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Between
Between the two of them, Carolyn and Barbara's 30-year friendship embraced all that life passionate love, crazy families, good and bad marriages, a fabulous circle of friends, loads of laughter, sickness, health and, ultimately, death. When Barbara is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer she has nowhere to go to die. Carolyn opens her heart and home, creating a serene and happy place for Barbara's final months on earth, enabling her to really live before she dies. If you have ever had a truly wonderful friendship--or wonder what one looks like--read this book. It's based on a true story.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2013
1 person is currently reading
258 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 19, 2015
A diagnosis of pancreatic cancer means that death is not far away. Even so I sometimes wondered if I was reading a memoir written by a survivor of that dreadful disease as I read Debra Samson's novel, Between. Samson's writing is that personal and immediate.
She tells the story of Barbara Sue Herbert, whose deadened spirit, devalued self image, and unhappy marriage, made her feel dead long before pancreatic cancer threatened her life. Alone and miserable she calls on her close friend from junior high, Carolyn, who offers to let her come to her Florida home so she'll have a peaceful place to die.
Barbara leaves a successful career teaching physical therapy students at Columbia University. But when she leaves for Florida, she takes a writing project, a manual about what has and has not worked in training from the point of view of students, teachers, and patients. It will be her gift to the career that set her free from her deadly marriage. So ironic that physical therapy cannot eliminate the deadly path of cancer as it eats away at Barbara's cells and organs, introducing excessive pain that can only be controlled by morphine and drains her life away.
Barbara's new location and her treasured friend, Carolyn, breathe more life into her than chemo or any other medical treatment. Carolyn's home is an oasis, a place where she's surrounded by the peace and beauty she's been seeking for years. Even Carolyn's husband lends his support, and Barbara is surrounded with love, peace, and joy, as well as a regretful ex, as she progresses through the end stages and into the next world.
We should all be this lucky, if the word lucky can even be used to refer to a story about dealing with cancer. Between records Barbara's journey into peace. That's a subject that will interest almost anyone who's ever lost a loved one or been threatened with a debilitating and/or deadly disease.
Bodies die, but spirits cans thrive even under arduous circumstances. Samson explores hope and help for the dying in this well-researched book. No one has ever been able to come back from the dead to report on the experience of dying, but Samson comes close as she combines her knowledge take from Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, Buddhist philosophy, and her own interpretations and observations.
This is a story about the power of friendship, love, trust, and...yes...illness. Based on a true story, it's about how all of these factors can change us and move us forward on our journey. As I mentioned earlier, I felt like I was inside a memoir of a woman trying to justify her life and experiences as I read the early chapters, but the further I got into the book, the more I felt that a little whininess and self-justification made Barbara more real. If she'd been uncomplaining from the start, we wouldn't have appreciated her growth.
Between contains hope, inspiration, and triumph. Barbara is portrayed in an authentic, intelligent, heartfelt manner. If literature allows us to explore our uncertainties and try on other people's lives, then Samson's book is definitely literature.
by B. Lynn Goodwin
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women
She tells the story of Barbara Sue Herbert, whose deadened spirit, devalued self image, and unhappy marriage, made her feel dead long before pancreatic cancer threatened her life. Alone and miserable she calls on her close friend from junior high, Carolyn, who offers to let her come to her Florida home so she'll have a peaceful place to die.
Barbara leaves a successful career teaching physical therapy students at Columbia University. But when she leaves for Florida, she takes a writing project, a manual about what has and has not worked in training from the point of view of students, teachers, and patients. It will be her gift to the career that set her free from her deadly marriage. So ironic that physical therapy cannot eliminate the deadly path of cancer as it eats away at Barbara's cells and organs, introducing excessive pain that can only be controlled by morphine and drains her life away.
Barbara's new location and her treasured friend, Carolyn, breathe more life into her than chemo or any other medical treatment. Carolyn's home is an oasis, a place where she's surrounded by the peace and beauty she's been seeking for years. Even Carolyn's husband lends his support, and Barbara is surrounded with love, peace, and joy, as well as a regretful ex, as she progresses through the end stages and into the next world.
We should all be this lucky, if the word lucky can even be used to refer to a story about dealing with cancer. Between records Barbara's journey into peace. That's a subject that will interest almost anyone who's ever lost a loved one or been threatened with a debilitating and/or deadly disease.
Bodies die, but spirits cans thrive even under arduous circumstances. Samson explores hope and help for the dying in this well-researched book. No one has ever been able to come back from the dead to report on the experience of dying, but Samson comes close as she combines her knowledge take from Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, Buddhist philosophy, and her own interpretations and observations.
This is a story about the power of friendship, love, trust, and...yes...illness. Based on a true story, it's about how all of these factors can change us and move us forward on our journey. As I mentioned earlier, I felt like I was inside a memoir of a woman trying to justify her life and experiences as I read the early chapters, but the further I got into the book, the more I felt that a little whininess and self-justification made Barbara more real. If she'd been uncomplaining from the start, we wouldn't have appreciated her growth.
Between contains hope, inspiration, and triumph. Barbara is portrayed in an authentic, intelligent, heartfelt manner. If literature allows us to explore our uncertainties and try on other people's lives, then Samson's book is definitely literature.
by B. Lynn Goodwin
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women
February 12, 2014
I thought this story offered a provocative look at death from multiple perspectives. So many issues involving terminal illness, life choices, friendship, family, marriage, etc. were covered through the course of Barbara's story. The book makes you think about what things you may really look back on and recognize as defining moments in your life. It is often easy to have an opinion on something when you aren't directly involved and this book reminds you that we each have to make our own choices regardless of the opinions of those outsiders. The best family and friends will find a way to accept your choices and offer support even if they may make a different choice when it comes to their own illness and treatment options. I was happy to see a book add aspects of eastern medicine or holistic approaches to both life and death because it offered an aspect of how the psyche can truly affect health in many cases. Overall, I found the story and characters to be real people dealing with real issues from a unique perspective that was centered on the patient's point of view and what the patient needed more than anything.
June 9, 2013
I am not sure I can encapsulate my feelings in words. What I know is that it affected me deeply. I was drawn in to Barbara and Carolyn's lives so thoroughly, I felt like I knew them, I wanted to be their friends. I WAS their friends! I even believed that I had lived their lives, that I was in their bodies. I found myself angry at the seeming unfairness of illness and death and so many other facets of Barbara's life. But much more often, I was exhilerated. The depth and generosity of the friendship between these two women is dizzingly beautiful.
The story flows easily, the words are poetic without being heavy or unwieldy, and the entire piece feels whole and real. Details are so well thought-out, and give the entire story a smooth verisimiliitude.
The book should come with a warning. It will make you cry. But in the most good-feeling way. Thank you, Debra, for creating a book that moved me so deeply. I have already ordered five more copies to give to friends.
The story flows easily, the words are poetic without being heavy or unwieldy, and the entire piece feels whole and real. Details are so well thought-out, and give the entire story a smooth verisimiliitude.
The book should come with a warning. It will make you cry. But in the most good-feeling way. Thank you, Debra, for creating a book that moved me so deeply. I have already ordered five more copies to give to friends.
June 21, 2013
Great book about real life. I found myself relating to the characters, respecting and admiring their choices, understanding their fears. Often we do not know how to react to illness, in ourselves or others. Between helped me to better understand others and myself. It made me want to be a better friend, and helped me to see how to be one. It is rare that you can say a book really changed you for the better. I can say that about Between. Thanks Debra!
November 7, 2014
This is a beautifully written book about friendship and the process of dying of cancer at a relatively young age. It is a compelling read.
February 7, 2015
This is an amazing read. The author does a wonderful job of dealing with death both pragmatically and at the same time with dignity. Lovely book - highly recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews