What do you think?
Rate this book
Cease
Cecile and Lynette were living on an "Old MacDonald"-style hobby farm, commuting into the city for work. Each evening Lyn would come home to a farm full of animals and the unpredictable Cec. She could be brilliant, insightful, engaging. She could also turn on Lyn, suddenly and cruelly.
After eight-and-a-half years, just as Lyn had decided to leave and was beginning to plan her exit, Cec became seriously ill. Almost overnight Lyn found herself in the role of caregiver at Cec’s hospital bedside.
“Lyn’s a terrible nurse,” Cec would tell visitors and Lyn knew she was right. Lyn was awkward and jumpy, her timing invariably wrong. She felt trapped, and furious at having to stay, guilty for wanting to flee.
Lyn spent long days and nights at Cec’s bedside, imagining how death would come and contemplating a relationship gone wrong. “Impossible to set this right,” Lyn thought, as she lay curled on a small cot in Cec’s room.
One last time Cec surprised her.
Cease is a blunt and honest account of experiences that are usually kept hidden. Told with a frank and intimate voice, Cease offers an unsentimental look at the inner workings of a uniquely difficult relationship that is revealed for what it is – more human than strange.
After eight-and-a-half years, just as Lyn had decided to leave and was beginning to plan her exit, Cec became seriously ill. Almost overnight Lyn found herself in the role of caregiver at Cec’s hospital bedside.
“Lyn’s a terrible nurse,” Cec would tell visitors and Lyn knew she was right. Lyn was awkward and jumpy, her timing invariably wrong. She felt trapped, and furious at having to stay, guilty for wanting to flee.
Lyn spent long days and nights at Cec’s bedside, imagining how death would come and contemplating a relationship gone wrong. “Impossible to set this right,” Lyn thought, as she lay curled on a small cot in Cec’s room.
One last time Cec surprised her.
Cease is a blunt and honest account of experiences that are usually kept hidden. Told with a frank and intimate voice, Cease offers an unsentimental look at the inner workings of a uniquely difficult relationship that is revealed for what it is – more human than strange.
400 pages, Paperback
First published November 30, 2014
3 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
About the author
Lynette Loeppky
1 book3 followersLynette is taller than you might imagine from looking at her photo. She played basketball in high school and wrote angst-ridden poetry as a teen. It wasn't until she completed her BA in Russian literature at the University of Calgary that she began writing seriously. Lynette writes all first drafts in long hand on blank paper (no lines) and tries to never say "y'know" (because maybe you don't know). She lives in Calgary where she works for a tech start up and likes to unwind by taking her dogs for long walks.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 3, 2015
Beautifully written and a compelling read, the book is a fascinating portrayal of the highly intelligent, highly successful, polyglot, captain of commerce, paradigm of confidence, self made superwoman Cease, as seen through the subjective eyes of her partner and lover. The author's narrative follows the progression of her partner's illness, and all of the raw emotional turmoil it entails, while seamlessly weaving in sections on their grand adventure together; the running of a small farm on the Albertan prairies. In its bravery, rawness and honesty the book is nothing less than an invitation to share with Loeppky in all of the pain an joys her story with Cease. Bravo!
January 24, 2015
Cease is a story of unapologetic complicated emotions. Can you love someone and still want to leave them? Can your heart break at your loved ones illness, and still want to go home and sleep?
The story is tragic, but the writing carries you through it without dampening any of the difficulties. I still found myself smiling and sometimes laughing at some of Lynette's inner commentary.
Beautiful, sad, life affirming, and a wonderful read.
The story is tragic, but the writing carries you through it without dampening any of the difficulties. I still found myself smiling and sometimes laughing at some of Lynette's inner commentary.
Beautiful, sad, life affirming, and a wonderful read.
October 5, 2015
This is a beautifully written story. I read the entire book cover-to-cover over a single weekend. It wasn't just the complex and compelling subject matter that roped me in, but also the way Lynette weaves the past and present into her story. Everything flows together and memories tie in seamlessly to give you the whole history of Lynette's relationship with Cecile while keeping you gripped in the present-day story of Cecile's fight with terminal cancer. What impressed me the most was how well the concept of wanting to be free from someone while at the same time loving and worrying about them was handled. The entire book is extremely honest, memorable and a definitely re-read for me.
March 31, 2015
Excellent work. I read every word. Normally I am not drawn to this genre but I was held to every drop of the creative expressions from Lynette's work. It appeal to emotions, rationale and a range of other factors which even if unintended, are useful for everyone to appreciate. The style was calming yet appropriately gauged to take the reader into minute details of the journey. A great read and a book I would definitely read again to double the effect of the emotions and learning I got from it. Great job!!
July 30, 2018
A "creative nonfiction" Canadian lesbian love story so engagingly written that even though I really didn't like Cec, and I mean, REALLY didn't like her, I just kept reading. You know the scoop from the book jacket: Lyn and Cecile live on a farm, Cec gets cancer, Lyn takes care of her in hospital for a few weeks before Cec dies.
Lyn's insecurities and self-doubt is agonizing to read because you just want to slap her and shout "schnap out if it!" And Cec's constant criticisms and jibes turns her pretty quickly into a villain (maybe not something Lyn intended when she wrote the book). When someone says in absolute seriousness, "What's your fault is your fault, and what's my fault is your fault," you just can't like her so much.
Not even in dying is Cec redeemed, but instead she spews out brown viscera in a not so subtle metaphor for her internal rot. Don't get me wrong, I cried at the end, but I credit Lyn's writing skills, not from compassion for Cec.
Lyn's insecurities and self-doubt is agonizing to read because you just want to slap her and shout "schnap out if it!" And Cec's constant criticisms and jibes turns her pretty quickly into a villain (maybe not something Lyn intended when she wrote the book). When someone says in absolute seriousness, "What's your fault is your fault, and what's my fault is your fault," you just can't like her so much.
Not even in dying is Cec redeemed, but instead she spews out brown viscera in a not so subtle metaphor for her internal rot. Don't get me wrong, I cried at the end, but I credit Lyn's writing skills, not from compassion for Cec.
April 30, 2019
4.5. Would have liked a chapter more at the end, but was beautifully written and extremely raw.
June 9, 2016
When I got this book from the library, I almost immediately returned it because it looks super lame. I couldn't figure out why I put a hold on it, except maybe for the awards it received or was nominated for. I decided to give it a try, and I am very glad I did.
This book is so beautiful and real. Having watched my mother in law die in a very similar way, it was told in a way that was so achingly accurate. This is an incredibly complicated way to have someone leave you: when you want them to stay and be well so fiercely, but doing so means that they are suffering.
Add to this the complexities of having a negative relationship that seemed to have been almost finished running its course (I am now talking about Cecile and Lyn, not my mother in law and I), a someone what closeted lesbian relationship, lies and deceit, responsibilities, jobs, families, and an excellent writer: this book is a must read.
This book is so beautiful and real. Having watched my mother in law die in a very similar way, it was told in a way that was so achingly accurate. This is an incredibly complicated way to have someone leave you: when you want them to stay and be well so fiercely, but doing so means that they are suffering.
Add to this the complexities of having a negative relationship that seemed to have been almost finished running its course (I am now talking about Cecile and Lyn, not my mother in law and I), a someone what closeted lesbian relationship, lies and deceit, responsibilities, jobs, families, and an excellent writer: this book is a must read.
December 14, 2015
I read this book while moving house. It sustained me during a time of upheaval, stress and plain physical exhaustion. Beautifully written, staggeringly honest, relentless and lyrical. It takes much courage to live our lives; how much even more to set them down for others to examine. Lynette, this is a masterwork in so many ways, I am grateful you for doing this. Thank you.
March 13, 2015
Beautifully written and completely captivating.
April 14, 2015
this book destroyed me i loved it so much
also i got to the end and my uncle was mentioned in the acknowledgments which was funny
also i got to the end and my uncle was mentioned in the acknowledgments which was funny
January 3, 2016
Excellent. I appreciate the author's bravery to share her story of this intimate experience with death.
April 29, 2017
I found this book mis-shelved in the Canadian History section and I'm so happy I did. BRB CRYING.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews