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Five Days Left
Mara Nichols is a successful lawyer, devoted wife, and adoptive mother who has received a life-shattering diagnosis. Scott Coffman, a middle school teacher, has been fostering an eight-year-old boy while the boy’s mother serves a jail sentence. Scott and Mara both have five days left until they must say good-bye to the ones they love the most.
Through their stories, Julie Lawson Timmer explores the individual limits of human endurance and the power of relationships, and shows that sometimes loving someone means holding on, and sometimes it means letting go.
Through their stories, Julie Lawson Timmer explores the individual limits of human endurance and the power of relationships, and shows that sometimes loving someone means holding on, and sometimes it means letting go.
400 pages, Paperback
First published September 9, 2014
183 people are currently reading
9107 people want to read
About the author
Julie Lawson Timmer
5 books331 followersJulie Lawson Timmer grew up in Stratford, Ontario, Canada, and now lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan with her husband Dan, their children and two badly-behaved rescued dogs. By turns, she is an author, lawyer, mom/stepmom, and fledgling yogi. She is the author of FIVE DAYS LEFT (Putnam 2014), UNTETHERED (Putnam 2016) and MRS. SAINT AND THE DEFECTIVES (coming August 1, 2017 from Lake Union).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,172 reviews
June 27, 2017
I read and enjoyed Julie Lawson Timmer's Untethered last year, and I had actually bought this book first. Unfortunately, I filed it away in the "sad books" category in my own head and was waiting for the "right time" to read it. Thank goodness I finally found the right time because I felt deeply connected to the two storylines.
Mara has been diagnosed with Huntington's Disease, and Scott has spent the last year being the best foster parent ever. As I walked through Five Days with each of these characters and their families, I found myself repeatedly asking - what would I do in their shoes? This book would make the perfect book club read because there are so many points of discussion - foster families/adoption, degenerative illnesses and marriage, illnesses and families/parenting, and many others.
I'm hesitant with sad books. I'm skeptical because I've read many that end up feeling trite or even just too easy. There was never an easy or pat moment. The writing was raw at times. It was moving. It was engaging, and it was tender. It was honest and powerful, and I'm so grateful that I read it.
2017 Summer Vacation Book #9
Mara has been diagnosed with Huntington's Disease, and Scott has spent the last year being the best foster parent ever. As I walked through Five Days with each of these characters and their families, I found myself repeatedly asking - what would I do in their shoes? This book would make the perfect book club read because there are so many points of discussion - foster families/adoption, degenerative illnesses and marriage, illnesses and families/parenting, and many others.
I'm hesitant with sad books. I'm skeptical because I've read many that end up feeling trite or even just too easy. There was never an easy or pat moment. The writing was raw at times. It was moving. It was engaging, and it was tender. It was honest and powerful, and I'm so grateful that I read it.
2017 Summer Vacation Book #9
July 25, 2015
Hand me the mop, the bottle overturned and syrup is dripping all over the place. Where’s the electric, where’s the zap, all I got was gooey sap! But that’s not all. Snooze city! Boring people leading boring lives in the boring ‘burbs. It has been hard to even rally the juices to write a review, this book is so mind-numbing.
The story is about Mara, a woman with a terminal illness who is giving herself five days to decide whether to off herself. You might wonder how this could be boring, but it is. It’s a case of a good premise being ruined by bad storytelling and pedestrian characters.
There is detail overload on nothing but drivel. Doesn’t happen a lot, but even a little is too much. Sort of reminds me of the ridiculous Facebook entries: “I had meatloaf with beans for dinner” or “Timmy is so proud that he shared his Legos with Miranda!” or “I’m off to the gas station!” I’m sorry, but do we really need to spend our precious time reading such embarrassing proclamations?
The biggest crime is that another even sappier and nap-inducing story (about a guy with a foster kid) competes for air space. I felt rudely interrupted every time the book switched to story number two. Wouldn’t you think that a terminally ill, suicidal woman would be enough? And the two characters are held together by a weak thread—both belong to an online forum, which is a complete yawn in itself. The two characters barely speak online anyway. The forum is an empty device used to blend two unblendable stories.
The language seems remedial and sophomoric and simpleton-ick. No zap, as I said earlier. And the stilted dialogue made me cringe. I kept yelling (silently, of course): people don’t talk that way! And there was an especially wince-worthy character in the form of a saintly cabbie who transports Mara around. His oh-golly personality combined with his overly self-effacing and simplistic language made him sound like a half-wit. His embarrassingly awkward oh-gosh sentences drove me nuts. Here’s one: “Ya havin’ a cover-dish party? Looks like you’ve got company and they brung dinner.” (What the hell is a “cover dish party” anyway? Is this a common phrase that only I have never heard of? In any case, I have trouble believing the cabbie would use it.)
One other dialogue complaint, but this is just my problem: The foster dad constantly referred to his foster kid as “little man.” Who knew that a harmless nickname would make me cringe! Just hated this cutesy-pie endearment. If the guy called his kid “little man” one more time, I swear I would have puked.
There’s one (and only one) redeeming thing about this book. There are poignant descriptions of the episodes where the main character loses more and more of her abilities, and the psychic pain and embarrassment she endures when they occur. Now this was believable and heart-wrenching.
This book was recommended to me, and the reviews are almost all positive, which both surprises and depresses me. I just don’t get it. It’s lonely out here. I’m waiting for the tomatoes to hit me, though I’m gonna duck.
My summation: I had no connection with the characters. Their dilemmas were repeated ad nauseum. Horribly simplistic and dull language. Two stories when there should have been one. Sappy and trite, worse than a Hallmark movie.
I gave it 2 stars instead of 1 only because it was a fast read and I was mildly interested in whether she would kill herself. The longest five days of my life.
The story is about Mara, a woman with a terminal illness who is giving herself five days to decide whether to off herself. You might wonder how this could be boring, but it is. It’s a case of a good premise being ruined by bad storytelling and pedestrian characters.
There is detail overload on nothing but drivel. Doesn’t happen a lot, but even a little is too much. Sort of reminds me of the ridiculous Facebook entries: “I had meatloaf with beans for dinner” or “Timmy is so proud that he shared his Legos with Miranda!” or “I’m off to the gas station!” I’m sorry, but do we really need to spend our precious time reading such embarrassing proclamations?
The biggest crime is that another even sappier and nap-inducing story (about a guy with a foster kid) competes for air space. I felt rudely interrupted every time the book switched to story number two. Wouldn’t you think that a terminally ill, suicidal woman would be enough? And the two characters are held together by a weak thread—both belong to an online forum, which is a complete yawn in itself. The two characters barely speak online anyway. The forum is an empty device used to blend two unblendable stories.
The language seems remedial and sophomoric and simpleton-ick. No zap, as I said earlier. And the stilted dialogue made me cringe. I kept yelling (silently, of course): people don’t talk that way! And there was an especially wince-worthy character in the form of a saintly cabbie who transports Mara around. His oh-golly personality combined with his overly self-effacing and simplistic language made him sound like a half-wit. His embarrassingly awkward oh-gosh sentences drove me nuts. Here’s one: “Ya havin’ a cover-dish party? Looks like you’ve got company and they brung dinner.” (What the hell is a “cover dish party” anyway? Is this a common phrase that only I have never heard of? In any case, I have trouble believing the cabbie would use it.)
One other dialogue complaint, but this is just my problem: The foster dad constantly referred to his foster kid as “little man.” Who knew that a harmless nickname would make me cringe! Just hated this cutesy-pie endearment. If the guy called his kid “little man” one more time, I swear I would have puked.
There’s one (and only one) redeeming thing about this book. There are poignant descriptions of the episodes where the main character loses more and more of her abilities, and the psychic pain and embarrassment she endures when they occur. Now this was believable and heart-wrenching.
This book was recommended to me, and the reviews are almost all positive, which both surprises and depresses me. I just don’t get it. It’s lonely out here. I’m waiting for the tomatoes to hit me, though I’m gonna duck.
My summation: I had no connection with the characters. Their dilemmas were repeated ad nauseum. Horribly simplistic and dull language. Two stories when there should have been one. Sappy and trite, worse than a Hallmark movie.
I gave it 2 stars instead of 1 only because it was a fast read and I was mildly interested in whether she would kill herself. The longest five days of my life.
October 30, 2015
My Review: Have you ever finished a book and needed time to digest it afterwards? A book that has made you think? A book that has ravaged you emotionally so that you're in shock afterwards?
This book did that to me.
Five Days Left was a glimpse into the private lives of two families as they struggle to come to terms with the fact that there are things in their lives that they cannot control. While both story lines were weaved together well, it was Mara's story that was at the forefront. Not that Scott's decisions were less important, just different. I'm glad that his story intersected with Mara's because if the entire story was about her I think it would have been too much for me to bear.
Going into the book I thought I had it figured out. I knew that it would be an emotional read just from glancing at the book jacket but I didn't predict that it would make me think so much about the two issues that were raised involving suicide and foster parenting. My hats off to Ms Lawson Timmer for her ability to make me see both sides of these highly sensitive issues. At the end of the book I was left not knowing how I would have handled myself in a similar situations. This book made me think and feel. And I loved it.
In Mara's case, where she's suffering from a debilitating and devastating disease, it had me thinking about what my initial reaction would be if I saw someone stumbling (or worse) at the food store. Would I automatically assume it was due to an incurable disease? Or would I assume that the person was drunk? How would I have handled the situation if I was in Mara's unfortunate shoes?
The characters truly brought this book to a whole different level for me. They were believable and their relationships to each other were perfectly written. I loved Mara's relationship with her parents, her daughter and husband. I also loved Laurie's conflicting issues with Scott and how they figured out their future as a family. Even the secondary characters, like Mara's parents and Harry, the cabbie, were well fleshed out and felt authentic and important to the story. Add into the fact that I loved the author's voice from the beginning and you can see why I got so involved into this book. It was riveting from beginning to end.
One of the most important things that I will take away from this book is that I was educated on the devastating physical and emotional effects of Huntington's Disease. I could feel Mara's humiliation as she struggled with the increasingly embarrassing results of the degenerative disease that was taking over her life. I could also understand her desire to not wanting her family to watch her suffer and deal with the pain of caring for all of her needs in the near future. But I also didn't want her to end her life. Mara's options were portrayed so well that I honestly didn't know what her decision would be until the I finished the book.
Not everyone will agree with the decisions that were made in this book -- and that's okay. People will react differently to this book and, for that reason, I think that this book would make an excellent choice for a book club. I think that everyone who reads this book will be on the edge of their seats wondering what Mara's choice will be because there are no simple answers.
This was an exceptional book for me but if pressed to give a suggestion to improve it I'd have to say that I would have loved to have had the viewpoints of some of the secondary characters (like like Laurie and Tom, Mara's husband or even Harry). Even if it was only within an epilogue, their input would have helped to give me a better understanding of their struggles and fears.
This was an exceptionally good debut from a new Canadian author. It was powerful and poignant and covered a lot of emotional ground. From biological versus non-biological children, sacrifice versus suicide, terminal illness, depending on strangers versus turning to family for emotional support ... This book has a lot packed into it but I love that the author doesn't try to give the reader the answers. Honestly, I don't think there is one definitive answer. Instead, Lawson Timmer gives the reader different views of these two emotional decisions and allows them to come up with their own conclusions. I think that this is one of the aspects of the book that impressed me the most.
This was a home run for me. The characters were beautifully and realistically portrayed. The plot kept me at the edge of my seat as it dealt with serious issues without pity but with sympathy and respect. The author's ability to weave two different stories together was seamless and I loved how she incorporated all kinds of family relationships and dynamics. And, last but not least, her talent for writing an emotional read (to the point when I'm crying with a huge lump in my throat and my dog is looking at me like I'm crazy) is unparalleled. Needless to say, I'm very eager to see what future literary gems she will produce.
Highly recommended.
My Rating: 5/5 stars
** This book review, as well as hundreds more, can also be found on my blog, The Baking Bookworm (www.thebakingbookworm.blogspot.ca) where I also share tried and true recipes. **
This book did that to me.
Five Days Left was a glimpse into the private lives of two families as they struggle to come to terms with the fact that there are things in their lives that they cannot control. While both story lines were weaved together well, it was Mara's story that was at the forefront. Not that Scott's decisions were less important, just different. I'm glad that his story intersected with Mara's because if the entire story was about her I think it would have been too much for me to bear.
Going into the book I thought I had it figured out. I knew that it would be an emotional read just from glancing at the book jacket but I didn't predict that it would make me think so much about the two issues that were raised involving suicide and foster parenting. My hats off to Ms Lawson Timmer for her ability to make me see both sides of these highly sensitive issues. At the end of the book I was left not knowing how I would have handled myself in a similar situations. This book made me think and feel. And I loved it.
In Mara's case, where she's suffering from a debilitating and devastating disease, it had me thinking about what my initial reaction would be if I saw someone stumbling (or worse) at the food store. Would I automatically assume it was due to an incurable disease? Or would I assume that the person was drunk? How would I have handled the situation if I was in Mara's unfortunate shoes?
The characters truly brought this book to a whole different level for me. They were believable and their relationships to each other were perfectly written. I loved Mara's relationship with her parents, her daughter and husband. I also loved Laurie's conflicting issues with Scott and how they figured out their future as a family. Even the secondary characters, like Mara's parents and Harry, the cabbie, were well fleshed out and felt authentic and important to the story. Add into the fact that I loved the author's voice from the beginning and you can see why I got so involved into this book. It was riveting from beginning to end.
One of the most important things that I will take away from this book is that I was educated on the devastating physical and emotional effects of Huntington's Disease. I could feel Mara's humiliation as she struggled with the increasingly embarrassing results of the degenerative disease that was taking over her life. I could also understand her desire to not wanting her family to watch her suffer and deal with the pain of caring for all of her needs in the near future. But I also didn't want her to end her life. Mara's options were portrayed so well that I honestly didn't know what her decision would be until the I finished the book.
Not everyone will agree with the decisions that were made in this book -- and that's okay. People will react differently to this book and, for that reason, I think that this book would make an excellent choice for a book club. I think that everyone who reads this book will be on the edge of their seats wondering what Mara's choice will be because there are no simple answers.
This was an exceptional book for me but if pressed to give a suggestion to improve it I'd have to say that I would have loved to have had the viewpoints of some of the secondary characters (like like Laurie and Tom, Mara's husband or even Harry). Even if it was only within an epilogue, their input would have helped to give me a better understanding of their struggles and fears.
This was an exceptionally good debut from a new Canadian author. It was powerful and poignant and covered a lot of emotional ground. From biological versus non-biological children, sacrifice versus suicide, terminal illness, depending on strangers versus turning to family for emotional support ... This book has a lot packed into it but I love that the author doesn't try to give the reader the answers. Honestly, I don't think there is one definitive answer. Instead, Lawson Timmer gives the reader different views of these two emotional decisions and allows them to come up with their own conclusions. I think that this is one of the aspects of the book that impressed me the most.
This was a home run for me. The characters were beautifully and realistically portrayed. The plot kept me at the edge of my seat as it dealt with serious issues without pity but with sympathy and respect. The author's ability to weave two different stories together was seamless and I loved how she incorporated all kinds of family relationships and dynamics. And, last but not least, her talent for writing an emotional read (to the point when I'm crying with a huge lump in my throat and my dog is looking at me like I'm crazy) is unparalleled. Needless to say, I'm very eager to see what future literary gems she will produce.
Highly recommended.
My Rating: 5/5 stars
** This book review, as well as hundreds more, can also be found on my blog, The Baking Bookworm (www.thebakingbookworm.blogspot.ca) where I also share tried and true recipes. **
September 10, 2019
I’ve owned this book for years.
While gathering some books together to give away - I came across this paperback.
I had read “Untethered” by Julie Lawson, ... Canadian born- a few years ago - and remembered liking her book.
Funny... I re-read my old review of “Untethered” just seconds ago...
I made a comment about the author possibly being overzealous in covering too many topics in one book - but I definitely enjoyed it.
Julie may have been a little overzealous again ( actually this was her first book),
but overall, the issues-at-hand-to-examine were significantly valuable.
The two stories:
First story: Mara has Huntington disease. She has a serious decision to make. Either let the disease kill her on its own time - or she could control her chosen death day.
Mara picked her birthday -a few years out - so her family could combined their grievances on just one day.
Smart thinking - actually... morbid and sad possibly but it made sense to me.
Second story: Scott and his pregnant wife are foster parents to a young boy. The mother is in jail. They are going to need to make a decision as to keep him ( adopt him or send him back).
The story gets complicated. Scott’s wife wants to send the foster child back ... Scott doesn’t. His other son doesn’t. Not an easy situation.
Both stories are interesting... because we can’t help but wonder what we might do if we were in their shoes.
It’s so easy to see many points of view.
This novel deals with several tragic circumstances....
A degenerative disease, suicide as an optional solution, abusive situations, parenting, marriage, family, foster care and adoption, and even poverty.
I definitely thought about all that was going on...all the sufferings....(I’m not a completely cold fish),
but, I didn’t ‘feel’ depression-overload from the stories. I didn’t cry.
Ha... and I can cry in everything!
Mostly, I found this book thought-provoking —-exploring and examining the decision choices - in response to events where there was no control of the undesirable-core-facts-of-life.
I experienced empathy - but not down-right devastation...(it was a healthier way to read this in my opinion)...
....yet situations were yucky-awful!!!!
I have several friends needing to make decisions about medical things they are dealing with. They are in my thoughts - wishing for the best possible outcome. They were part of my self-reflection while reading this.
Julie Lawson created an opportunity to contemplate very real decisions people need to make. My ‘very real’ friends have to make them, too.
***An excellent bookclub pick***
The conversations readers could pull from this novel - are possibly and equally as poignant as reading it.
A look at online support proves to be interesting
with those anonymous chat rooms, .... exposing how they support people and how they don’t.
The basic premises of this novel - (ways to resolve very challenging and difficult situations), is worth exploring.
The author gives great insight into:
....living with a devastating illness:
....the unexpected -
....the unplanned -
....crisis involving children
....and the decisions they ultimately make.
A powerful look at ways we prepare for those things we wish we didn’t have to.
While gathering some books together to give away - I came across this paperback.
I had read “Untethered” by Julie Lawson, ... Canadian born- a few years ago - and remembered liking her book.
Funny... I re-read my old review of “Untethered” just seconds ago...
I made a comment about the author possibly being overzealous in covering too many topics in one book - but I definitely enjoyed it.
Julie may have been a little overzealous again ( actually this was her first book),
but overall, the issues-at-hand-to-examine were significantly valuable.
The two stories:
First story: Mara has Huntington disease. She has a serious decision to make. Either let the disease kill her on its own time - or she could control her chosen death day.
Mara picked her birthday -a few years out - so her family could combined their grievances on just one day.
Smart thinking - actually... morbid and sad possibly but it made sense to me.
Second story: Scott and his pregnant wife are foster parents to a young boy. The mother is in jail. They are going to need to make a decision as to keep him ( adopt him or send him back).
The story gets complicated. Scott’s wife wants to send the foster child back ... Scott doesn’t. His other son doesn’t. Not an easy situation.
Both stories are interesting... because we can’t help but wonder what we might do if we were in their shoes.
It’s so easy to see many points of view.
This novel deals with several tragic circumstances....
A degenerative disease, suicide as an optional solution, abusive situations, parenting, marriage, family, foster care and adoption, and even poverty.
I definitely thought about all that was going on...all the sufferings....(I’m not a completely cold fish),
but, I didn’t ‘feel’ depression-overload from the stories. I didn’t cry.
Ha... and I can cry in everything!
Mostly, I found this book thought-provoking —-exploring and examining the decision choices - in response to events where there was no control of the undesirable-core-facts-of-life.
I experienced empathy - but not down-right devastation...(it was a healthier way to read this in my opinion)...
....yet situations were yucky-awful!!!!
I have several friends needing to make decisions about medical things they are dealing with. They are in my thoughts - wishing for the best possible outcome. They were part of my self-reflection while reading this.
Julie Lawson created an opportunity to contemplate very real decisions people need to make. My ‘very real’ friends have to make them, too.
***An excellent bookclub pick***
The conversations readers could pull from this novel - are possibly and equally as poignant as reading it.
A look at online support proves to be interesting
with those anonymous chat rooms, .... exposing how they support people and how they don’t.
The basic premises of this novel - (ways to resolve very challenging and difficult situations), is worth exploring.
The author gives great insight into:
....living with a devastating illness:
....the unexpected -
....the unplanned -
....crisis involving children
....and the decisions they ultimately make.
A powerful look at ways we prepare for those things we wish we didn’t have to.
December 14, 2022
4⭐
Featuring ~ dual 3rd person POV, lawyer, Huntington's disease, adoption, foster parenting, death, heartbreaking, debut
Our narrators are Mara who has been diagnosed with Huntington's disease and Scott who's foster parenting days are coming to an end. Scott has loved every day with his foster son for years, but soon his mother will regain custody of him. They meet on an online chat forum and each have five days left.
I felt that the author did a good job of showing how Mara had difficulty concentrating, memory lapses, depression, stumbling and clumsiness and mood swings, which are the main symptoms people face with this rare, inherited disease that causes the progressive breakdown (degeneration) of nerve cells in the brain.
Your heart just breaks for each of our main characters and the family involved. Overall, a wonderfully, well written and heartbreaking debut.
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
Featuring ~ dual 3rd person POV, lawyer, Huntington's disease, adoption, foster parenting, death, heartbreaking, debut
Our narrators are Mara who has been diagnosed with Huntington's disease and Scott who's foster parenting days are coming to an end. Scott has loved every day with his foster son for years, but soon his mother will regain custody of him. They meet on an online chat forum and each have five days left.
I felt that the author did a good job of showing how Mara had difficulty concentrating, memory lapses, depression, stumbling and clumsiness and mood swings, which are the main symptoms people face with this rare, inherited disease that causes the progressive breakdown (degeneration) of nerve cells in the brain.
Your heart just breaks for each of our main characters and the family involved. Overall, a wonderfully, well written and heartbreaking debut.
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
November 25, 2014
According to Wikipedia:
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative genetic disorder that affects muscle coordination and leads to cognitive decline and behavioral symptoms. It typically becomes noticeable in mid-adult life.
And after reading Five Days Left by Julie Lawson Timmer, who is a Canadian author, I can't stop myself from penning down the following spectacular and moving poem written by an anonymous boy for his "Huntington's-stricken" mother:
She tried to hide it,
But it didn’t take long
Before I began to notice
That something was wrong.
I was still young,
So I didn’t understand
What could be causing
The tremors in her hand
I was confused
And I didn’t know why
Dropping something
Would cause her to cry
Is this my fault?
Is it something I did?
I thought it was because
I was a bad kid
Year after year
I saw her get worse
It’s painful to watch
The disease takes its course
Sometimes she’d get snappy
She would be hard to please
I had to remember
It was just the disease
Where did my mom go?
Will she ever be back?
She’s trapped in her body
And it’s under attack
Her movements are jerky
Her arms are always flailing
I cry because I know
Her body is failing
Now, she can’t walk
And she struggles to stand
The things that she says
I can’t understand
I admire her courage
And I will always love her
No matter what happens
There are angels above her
I have to be strong
I do my best to care for her
I love her so much
I will always be there for her
My little sister is 10
And I try to keep her protected
I try to keep things normal
But I know she’s been affected
I’m worried about my sister
On the outside I’m calm
But she needs more than I can give her
And I can’t be her mom
Sometimes I feel hopeless
I have to get through this
I’m scared, and I’m not sure
How much longer I can do this
Sometimes I wish
My dad were still here
It’s weird how some people
Can just disappear.
I need to stay strong
And I worry everyday
That someone will come
And take my mom away
I wonder what she’s thinking
If she’s even aware
But then I look in her eyes
I can tell she’s still there
I can’t ignore the facts
But I wish they weren’t true-
There’s a 50% chance
That I have the gene, too
In my hands I will get
A tingling vibration
Is it a symptom?
Or just my imagination?
I try not to worry
About what’s unforeseen
I have lots of time-
I’m only fifteen.
Sometimes I leave
And go out with my friends
But then I feel guilty.
The guilt never ends.
If there is a God,
Why is he so mean?
Why curse our family
With this terrible gene?
I’m sick of this disease,
Of all the pain and frustration
If I test positive, I swear
I’ll be the last generation.
In a life of uncertainty
There’s one thing I’m sure-
One day, some day,
There will be a cure.
I know, I too was moved and touched by this anonymous boy's pain and grief for his mother. Julie Lawson Timmer too has channeled the same emotions and pain in her new book, Five Days Left. But here we see two stories told parallely by the protagonists, which are equally emotional and heart-rending. This book is bound to bring out a tear at the corner of your eyes, since in the end, it made me left in tears. I was so wishing for a twist- a complete turnover of the painful story to a happy-ending. Alas! Huntington's disease is a killer and it has no cure still to this day!
Synopsis:
Mara Nichols, a successful lawyer, and devoted wife and adoptive mother, has recently been diagnosed with a terminal disease. Scott Coffman, a middle school teacher, has been fostering an eight-year-old boy while the boy’s mother serves a jail sentence. Scott and Mara both have five days left until they must say good-bye to the ones they love the most. Through their stories, Julie Lawson Timmer explores the individual limits of human endurance, the power of relationships, and that sometimes loving someone means holding on, and sometimes it means letting go.
Two stories, equally powerful- one about letting go of someone you love the most and the other of holding on to someone you love the most. The author has shed the light of pain and fear of losing someone you love with such brilliance, that the fear and pain will come out from the pages of the book and will grip you till the end of the book. The author has even enlightened us with the deadly disease called Huntington’s disease and how it can shatter a beautiful life. Even she out-rules the fact the children are tortured in their foster homes by portraying a marvelous man named Scoot- a middle school teacher and foster father to a young boy named, Curtis, who loved Curtis so much that in the end, when it was time for Curtis to leave, it finally shattered his own world with his wife, Laurie. Both the families, Mara's and Scott's had five days left to say goodbyes to the ones they loved.
The author has not only told her story with profound brilliance, but has also managed to stir up all our emotions in this five days story of Scott and Mara. How emotional a human being can react when he/she gets to know there is only five days to wrap up their lives. I was left more touched by Scott's story, becaus in case of Mara, we knew that Huntington's was a killer disease, and she eventually will die at some day, but in case of Scott, it was something so real yet painful and poignant.
Both Scott and Mara and their family members Tom, Laurie, Curtis and Laks all turned out to be someone who will strike you as if you happen to know that person in your everyday life. Each and every moment of Mara's life from getting diagnosed with Huntington's to stripped down of her dignity in a departmental drug store to finding a friend in a random cab driver named Harry to finding peace within herself and with the disease to accepting the disease, everything has been describe very intricately and with utmost compassion.
The author's prose is simple yet subtle, and that makes the whole journey of reading this book more easy and comfortable. And from the very first page, I got arrested with author's style of smooth narration among her protagonist.
Verdict: A must read for everyone, and you will be amazed to see that how a painful journey of two human beings will leave your heart fill with grief and joy.
Courtesy: I'm very thank to the author, Julie Lawson Timmer, for providing me with a copy of her novel, in return for an honest review.
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative genetic disorder that affects muscle coordination and leads to cognitive decline and behavioral symptoms. It typically becomes noticeable in mid-adult life.
And after reading Five Days Left by Julie Lawson Timmer, who is a Canadian author, I can't stop myself from penning down the following spectacular and moving poem written by an anonymous boy for his "Huntington's-stricken" mother:
She tried to hide it,
But it didn’t take long
Before I began to notice
That something was wrong.
I was still young,
So I didn’t understand
What could be causing
The tremors in her hand
I was confused
And I didn’t know why
Dropping something
Would cause her to cry
Is this my fault?
Is it something I did?
I thought it was because
I was a bad kid
Year after year
I saw her get worse
It’s painful to watch
The disease takes its course
Sometimes she’d get snappy
She would be hard to please
I had to remember
It was just the disease
Where did my mom go?
Will she ever be back?
She’s trapped in her body
And it’s under attack
Her movements are jerky
Her arms are always flailing
I cry because I know
Her body is failing
Now, she can’t walk
And she struggles to stand
The things that she says
I can’t understand
I admire her courage
And I will always love her
No matter what happens
There are angels above her
I have to be strong
I do my best to care for her
I love her so much
I will always be there for her
My little sister is 10
And I try to keep her protected
I try to keep things normal
But I know she’s been affected
I’m worried about my sister
On the outside I’m calm
But she needs more than I can give her
And I can’t be her mom
Sometimes I feel hopeless
I have to get through this
I’m scared, and I’m not sure
How much longer I can do this
Sometimes I wish
My dad were still here
It’s weird how some people
Can just disappear.
I need to stay strong
And I worry everyday
That someone will come
And take my mom away
I wonder what she’s thinking
If she’s even aware
But then I look in her eyes
I can tell she’s still there
I can’t ignore the facts
But I wish they weren’t true-
There’s a 50% chance
That I have the gene, too
In my hands I will get
A tingling vibration
Is it a symptom?
Or just my imagination?
I try not to worry
About what’s unforeseen
I have lots of time-
I’m only fifteen.
Sometimes I leave
And go out with my friends
But then I feel guilty.
The guilt never ends.
If there is a God,
Why is he so mean?
Why curse our family
With this terrible gene?
I’m sick of this disease,
Of all the pain and frustration
If I test positive, I swear
I’ll be the last generation.
In a life of uncertainty
There’s one thing I’m sure-
One day, some day,
There will be a cure.
I know, I too was moved and touched by this anonymous boy's pain and grief for his mother. Julie Lawson Timmer too has channeled the same emotions and pain in her new book, Five Days Left. But here we see two stories told parallely by the protagonists, which are equally emotional and heart-rending. This book is bound to bring out a tear at the corner of your eyes, since in the end, it made me left in tears. I was so wishing for a twist- a complete turnover of the painful story to a happy-ending. Alas! Huntington's disease is a killer and it has no cure still to this day!
Synopsis:
Mara Nichols, a successful lawyer, and devoted wife and adoptive mother, has recently been diagnosed with a terminal disease. Scott Coffman, a middle school teacher, has been fostering an eight-year-old boy while the boy’s mother serves a jail sentence. Scott and Mara both have five days left until they must say good-bye to the ones they love the most. Through their stories, Julie Lawson Timmer explores the individual limits of human endurance, the power of relationships, and that sometimes loving someone means holding on, and sometimes it means letting go.
Two stories, equally powerful- one about letting go of someone you love the most and the other of holding on to someone you love the most. The author has shed the light of pain and fear of losing someone you love with such brilliance, that the fear and pain will come out from the pages of the book and will grip you till the end of the book. The author has even enlightened us with the deadly disease called Huntington’s disease and how it can shatter a beautiful life. Even she out-rules the fact the children are tortured in their foster homes by portraying a marvelous man named Scoot- a middle school teacher and foster father to a young boy named, Curtis, who loved Curtis so much that in the end, when it was time for Curtis to leave, it finally shattered his own world with his wife, Laurie. Both the families, Mara's and Scott's had five days left to say goodbyes to the ones they loved.
The author has not only told her story with profound brilliance, but has also managed to stir up all our emotions in this five days story of Scott and Mara. How emotional a human being can react when he/she gets to know there is only five days to wrap up their lives. I was left more touched by Scott's story, becaus in case of Mara, we knew that Huntington's was a killer disease, and she eventually will die at some day, but in case of Scott, it was something so real yet painful and poignant.
Both Scott and Mara and their family members Tom, Laurie, Curtis and Laks all turned out to be someone who will strike you as if you happen to know that person in your everyday life. Each and every moment of Mara's life from getting diagnosed with Huntington's to stripped down of her dignity in a departmental drug store to finding a friend in a random cab driver named Harry to finding peace within herself and with the disease to accepting the disease, everything has been describe very intricately and with utmost compassion.
The author's prose is simple yet subtle, and that makes the whole journey of reading this book more easy and comfortable. And from the very first page, I got arrested with author's style of smooth narration among her protagonist.
Verdict: A must read for everyone, and you will be amazed to see that how a painful journey of two human beings will leave your heart fill with grief and joy.
Courtesy: I'm very thank to the author, Julie Lawson Timmer, for providing me with a copy of her novel, in return for an honest review.
June 6, 2016
I just finished this book today. Read it in just over two days. Would have read in one sitting but life always gets in the way. Very well written. Both subjects very emotional and all characters so very loveable. I look forward to more from Julie Lawson Timmer!
September 13, 2018
I bought this book when it first came out in paperback thinking that it might be an interesting read. Wow! This book hooked me from the start and never let go.
Mara is an ambitious attorney, happily married and mother of an adorable, adopted little girl. When she slowly realizes that there is something terribly wrong with herself, and gets a disastrous diagnosis, she makes a decision that she may have to leave everyone she loves.
Scott is a middle school teacher who is fostering a young boy while his mother is in jail. In 5 days he will have to return Curtis to her and an unknown future. This is breaking his heart, even though his wife is now pregnant with their first child and is ready to just have their own family together.
The story alternates between the two character’s stories, yet they are tied together through an online chat forum where they both anonymously post. The story is also divided into 5 parts, each representing each of the 5 days remaining. A tension slowly builds as the 5 days count down. Will Mara take the drastic step she is planning? Will Scott really lose Curtis forever?
OK, so it’s not a spoiler to say that Mara has Huntington’s Disease. It is disclosed early on in chapter 4. If you’ve read Inside the O’Briens by Lisa Genova, you know what a debilitating, horrific disease this is. Mara doesn’t want to burden her family, including her parents, with her care, as the disease progresses. The book makes you think: what would I do if I were her? Would I have the courage/ or cowardice to do what she wanted to do? Which is it: courage or cowardice? Does she owe it to her husband and daughter to stay or leave? Which is best for them? For her? Throughout the story she vacillates, weighing her options. Will she be a burden, or will she be a joy to them? How much anguish can love survive?
Scott deals with some of the same issues, but in a different way. What is love; what is family? If love is hard, should you give up or try harder? What do you sacrifice for love? Who do you sacrifice for love? Who or what is important? It is never raised in the story, but Scott and his wife are white, fostering a young black boy, and mentoring his older half brother. I love that this story is virtually colorblind in this respect.
There are so many wonderful characters in this book. Mara, Scott, Curtis: All are perfectly portrayed. Tom, Mara’s husband, Laurie, Scott’s wife, Lakshmi, Mara’s adorable daughter, Neerja and Pori, her parents, and Harry, the irrepressible cab driver are all important and meaningful additions to this story. It wouldn’t be the same without them and they are indispensable to the arc of the story.
The book is very well written. I was pleasantly surprised by this. I was also surprised that this was a debut novel. If the quality of the writing keeps up, this is an author I will definitely keep looking for and reading.
This book is a definite recommend!
Mara is an ambitious attorney, happily married and mother of an adorable, adopted little girl. When she slowly realizes that there is something terribly wrong with herself, and gets a disastrous diagnosis, she makes a decision that she may have to leave everyone she loves.
Scott is a middle school teacher who is fostering a young boy while his mother is in jail. In 5 days he will have to return Curtis to her and an unknown future. This is breaking his heart, even though his wife is now pregnant with their first child and is ready to just have their own family together.
The story alternates between the two character’s stories, yet they are tied together through an online chat forum where they both anonymously post. The story is also divided into 5 parts, each representing each of the 5 days remaining. A tension slowly builds as the 5 days count down. Will Mara take the drastic step she is planning? Will Scott really lose Curtis forever?
OK, so it’s not a spoiler to say that Mara has Huntington’s Disease. It is disclosed early on in chapter 4. If you’ve read Inside the O’Briens by Lisa Genova, you know what a debilitating, horrific disease this is. Mara doesn’t want to burden her family, including her parents, with her care, as the disease progresses. The book makes you think: what would I do if I were her? Would I have the courage/ or cowardice to do what she wanted to do? Which is it: courage or cowardice? Does she owe it to her husband and daughter to stay or leave? Which is best for them? For her? Throughout the story she vacillates, weighing her options. Will she be a burden, or will she be a joy to them? How much anguish can love survive?
Scott deals with some of the same issues, but in a different way. What is love; what is family? If love is hard, should you give up or try harder? What do you sacrifice for love? Who do you sacrifice for love? Who or what is important? It is never raised in the story, but Scott and his wife are white, fostering a young black boy, and mentoring his older half brother. I love that this story is virtually colorblind in this respect.
There are so many wonderful characters in this book. Mara, Scott, Curtis: All are perfectly portrayed. Tom, Mara’s husband, Laurie, Scott’s wife, Lakshmi, Mara’s adorable daughter, Neerja and Pori, her parents, and Harry, the irrepressible cab driver are all important and meaningful additions to this story. It wouldn’t be the same without them and they are indispensable to the arc of the story.
The book is very well written. I was pleasantly surprised by this. I was also surprised that this was a debut novel. If the quality of the writing keeps up, this is an author I will definitely keep looking for and reading.
This book is a definite recommend!
October 30, 2014
Five Days Left is a story that grabs you from the first sentence and stays with you after the last page. As I read about Mara's story I found myself constantly wondering (and not knowing the answer to) what I would do if I were in her position. I thought about Scott and his wife and Little Man constantly, wishing they were a way for each one of them to get what they so longed for. I found myself appreciating small moments of my days, little quirks I noticed in my family. To me that's what good fiction does; it doesn't just help you see the world from another person's point of view, it changes yours a little, too. A beautiful, haunting story that, for me, is a testament to why kindness is so important, because what's just a regular, routine day for you might be a heartbreaking moment for someone else.
September 25, 2017
I have had this book on my to-be-read list since December 2015!! It finally came in to my library so I was excited to start reading it. It actually involves 2 separate stories in this one book. One story is very raw and emotional about Huntington’s Disease and it sure opened up my eyes about this awful disease. The other story was about a foster family and although I didn’t care for this part of the story as much as Mara’s story, I did end up loving both stories in the end. This is my 2nd book I’ve read by Julie Lawson Timmer and I enjoyed it very much!
August 24, 2014
Thank you First-Reads for providing me with an advanced reader's copy of Five Days Left!
Not the most exciting book in the world.. I've got to be honest about that. It was sad but not in a way that felt memorable, or especially authentic either. More in a way that was just downright depressing. I never quite got the connection between, or even the basic reason for, the two rotating story lines. I almost felt like it might have made more sense for the author to write two entirely different books- one about the woman with Huntington's and another about the man with the foster kid. The correlation between the two just never translated for me. But at the same time, I honestly can see people loving Five Days Left despite whatever flaws I may have found in it.
Not the most exciting book in the world.. I've got to be honest about that. It was sad but not in a way that felt memorable, or especially authentic either. More in a way that was just downright depressing. I never quite got the connection between, or even the basic reason for, the two rotating story lines. I almost felt like it might have made more sense for the author to write two entirely different books- one about the woman with Huntington's and another about the man with the foster kid. The correlation between the two just never translated for me. But at the same time, I honestly can see people loving Five Days Left despite whatever flaws I may have found in it.
August 21, 2014
I'm so very happy that I won a copy of this book from Goodreads Firstreads. I'd definitely say, this is the best book I've read all summer, so far. Julie Lawson Timmer nailed it. While reading, you could actually feel how each character felt. So many different emotions felt all at once.
This was a story of sacrifice. Emotionally and physically. About relationships. About love. About fear.
Timmer's debut has me wanting much more from her. I can't wait to pass this along to friends so we can discuss. It truly is that kind of story that you want to pick up the phone and talk to a friend about. Wow. Just wow!!
This was a story of sacrifice. Emotionally and physically. About relationships. About love. About fear.
Timmer's debut has me wanting much more from her. I can't wait to pass this along to friends so we can discuss. It truly is that kind of story that you want to pick up the phone and talk to a friend about. Wow. Just wow!!
December 29, 2013
I had the pleasure of reading an advanced copy of this beautiful novel. I say pleasure, though I can't remember the last time a book made me cry so hard. Julie Lawson Timmer brilliantly interweaves two tales of heartbreak and human endurance, creating a deeply moving, unforgettable story that’s impossible to put down. Five Days Left is a lesson in compassion and grace--begging the question, "Would I have enough compassion to spare those I love?" Thought-provoking and controversial, book clubs will devour this one. An extraordinary debut and an absolute must-read.
March 9, 2015
I've said before that I never wanted to suffer through a degenerative disease and have discussed end of life arrangements with my family but it still never seems "real." While reading this novel, I really felt the desperation of Mara. Her body is slowly betraying her and she must decide whether to end her own life or continue to deteriorate to a point where she will no longer be able to make that decision for herself. The second storyline of Scott's makes me consider another hypothetical situation, fostering a child. I have considered fostering a child before but have personally decided that is not something I think I could do. Scott is a perfect foster father and now a year later, he's counting down the last days he gets to spend with Little Man. This book made my heart hurt in the most delightful way. Julie Lawson Timmer gave just the right responses to situations the characters were in. There is nothing worse than reading about characters saying or doing things in highly emotional situations that are either outlandish or by-the-book. This would be a great book club choice, as it would allow the discussion of suicides, degenerative diseases, class divisions, adoption, fostering, and responsibilities.
** I received this book in exchange for an honest review **
** I received this book in exchange for an honest review **
September 10, 2014
A stunning debut! Imagine you have five days left to decide whether or not to take your own life before a horrible disease known as Huntington's does it for you. Imagine you are a devoted foster parents to a young boy who - in five days - will return to his mother. FIVE DAYS LEFT follows the lives of two families as they explore the ins and outs of these five days, while examining how they came to be in these positions in life. It is a beautiful book, a wonderful testament to one's own willpower, their love and devotion, hopes and fears - and will make any reader stop and think what they would do if they were in Mara or Scott's shoes. Be sure to have tissue ready for this one - it's a tear jerker! I'm looking forward to reading many more novels by Julie Lawson Timmer.
March 2, 2021
This book will certainly pull at your heart strings!
Full review to come!
4 ⭐️
Full review to come!
4 ⭐️
August 20, 2019
Avassalador!
Estamos na presença de dois dramas, um pior que outro, mas ainda assim doloroso.
Apesar de ter comprado este livro num impulso, hesitei várias vezes em lhe pegar tão somente porque queria adiar o tormento que certamente me iria provocar.
Senti-me imediatamente transportada para aquelas vidas e com imensa empatia pelas personagens. Com o coração apertado compadeço-me das suas sentenças.
Convenço-me que a vida é tão bela que é um desperdício enorme não a vivermos mais conscientes dela.
Presenciamos como o Amor e Amar são sinónimos de ser bom e de fazer o bem!
E que, para viver nessa máxima, é necessário desafiarmo-nos todos os dias, pois só assim seremos felizes, só assim valerá a pena.
Estamos na presença de dois dramas, um pior que outro, mas ainda assim doloroso.
Apesar de ter comprado este livro num impulso, hesitei várias vezes em lhe pegar tão somente porque queria adiar o tormento que certamente me iria provocar.
Senti-me imediatamente transportada para aquelas vidas e com imensa empatia pelas personagens. Com o coração apertado compadeço-me das suas sentenças.
Convenço-me que a vida é tão bela que é um desperdício enorme não a vivermos mais conscientes dela.
Presenciamos como o Amor e Amar são sinónimos de ser bom e de fazer o bem!
E que, para viver nessa máxima, é necessário desafiarmo-nos todos os dias, pois só assim seremos felizes, só assim valerá a pena.
March 24, 2017
"Five Days Left" a contemplative reflection of Mara, a young lawyer who is challenged by a recent diagnosis of Huntington's Disease; and Scott, a school teacher who is a foster parent to Curtis, an eight year old boy, who has only five days left in his care; before returning to his biological mother. This well written debut novel is authored by Julie Lawson Timmer. Many thanks and appreciation to Amy Einhorn Books for the ARC of this book for review, and for sponsoring the Goodread Giveaways.
The decline and symptoms of Huntington's Disease (HD) was thoughtfully and carefully written. Before reading this I didn't know that much about this genetic neogenerative disease defined by withering movements called Chorea, also having a noticeable cognitive and behavioral decline, symptoms usually appear between the ages of 35 to 44. Full time care is needed in the advanced stages, there is no cure. Mara, fiercely independent and proud, was deeply humiliated by her rapid decline, secretly visited a care facility, and decided she could not burden her family with her affliction of HD. These decisions are debated on many humanitarian levels. Timmer relates Mara's dilemma to readers in a deeply emotional, compassionate, caring manner.
The need for foster parents to maintain a level of emotional distance, as they care for kids deeply damaged by parents unable to properly care them is a questioning theme. This detachment principle is unrealistic for some foster parents. The love and support foster children receive in foster care is vital to healthy growth and development. Even with Scott and his wife Laurie's impending parenthood, the birth of their child would be soon, they both struggled tremendously with letting Curtis go, his presence in their lives was irreplaceable.
Julie Timmer is from Stratford, Ontario, earning her BA in Canada. She earned a law degree in the US and works as legal counsel for an automotive supplier. She lives in Ann Harbor, MI with her husband and family.
The decline and symptoms of Huntington's Disease (HD) was thoughtfully and carefully written. Before reading this I didn't know that much about this genetic neogenerative disease defined by withering movements called Chorea, also having a noticeable cognitive and behavioral decline, symptoms usually appear between the ages of 35 to 44. Full time care is needed in the advanced stages, there is no cure. Mara, fiercely independent and proud, was deeply humiliated by her rapid decline, secretly visited a care facility, and decided she could not burden her family with her affliction of HD. These decisions are debated on many humanitarian levels. Timmer relates Mara's dilemma to readers in a deeply emotional, compassionate, caring manner.
The need for foster parents to maintain a level of emotional distance, as they care for kids deeply damaged by parents unable to properly care them is a questioning theme. This detachment principle is unrealistic for some foster parents. The love and support foster children receive in foster care is vital to healthy growth and development. Even with Scott and his wife Laurie's impending parenthood, the birth of their child would be soon, they both struggled tremendously with letting Curtis go, his presence in their lives was irreplaceable.
Julie Timmer is from Stratford, Ontario, earning her BA in Canada. She earned a law degree in the US and works as legal counsel for an automotive supplier. She lives in Ann Harbor, MI with her husband and family.
November 2, 2014
A clear and clever structure to an extremely emotional read. As the countdown to these two people's last "Five Days" started, I felt myself becoming more and more invested in their and their loved ones' lives and barely managed to hold back the tears.
A good book for me to listen to whilst I'm in hospital having (partially prophylactic) surgery for a treatable cancer. It certainly makes me feel lucky that I'm not trying to live (or make a quick but dignified exit from) a hard life with an incurable disease such as Huntington's.
A bit of perspective for me at the right time.
A good book for me to listen to whilst I'm in hospital having (partially prophylactic) surgery for a treatable cancer. It certainly makes me feel lucky that I'm not trying to live (or make a quick but dignified exit from) a hard life with an incurable disease such as Huntington's.
A bit of perspective for me at the right time.
April 12, 2015
I vacillated between whether I liked or disliked Mara and Scott. Mara has Huntington's Disease and her future is bleak. Scott and his wife have taken in a young boy, Curtis, for a year while his mother is in jail. Mara plans to end her life, and Scott wants to keep the boy. For each there were moments of unconditional love, but also many instances of selfishness. Is Mara's family truely better off without her? Is her choice for them, or for herself? What would I choose? For Scott, I understood his deep love and affection for Curtis, but found in his feelings and actions towards his wife and unborn child a sense of indifference. Overall, a good story that makes you think and explores the many aspects of love.
February 3, 2016
A special thank you to "First to Read" Penguin Books for an ARC, in exchange for an honest review.
Julie Lawson Timmer’s powerful debut novel, FIVE DAYS LEFT, an emotional, bittersweet and poignant portrayal of two different individuals and families, linked only by an online forum, both struggling with uncontrollable and gripping circumstances; insurmountable, each wrapped with deep emotion, and affliction, while facing fear and the ultimate sacrifice for those they love, and hold dear to their hearts.
Set in Texas, Mara Nichols, (LaksMama-online name) forty-two, a successful lawyer, was adopted and unfortunately, received nothing from her biological except one nasty genetic non-curable disease, HD (discovered four years ago).
Presently, she is struggling raising her own adoptive five year old daughter, Laks with her supportive and lovable husband, Tom, a successful dermatologist. Two motivated people who love the other to the edges of the universe and back. Two people motivated so strongly by love for the other that either of them would do anything for the other’s sake.
As the symptoms increase and worsen, knowing there is no cure, she begins questioning her future as well as those she loves, and how the devastating disease controls everything and affects everyone around her. How can she allow her husband and daughter to be burdened with her care, distressed, and embarrassed by her condition? Mara decides to use her upcoming birthday, in five days as the date, for the final choice.
“Gradual decrease in ability to perform daily activities such as work, driving, forgetfulness, eventual inability to walk, depression, anxiety, mood swings, personality changes, involuntary movements of face, body and limbs, unable to speak, swallow, perform, self-care, completely dependent on others in late stages; wheelchair, nursing home, feeding tube, limited awareness of surroundings, inability to speak, may not recognize family members; life expectancy ten to fifteen years after onset of symptoms, no effective treatment to slow progression of brain cell death. Fatal. No cure.”
For the past five years, Mara has chatted a few minutes almost daily with her fellow forum members, about nontraditional parenting arrangements and so much more—Friendship. With a few members she had ventured beyond group discussion and into the private world of personal messaging. This is where the two souls connect, nameless and only known by their online names.
Scott Coffman, (MotorCity-online name) altruistic middle school teacher has been fostering, Curtis, an eight year-old boy while the mother serves a jail sentence. In five days his time will be up, and the boy he loves desperately will be returned to his mother, in a less than desirable and unhealthy environment. He and his wife, Laurie (who is expecting) desperately make plans for the last week of time with their foster son. However, at the last minute the social worker says they have to return him early. What comes thereafter is another life altering decision.
As a secondary character (yet powerful) part of the story, is Harry. Harry is a cab driver, and spends a great deal of time with Mara, since she is not able to drive. The common bond of two troubled souls will bring tears to your eyes, with this breathtaking story of loss and love.
As the five day countdown gets closer, emotions run high and intense, testing the individual limits of human endurance, for a spellbinding story of ultimate love.
From detailed descriptions, to raw intense emotions as Mara is slowly stripped of her dignity and independence, the humiliation, interactions and havoc created with family members, the pain, grief, and incredible research into this disease, and the emotional fall out-- Timmer skillfully creates well-drawn characters, actions, suspense, and beautifully written letters which will grab you, warming your soul as you grieve for these characters. (The kitchen, car, and bathroom scenes--award-winning performance)!
An extraordinary, compelling, and moving debut novel, written with compassion, insight, and sensitivity – a winner out of the gate! I think it is time for Julie to give up her day job, as I see "bestseller" written all over FIVE DAYS LEFT and many more to come!
Fans of Jodi Picoult, Jennifer Weiner, Diane Chamberlain, Lisa Genova, Kristin Hannah, Amy Hatvany, and Nicholas Sparks will devour, making for an ideal novel for book clubs and discussions!
Judith D. Collins Must Read Books
TOP 30 BOOKS OF 2014
Look for Untethered Coming Jun 7, 2016.
Julie Lawson Timmer’s powerful debut novel, FIVE DAYS LEFT, an emotional, bittersweet and poignant portrayal of two different individuals and families, linked only by an online forum, both struggling with uncontrollable and gripping circumstances; insurmountable, each wrapped with deep emotion, and affliction, while facing fear and the ultimate sacrifice for those they love, and hold dear to their hearts.
Set in Texas, Mara Nichols, (LaksMama-online name) forty-two, a successful lawyer, was adopted and unfortunately, received nothing from her biological except one nasty genetic non-curable disease, HD (discovered four years ago).
Presently, she is struggling raising her own adoptive five year old daughter, Laks with her supportive and lovable husband, Tom, a successful dermatologist. Two motivated people who love the other to the edges of the universe and back. Two people motivated so strongly by love for the other that either of them would do anything for the other’s sake.
As the symptoms increase and worsen, knowing there is no cure, she begins questioning her future as well as those she loves, and how the devastating disease controls everything and affects everyone around her. How can she allow her husband and daughter to be burdened with her care, distressed, and embarrassed by her condition? Mara decides to use her upcoming birthday, in five days as the date, for the final choice.
“Gradual decrease in ability to perform daily activities such as work, driving, forgetfulness, eventual inability to walk, depression, anxiety, mood swings, personality changes, involuntary movements of face, body and limbs, unable to speak, swallow, perform, self-care, completely dependent on others in late stages; wheelchair, nursing home, feeding tube, limited awareness of surroundings, inability to speak, may not recognize family members; life expectancy ten to fifteen years after onset of symptoms, no effective treatment to slow progression of brain cell death. Fatal. No cure.”
For the past five years, Mara has chatted a few minutes almost daily with her fellow forum members, about nontraditional parenting arrangements and so much more—Friendship. With a few members she had ventured beyond group discussion and into the private world of personal messaging. This is where the two souls connect, nameless and only known by their online names.
Scott Coffman, (MotorCity-online name) altruistic middle school teacher has been fostering, Curtis, an eight year-old boy while the mother serves a jail sentence. In five days his time will be up, and the boy he loves desperately will be returned to his mother, in a less than desirable and unhealthy environment. He and his wife, Laurie (who is expecting) desperately make plans for the last week of time with their foster son. However, at the last minute the social worker says they have to return him early. What comes thereafter is another life altering decision.
As a secondary character (yet powerful) part of the story, is Harry. Harry is a cab driver, and spends a great deal of time with Mara, since she is not able to drive. The common bond of two troubled souls will bring tears to your eyes, with this breathtaking story of loss and love.
As the five day countdown gets closer, emotions run high and intense, testing the individual limits of human endurance, for a spellbinding story of ultimate love.
From detailed descriptions, to raw intense emotions as Mara is slowly stripped of her dignity and independence, the humiliation, interactions and havoc created with family members, the pain, grief, and incredible research into this disease, and the emotional fall out-- Timmer skillfully creates well-drawn characters, actions, suspense, and beautifully written letters which will grab you, warming your soul as you grieve for these characters. (The kitchen, car, and bathroom scenes--award-winning performance)!
An extraordinary, compelling, and moving debut novel, written with compassion, insight, and sensitivity – a winner out of the gate! I think it is time for Julie to give up her day job, as I see "bestseller" written all over FIVE DAYS LEFT and many more to come!
Fans of Jodi Picoult, Jennifer Weiner, Diane Chamberlain, Lisa Genova, Kristin Hannah, Amy Hatvany, and Nicholas Sparks will devour, making for an ideal novel for book clubs and discussions!
Judith D. Collins Must Read Books
TOP 30 BOOKS OF 2014
Look for Untethered Coming Jun 7, 2016.
August 27, 2019
Acompanhamos por cinco dias as vidas de Mara e Scott e esses dias são fulcrais. Mara, advogada, casada, uma filha de cinco anos, mas padece da doença de Huntington. Trata-se de uma doença degenerativa do sistema nervoso central, causada pela perda de células numa parte do cérebro. Esta perda afecta a capacidade cognitiva, o equilíbrio emocional e a motricidade. Perante esta sentença definitiva Mara não quer ser um fardo para os que ama, então ela tomou a decisão de pôr termo à vida assim que a sua decadência fosse muito notória.
Scott, professor, casado (com a mulher grávida da sua primeira filha). Desde há um ano eles tornaram-se tutores temporários de Curtis. E esse ano acaba em cinco dias e Scott está inconsolável por ir ficar sem o seu "homenzinho"...
Este livro pôs-me a sorrir algumas vezes mas pôs-me com lágrimas algumas vezes mais...
Estamos na presença de dois dramas um pela continuação da vida e outra pela cessação desta.
Scott, professor, casado (com a mulher grávida da sua primeira filha). Desde há um ano eles tornaram-se tutores temporários de Curtis. E esse ano acaba em cinco dias e Scott está inconsolável por ir ficar sem o seu "homenzinho"...
Este livro pôs-me a sorrir algumas vezes mas pôs-me com lágrimas algumas vezes mais...
Estamos na presença de dois dramas um pela continuação da vida e outra pela cessação desta.
March 1, 2019
1,5/5 stars.
I did not like this book at all. It was the most boring read ever. The writing was so dull and the whole plot was so dragging and slow and it took me 20 days to finish this book. I didn't like the writing, the plot, the ending. The only thing I did like ( and why I gave it 1,5 stars) was how the illness was presented. I didn't connect with the characters and I also could predict the ending. I honestly don't see the point of this book. Unfortunately my first one star read of the year.
I did not like this book at all. It was the most boring read ever. The writing was so dull and the whole plot was so dragging and slow and it took me 20 days to finish this book. I didn't like the writing, the plot, the ending. The only thing I did like ( and why I gave it 1,5 stars) was how the illness was presented. I didn't connect with the characters and I also could predict the ending. I honestly don't see the point of this book. Unfortunately my first one star read of the year.
October 14, 2014
I couldn't get past the assumptions regarding adopted and/or foster children that were voiced in the book. I don't agree that it's "better that children be with their biological parents" as a hard fact. I was adopted and thank God everyday that I was. I have gone onto to have children and grandchildren. I would not be who I am today without my Mom and Dad who adopted, loved and raised me
August 17, 2014
This novel is beautiful, honest, heartfelt, and heart wrenching… so many things. It's a powerful story that grabs you at page one. By the story's end, after you have taken the journey with these characters, Five Days Left will make you think about your own life and value the day you are living.
October 1, 2015
Duas estorias paralelas, dramaticas, cada uma à sua maneira.
Um livro triste, que nos dá tanto que pensar...
Um livro triste, que nos dá tanto que pensar...
November 23, 2015
Huilen dit. Wat een krachtig verhaal
February 16, 2021
Još jedan roman o kojem se ne priča, a koji krije toliko lepih stvari. Dok pišem ovo, suze se suše na obrazima jer je ova divna knjiga uspela da me rasplače. Da li sam znala šta će se desiti na kraju? Jesam. Da li sam se svejedno rasplakala? Jesam. I ne žalim zbog toga.
Vezala sam se za likove, iako imamo dve priče uporedo, život dve porodice koji staje u 5 dana. Nisam znala da 5 dana može da traje ovoliko dugo.
Mara ima neizlečivu bolest, bolest koja "jede" njen nervni sistem i koja od nje počinje da pravi biljku, osobu koja nije sposobna da samu sebe izdržava.
Lepo ispričana priča kroz živote različitih ljudi, njihove bolesti, tuge i boli, sreće...
Drago mi je što sam pročitala ovaj roman, jer me je još više uverio u to da trebamo da cenimo ljude oko sebe. Da ih grlimo malkice jače. I da im govoriml koliko ih volimo, pre nego što bude kasno. ❤️
Vezala sam se za likove, iako imamo dve priče uporedo, život dve porodice koji staje u 5 dana. Nisam znala da 5 dana može da traje ovoliko dugo.
Mara ima neizlečivu bolest, bolest koja "jede" njen nervni sistem i koja od nje počinje da pravi biljku, osobu koja nije sposobna da samu sebe izdržava.
Lepo ispričana priča kroz živote različitih ljudi, njihove bolesti, tuge i boli, sreće...
Drago mi je što sam pročitala ovaj roman, jer me je još više uverio u to da trebamo da cenimo ljude oko sebe. Da ih grlimo malkice jače. I da im govoriml koliko ih volimo, pre nego što bude kasno. ❤️
September 15, 2014
There should be a warning label on this book: Do not read if you have a debilitating illness because by book's end, suicide looks like the intelligent, loving choice in that type of situation. I couldn't put the book down, it's true, which means the author is an excellent writer, but there is much to be said for using that ability for good, not evil. And yet. The character does admit she has held no beliefs in God or a hereafter, so why not? Why not kill yourself? The husband and the daughter left behind who had no choice in loving her, the mother and father who will be there to the end. The two good friends who would support them all. I could go on and on in my reaction to this book but the bottom line is that I couldn't help but feel the author had some agenda in writing this book: a take on why suicide might be a valid answer in a situation like this. In the end notes the author thanks the doctors, the social workers, the editors, and in the book the character views a family (a single family with surly teenagers!) in a nursing home situation in order to make her final decision. One has to wonder...did she talk to ANY families who have cared for a loved one? Wouldn't someone making such a decision in their life, fictional or not, talk to SOMEONE who was caring for, or had cared for a loved one with the same illness, rather than just observing one single unknown family, who may or may not have had said surly teenagers before the illness?? That single omission just didn't ring "true" for an astute, intelligent lawyer making a life-changing (and life-ending) decision.
September 12, 2014
This is not one of those books that I want to run around yelling to everyone that they should read. It isn't a bad book, but rather an emotional one where the characters spend a lot of time reflecting on their own lives, the choices they have and will make and ultimately, it is kind of sad.
Still, the author put a lot of effort into creating characters that anyone could identify with and feel something for, and I was glad I read this book. I learned a lot about a disease that I formerly knew little if anything about. I came away with a sense of being better informed, even though this novel is fictional.
I had mixed emotions about this book. For the most part it was clean writing, other than some repeat phrases, and the story made perfect sense. Watching the world of the characters crumble was difficult to handle, wishing the entire time that life was not so cruel. The author achieved her goal of making the reader feel something, and yet I wasn't sure I "enjoyed" reading this book. At times it made me feel rather hopeless.
This is a book that I think some people will love and others (those who enjoy more lighthearted fiction) will not like as much. I'd recommend it if you enjoy stories that come from the heart, but are not all sunshine and daisies.
I think Julie Lawson Timmer has a lot to offer the writing world and look forward to seeing what else she comes up with.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and was provided through Netgalley.
Still, the author put a lot of effort into creating characters that anyone could identify with and feel something for, and I was glad I read this book. I learned a lot about a disease that I formerly knew little if anything about. I came away with a sense of being better informed, even though this novel is fictional.
I had mixed emotions about this book. For the most part it was clean writing, other than some repeat phrases, and the story made perfect sense. Watching the world of the characters crumble was difficult to handle, wishing the entire time that life was not so cruel. The author achieved her goal of making the reader feel something, and yet I wasn't sure I "enjoyed" reading this book. At times it made me feel rather hopeless.
This is a book that I think some people will love and others (those who enjoy more lighthearted fiction) will not like as much. I'd recommend it if you enjoy stories that come from the heart, but are not all sunshine and daisies.
I think Julie Lawson Timmer has a lot to offer the writing world and look forward to seeing what else she comes up with.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and was provided through Netgalley.
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