fault In Our Stars and that it is an emotional rollercoaster. This one obviously being aimed at the adult market is a good addition to the book world.
Amazed and impressed by this and will have to re-read again soon.
I wanted to keep the review close to the release date so it would hopefully encourage people to read it.
It certainly did get me emotionally invested and creating a lot of tears. This book is amazingly written, Amanda Brooke really knows how to create characters and a plot line that is so solid I can't really find many faults. I felt the whole thing was realistic, which made it so much more gut wrenching.
I felt it was really easy to get in to, the reading time it took was very minimal, I managed it in around three days.
The book is based around Emma, who is told that the tumour she suffers with is winning out, and she is terminal. The story follows her and her family coming to terms with the fact, which is difficult for all involved. Emma begins to write a story in which she is cancer free, with all the things she would have experienced, the places she would go if her diagnosis was different.
I felt extremely thankful that I was able to read this story, one that lets you feel as the reader that you are let in to this world and see it with realism and truth. There are no prisoners kept where Brooke's writing is concerned.
The characters were all special in their own right. Emma especially, because of the strength of her character - for everything she gives us in this novel. Or should I say Brooke, as afterall she is the author of a spectacular novel.
I wish I had known to bring more tissues in to it, as it definietly it a tear jerker. It is worth it though, similar in respects to reading The Fault In Our Stars and that it is an emotional rollercoaster. This one obviously being aimed at the adult market is a good addition to the book world.
Amazed and impressed by this and will have to re-read again soon.
September 28, 2015
9/10 from me. I picked this one up on a whim from the Library. I'd neither heard of the book nor the Author before.
This is the story of Emma a late twentysomething with a brain tumour that's not getting any better. As Emma's conditon gets worse, her Mum is working all the hours she can to raise money to send Emma abroad for further treatment. As Emma decides to make her own decisions regarding her health and treatment with the help of her Consultant, she risks upsetting her Mum but as she has been told that there is not a lot else that can be done for her, it's an easy decision for her to make. Why put herself through more treatment when she could enjoy the quality of life that she currently has.
As her current relatonship ends, she is left alone but love often has it's own plan for us and as a new relationship begins to blossom, life takes a turn for her. As Emma realises that she probably won't be able to do all that she had planned with her life, she begins to write a book and embarks on a journey where fiction and real life become increasingly blurred.
I enjoyed this story and please do not take any notice of the length of time taken to read, as I had to put the book to one side shortly after I'd started it as others needed to be read. This was an easy to read story and I really warmed to Emma, I felt sorry for her but felt that she was dealing well with her illnes. I could understand why her Mum was acting in the way that she was, as being a Mum I think I'd want to do all I could to prolong the life of my child too if I was in her shoes.
I shed plenty of tears along the way on this journey with Emma and her Mum and everyone else. It was an interesting premise, well written and researched. A great read to immerse yourself in, but a word of warning don't have the tissues too far away as you'll need the odd one or two.
This is the story of Emma a late twentysomething with a brain tumour that's not getting any better. As Emma's conditon gets worse, her Mum is working all the hours she can to raise money to send Emma abroad for further treatment. As Emma decides to make her own decisions regarding her health and treatment with the help of her Consultant, she risks upsetting her Mum but as she has been told that there is not a lot else that can be done for her, it's an easy decision for her to make. Why put herself through more treatment when she could enjoy the quality of life that she currently has.
As her current relatonship ends, she is left alone but love often has it's own plan for us and as a new relationship begins to blossom, life takes a turn for her. As Emma realises that she probably won't be able to do all that she had planned with her life, she begins to write a book and embarks on a journey where fiction and real life become increasingly blurred.
I enjoyed this story and please do not take any notice of the length of time taken to read, as I had to put the book to one side shortly after I'd started it as others needed to be read. This was an easy to read story and I really warmed to Emma, I felt sorry for her but felt that she was dealing well with her illnes. I could understand why her Mum was acting in the way that she was, as being a Mum I think I'd want to do all I could to prolong the life of my child too if I was in her shoes.
I shed plenty of tears along the way on this journey with Emma and her Mum and everyone else. It was an interesting premise, well written and researched. A great read to immerse yourself in, but a word of warning don't have the tissues too far away as you'll need the odd one or two.
September 7, 2013
I’m not really sure where to start this review. This book has left me very lost for words, it brings out so many emotions when you are reading.
Amanda’s writing style is amazing and keeps you wanting to read more. Like Shona, I read this book in a very short time frame as I couldn’t put it down!
I will definitely be recommending this book to friends, I haven’t read a book that draws out such vast emotions in a long time and I really am stuck for words right now. I think I can only sum this book up by saying go and buy it and try it for yourself! I promise you won’t be disappointed. Amanda has definitely gained herself a big fan :)
Amanda’s writing style is amazing and keeps you wanting to read more. Like Shona, I read this book in a very short time frame as I couldn’t put it down!
I will definitely be recommending this book to friends, I haven’t read a book that draws out such vast emotions in a long time and I really am stuck for words right now. I think I can only sum this book up by saying go and buy it and try it for yourself! I promise you won’t be disappointed. Amanda has definitely gained herself a big fan :)
February 25, 2014
I finished this book with tears running down my cheeks sobbing uncontrollably. It was absolutely fantastic. This is the sort of book that could make you reflect your views on certain sensitive subjects relating to, not just cancer patients themselves, but their families and friends alike. Or at least, that's how it made me feel.
I would recommend this book to you if you are a fan of Jojo Moyes, Cecelia Ahern, and John Green type books.
Actually, i would recommend this book to everyone because i really did think it was brilliant. I could almost quite literally feel the book continually tie my heart strings in knots (in the best way possible).
It is wonderful. Just, wonderful.
I would recommend this book to you if you are a fan of Jojo Moyes, Cecelia Ahern, and John Green type books.
Actually, i would recommend this book to everyone because i really did think it was brilliant. I could almost quite literally feel the book continually tie my heart strings in knots (in the best way possible).
It is wonderful. Just, wonderful.
March 25, 2015
I must admit, beginning this book I thought that I wouldn't be able to finish it. I just couldn't get into it but i persisted. And I'm glad I did...it is one of the best books I read in quite awhile. At first, i couldn't get how she is writing "her" book but as you get into the story and realize what's happening, it's touching how she writes her life. I hate to give away any of the story line but i will say, it is for sure a book that i would highly recommend to read. During the last chapter, you know what's happening and i felt as if i was there with her and the tears were streaming down my face as i finished it. A five star read for sure.
February 10, 2019
Like many other readers, I had a very hard time getting into the book. The storyline captivated me to start the book, but I felt the author could have given more to the reader from the beginning. I really got into the book at about 60% read. At 60% read, it was the story I hoped to get sucked into.
I am glad I finished the book. Have a Kleenex handy. I am only giving 3/5 star rating for the fact it took so long to captivate me as the reader.
I am glad I finished the book. Have a Kleenex handy. I am only giving 3/5 star rating for the fact it took so long to captivate me as the reader.
December 14, 2014
This is literally a book I picked up from the book store simply to surprise myself with what it has to offer. To a great surprise, Emma got me thinking that life isn't that bad, and there is always someonelse out there with bigger calamities. The ending, broke my heart. Good job, Amanda Brooke!
December 15, 2019
Quite enjoyed this,heartbreaking for someone so young to be knowing time is running out.Tad long for 400 pages, some dull parts and the change from reality to the writings of her book were a bit weird but ultimately it kept me reading till the end.
August 13, 2014
This book had me crying and laughing and drowning in my emotions. When I first picked this book up I had no idea of the story it would tell or the beauty of the way it was told. Beautiful to read.
October 6, 2014
A beautiful book. Absolutely beautiful.
February 13, 2015
Such an amazing book. I couldn't put it down and I was reading through tears a lot of the time towards the end. Looking forward to reading more of this author's work.
December 31, 2015
such a painfull story.. :'(
i need a guy like Ben..
i need a guy like Ben..
December 11, 2014
i totally dislike bad ending ... ughh i hate crying while reading the final chapter ...
November 19, 2017
The story is gripping, breathtaking and sad. Yet it reminds you to take life as it comes and make the most of it.
The writing itself was a little too focused on the gossip to my liking. This person has a relationship with that person and these guys are not on speaking terms and oh yeah, the main character also has some unresolved issues from the past...
I also think 400 pages is simply not enough for 2 books, some things were rushed and I think some things could have been spoken about in debt more.
All the negatives aside though, I cried for the last 20 pages and am utterly touched by the book.
The writing itself was a little too focused on the gossip to my liking. This person has a relationship with that person and these guys are not on speaking terms and oh yeah, the main character also has some unresolved issues from the past...
I also think 400 pages is simply not enough for 2 books, some things were rushed and I think some things could have been spoken about in debt more.
All the negatives aside though, I cried for the last 20 pages and am utterly touched by the book.
December 21, 2022
I picked up this book years ago from a local bookstore, only had found my way to reading it now. Wished I would have read it earlier, I thought it will be one of those mushy romance genre, but to my surprise it did made me shed a little tears in the end.
Wonder how your life would be if you know that you have illness and it's terminal ? We would probably be depressed and feel sorry for ourselves but do we think about the people around us ? The one we loved, how it affects them once we are gone ? Or how much you will make the most of your time left ?
This book is about courage, forgiveness, acceptance, moving on even if the end means death.
Wonder how your life would be if you know that you have illness and it's terminal ? We would probably be depressed and feel sorry for ourselves but do we think about the people around us ? The one we loved, how it affects them once we are gone ? Or how much you will make the most of your time left ?
This book is about courage, forgiveness, acceptance, moving on even if the end means death.
June 2, 2018
A book that needs to be sold with a box of tissues to a reader like me.
Heartbreakingly sad and so poignant it was a rollercoaster of emotions.
A very tender and honestly heartfelt storytelling, both the book and the story within it.
I confess that I spent the whole book willing the story that Emma was writing to become true.
Heartbreakingly sad and so poignant it was a rollercoaster of emotions.
A very tender and honestly heartfelt storytelling, both the book and the story within it.
I confess that I spent the whole book willing the story that Emma was writing to become true.
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