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Life and Other Near-Death Experiences
Libby Miller has always been an unwavering optimist—but when her husband drops a bomb on their marriage the same day a doctor delivers devastating news, she realizes her rose-colored glasses have actually been blinding her.
With nothing left to lose, she abandons her life in Chicago for the clear waters and bright beaches of the Caribbean for what might be her last hurrah. Despite her new sunny locale, her plans go awry when she finds that she can’t quite outrun the past or bring herself to face an unknowable future. Every day of tropical bliss may be an invitation to disaster, but with her twin brother on her trail and a new relationship on the horizon, Libby is determined to forget about fate. Will she risk it all to live—and love—a little longer?
From critically acclaimed author Camille Pagán comes a hilarious and hopeful story about a woman choosing between a “perfect” life and actually living.
With nothing left to lose, she abandons her life in Chicago for the clear waters and bright beaches of the Caribbean for what might be her last hurrah. Despite her new sunny locale, her plans go awry when she finds that she can’t quite outrun the past or bring herself to face an unknowable future. Every day of tropical bliss may be an invitation to disaster, but with her twin brother on her trail and a new relationship on the horizon, Libby is determined to forget about fate. Will she risk it all to live—and love—a little longer?
From critically acclaimed author Camille Pagán comes a hilarious and hopeful story about a woman choosing between a “perfect” life and actually living.
255 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2015
6169 people are currently reading
15161 people want to read
About the author
Camille Pagán
15 books1,774 followersI’m the #1 Amazon Charts bestselling author of ten books, including Good for You, I'm Fine and Neither Are You, and Life and Other Near-Death Experiences, which was recently optioned for film. My novels have been translated into twenty languages.
I've written for Forbes, The New York Times, O: The Oprah Magazine, Parade, Real Simple, Time, and many others. I'm also a master certified coach and the founder of Even Better Co.
When I'm not at my computer, you'll find me with my nose in a book, running after my two kids, or talking shop with other writers. Be the first to know about my new releases and other updates by signing up for my newslettter at camillepagan.com/subscribe.
I've written for Forbes, The New York Times, O: The Oprah Magazine, Parade, Real Simple, Time, and many others. I'm also a master certified coach and the founder of Even Better Co.
When I'm not at my computer, you'll find me with my nose in a book, running after my two kids, or talking shop with other writers. Be the first to know about my new releases and other updates by signing up for my newslettter at camillepagan.com/subscribe.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,644 reviews
January 12, 2018
I disliked this book with a passion at odds with its fundamental silliness. The plot seems weighty: young woman diagnosed with rare, almost certainly fatal cancer on the same day her beloved husband tells her he's gay. Cue extreme crisis and self-examination. Instead, it's a flippant, frothy book filled with fake curse words-- e.g. "motherfudger"-- and childish repetition, in which virtually every character's voice/diction are the same underneath superficial, ludicrous differences. Though I wouldn't call the author talentless, I would certainly say that she was out of her league with these themes.
Some spoilers follow, if you care (which you shouldn't).
Issue 1: Our protagonist, Libby, is a horrible person that the story requires you to believe is sweet and sunshiney without showing you any evidence to that effect.
I'm really not sure why Pagan chose to frame this story as the tale of a woman with "rose-colored glasses" who finally gets a dose of reality. In every scene, to every person, Libby is snide, bitter, aggressive, and unfeelingly impulsive. Most obviously, she speaks of and to her husband-- the man she claims to have loved for 18 years-- so disgustingly that I became convinced that Pagan wrote in a Gay Best Friend/brother to sidestep criticisms that the book is anti-gay. Let's be clear: Tom (her husband) tells her he's confused about his sexuality and has been going to therapy, but he still loves her and wants to make the marriage work. He hasn't cheated on her, he doesn't have feelings for anyone else, and he hasn't slept with another man in his whole life. Would this be a huge, horrible, probably marriage-ending revelation? Sure. But our supposedly kind and sunny "heroine" responds by stabbing her disconsolate husband with a fork and throwing him out of their apartment. She then goes into all their joint bank accounts and empties them out, sells all his furniture, and puts their apartment up for sale ("The idea of Tom being homeless was appealing."). Her justification for this is that she makes more money than he does, and she paid the deposit on the apartment. Putting aside how revolting it is to treat your partner of 18 years this way for any reason, this raises a troubling gender double-standard: any housewife/mother would be entitled to a fair share after a divorce, but because he's a man who made less, he's weak and dependent and deserves homelessness.
But Libby doesn't stop there! She goes to the cafe they both frequent and tells the barista that Tom has a small penis. She tells neighbors that Tom is "trying to kill her," so they think he's abusive. She screams at him for being "a control freak" because he wants to talk to her in private about their marital problems. She wishes he had cancer. She explores at length his inadequacy as a lover and his poor response when she was struggling to conceive a child. She wonders if she "should've known" about his orientation because he was in the school play in high school, and by the end she can't even talk about him without calling him her "gay ex-husband" or her husband "who's attracted to men." Eventually she expresses gratitude to him because if he hadn't come out, she'd never have gone to Puerto Rico and had sex with a far superior lover.
In short, Libby's garbage personality and unrealistic, nasty responses to everything made it impossible to sympathize with her, and the book became a thankless trudge towards her supposedly-imminent death. The only thing that pleased me was that her character was so fake and flat that I can hope I never have to meet anyone like her.
Issue 2: The Under-the-Tuscan-Sun-meets-Eat-Pray-Love plot did absolutely nothing for me.
The book has taken on something serious-- namely, its protagonist has fatal cancer. But about a third of the way in, the author apparently decided that the story she'd set up was harsher or more difficult than the one she actually wanted to tell, so things abruptly morph into a half-baked romance novel. Libby goes to Puerto Rico and has multiple absurd brushes with death, but a wise old woman reads her palm and tells her she'll live long and prosper; then an attractive island pilot tells her it's "not her time," they have sex a bunch, they confess their love for each other, and she returns to the States to get cancer treatment. After some more waffling, she starts chemo, reunites with and marries her pilot, gets pregnant (turns out her infertility was small-penis Tom's fault too!), has twins, and tells us in the chirpy valedictorian-speech epilogue that she thinks she's going to live a plenty long life with a little more treatment. What an appallingly pat ending for a story with so much heart-twisting buildup. I was twitching as I turned the final pages.
The author's afterword tells us she wants to take her theme seriously due to her "many friends" with cancer, but this end product exploits about 8 million different real-life sources of grief: terminal illness, death of a parent, breakup/divorce, coming out to loved ones, infertility, panic attacks/anxiety, traumatic accidents (here, a plane crash), poor body image, etc. And for all this bombardment of Sad Serious Themes, we end up with an extremely ordinary story about a woman who went on a glamorous vacation to escape her woes and found a hot guy to save her from her malaise.
This book was free on Amazon, yet I still feel I paid too much.
Some spoilers follow, if you care (which you shouldn't).
Issue 1: Our protagonist, Libby, is a horrible person that the story requires you to believe is sweet and sunshiney without showing you any evidence to that effect.
I'm really not sure why Pagan chose to frame this story as the tale of a woman with "rose-colored glasses" who finally gets a dose of reality. In every scene, to every person, Libby is snide, bitter, aggressive, and unfeelingly impulsive. Most obviously, she speaks of and to her husband-- the man she claims to have loved for 18 years-- so disgustingly that I became convinced that Pagan wrote in a Gay Best Friend/brother to sidestep criticisms that the book is anti-gay. Let's be clear: Tom (her husband) tells her he's confused about his sexuality and has been going to therapy, but he still loves her and wants to make the marriage work. He hasn't cheated on her, he doesn't have feelings for anyone else, and he hasn't slept with another man in his whole life. Would this be a huge, horrible, probably marriage-ending revelation? Sure. But our supposedly kind and sunny "heroine" responds by stabbing her disconsolate husband with a fork and throwing him out of their apartment. She then goes into all their joint bank accounts and empties them out, sells all his furniture, and puts their apartment up for sale ("The idea of Tom being homeless was appealing."). Her justification for this is that she makes more money than he does, and she paid the deposit on the apartment. Putting aside how revolting it is to treat your partner of 18 years this way for any reason, this raises a troubling gender double-standard: any housewife/mother would be entitled to a fair share after a divorce, but because he's a man who made less, he's weak and dependent and deserves homelessness.
But Libby doesn't stop there! She goes to the cafe they both frequent and tells the barista that Tom has a small penis. She tells neighbors that Tom is "trying to kill her," so they think he's abusive. She screams at him for being "a control freak" because he wants to talk to her in private about their marital problems. She wishes he had cancer. She explores at length his inadequacy as a lover and his poor response when she was struggling to conceive a child. She wonders if she "should've known" about his orientation because he was in the school play in high school, and by the end she can't even talk about him without calling him her "gay ex-husband" or her husband "who's attracted to men." Eventually she expresses gratitude to him because if he hadn't come out, she'd never have gone to Puerto Rico and had sex with a far superior lover.
In short, Libby's garbage personality and unrealistic, nasty responses to everything made it impossible to sympathize with her, and the book became a thankless trudge towards her supposedly-imminent death. The only thing that pleased me was that her character was so fake and flat that I can hope I never have to meet anyone like her.
Issue 2: The Under-the-Tuscan-Sun-meets-Eat-Pray-Love plot did absolutely nothing for me.
The book has taken on something serious-- namely, its protagonist has fatal cancer. But about a third of the way in, the author apparently decided that the story she'd set up was harsher or more difficult than the one she actually wanted to tell, so things abruptly morph into a half-baked romance novel. Libby goes to Puerto Rico and has multiple absurd brushes with death, but a wise old woman reads her palm and tells her she'll live long and prosper; then an attractive island pilot tells her it's "not her time," they have sex a bunch, they confess their love for each other, and she returns to the States to get cancer treatment. After some more waffling, she starts chemo, reunites with and marries her pilot, gets pregnant (turns out her infertility was small-penis Tom's fault too!), has twins, and tells us in the chirpy valedictorian-speech epilogue that she thinks she's going to live a plenty long life with a little more treatment. What an appallingly pat ending for a story with so much heart-twisting buildup. I was twitching as I turned the final pages.
The author's afterword tells us she wants to take her theme seriously due to her "many friends" with cancer, but this end product exploits about 8 million different real-life sources of grief: terminal illness, death of a parent, breakup/divorce, coming out to loved ones, infertility, panic attacks/anxiety, traumatic accidents (here, a plane crash), poor body image, etc. And for all this bombardment of Sad Serious Themes, we end up with an extremely ordinary story about a woman who went on a glamorous vacation to escape her woes and found a hot guy to save her from her malaise.
This book was free on Amazon, yet I still feel I paid too much.
November 10, 2015
I'm not sure how you can write a "light" novel about cancer and a failing marriage, but somehow that's what the author pulls off in Life and Other Near Death Experiences. It's all a bit predictable. Once Libby finds out she has cancer and that her husband is not who she thinks he is all in the same day, she pulls a disappearing act and runs off to an island to hide. There's a dark sexy man, there's a kind older woman, there's a sensitive twin brother, there's lots of denial, etc... It's a tad difficult to have sympathy for Libby because she's so darn stubborn about doing anything about her situation. So why did I keep reading? I was in the right mood to read a predictable light book about what should have been a serious subject? But somehow it was readable and I liked it well enough to give it 3 stars. But I'm not sure I would have felt the same about this book last week or next week. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.
December 27, 2018
WARNING.....SPOILERS!!!!!
Kindle unlimited - Audiobook-ebook-sync-combination.
Audiobook was read by Amy McFadden ....she was perfect for the job!!!! I enjoyed starting with the Audiobook- but reading the ebook was faster. Honestly- With this book - I didn’t have a strong preference. Either one was fine with me: reading - or listening.
The real issue is HOW TO RATE IT.....WHAT TO SAY ABOUT IT.....
I could understand a 5 star review. There is ‘something’ about the way Camille Pagan writes that HOLDS YOUR ATTENTION. That same quality was evident in
“Woman Last Seen In Her Thirties”.......( a book I had more respect for).
But....in both books, Camille’s writing is very ‘present’...she will hook most readers in. She does me.
I could understand 4 stars ....Good listening experience if listened to the Audiobook ( I agree)....and the book can absorb a reader from beginning to end — ( but the reader might lower a star ( or give a 3.5 rating), and rate up to 4 - BECAUSE they know in their gut something doesn’t feel right. I AGREE....( LOTS DIDN’T feel right to me)
I read in one review that they wanted Tom to suffer more”..... OUCH! What’s wrong with people? I felt 100% the opposite. I felt THE AUTHOR MADE SEVERAL UNKIND MORAL CHOICES in her story.
SHE SHOWED HER PERSONAL COLORS!
Tom is gay.
He was married to Libby for 20 years. He loved Libby. He was struggling- in therapy. Trying to get help and figure out who he was. Yes, he withheld the information from Libby - but when they first got married - ( high School relationship), he didn’t feel safe being gay. He ‘was’ confused. He kept stuffing it down as many did in those days. He NEVER CHEATED ON HER THOUGH.
Tom sincerely loved Libby. He ‘had’ tried to tell her a few times - Libby didn’t want to hear. Point is ....even MUCH LATER towards the end of the book - Libby still never let’s him off the hook. She even says...”she wishes he had cancer”. She gets remarried. She could have invited him. She didn’t. Tom continues EVERY STEP OF THE WAY TO BE LOVING AND KIND TO LIBBY. THEY BOTH MISS EACH OTHERS FRIENDSHIP. LIBBY admits missing TOM, their friendship.....but....She INSISTS on 100% cutting off their relationship. Libby never shows an ‘ounce’ of compassion for Tom.
I felt the AUTHOR made a very unkind moral choices in her story.
I know SEVERAL - SEVERAL - REAL- TRUE STORIES where a married couple - married 15-20 years .... ( with kids).... the gay person finally comes clean.
I could tell you about 3 separate stories - all messy at first: anger, hurt, shock, etc....
But ALL OF THEM ...*ALL* of them today have the most awesome inspiring relationships. They can joke - have met each other’s new lovers - danced together - had dinners together. And guess what? The kids adjusted too!
I understand 2 stars: Readers pissed off or bored. Libby is not the most likable person in the world. She has cancer - but her illness is not becoming to her disposition in any shape or form.
I can understand 1 Star....Readers REALLY MAD. Libby - AND THE AUTHOR’S moral choices in this book felt almost ANTI-GAY!
I’m angry about this too!!!!
There are issues in this novel that might make for an interesting book club discussion
if you found out you had Cancer, do you think you would refuse to tell ‘anyone’? Your twin sibling? Your close friends? Father? Would you refuse cancer treatment or even more testing - and fly to Puerto Rico and have sex with a local?
If you found out your spouse was gay....do you think you would instantly cut off all communication? Change the lock on the house? Empty your joint bank account- take the money for yourself? Bad mouth him to strangers in cafes?
As for the ending of this book ..... that’s another discussion.
I’m going with 2.5 stars... I’ll rate up to 3 stars ......
I didn’t hate reading it - I kept wanting to know what Libby was going to do - and how things would turn out.
But honestly.....when I break this book down....it’s similar to ‘Trash-The-Oscars’...time.
This would be an easy book to TRASH-CHAT! Instead of trash-chatting the dresses ....we would trash-chat the characters and choices they made.
Kindle unlimited - Audiobook-ebook-sync-combination.
Audiobook was read by Amy McFadden ....she was perfect for the job!!!! I enjoyed starting with the Audiobook- but reading the ebook was faster. Honestly- With this book - I didn’t have a strong preference. Either one was fine with me: reading - or listening.
The real issue is HOW TO RATE IT.....WHAT TO SAY ABOUT IT.....
I could understand a 5 star review. There is ‘something’ about the way Camille Pagan writes that HOLDS YOUR ATTENTION. That same quality was evident in
“Woman Last Seen In Her Thirties”.......( a book I had more respect for).
But....in both books, Camille’s writing is very ‘present’...she will hook most readers in. She does me.
I could understand 4 stars ....Good listening experience if listened to the Audiobook ( I agree)....and the book can absorb a reader from beginning to end — ( but the reader might lower a star ( or give a 3.5 rating), and rate up to 4 - BECAUSE they know in their gut something doesn’t feel right. I AGREE....( LOTS DIDN’T feel right to me)
I read in one review that they wanted Tom to suffer more”..... OUCH! What’s wrong with people? I felt 100% the opposite. I felt THE AUTHOR MADE SEVERAL UNKIND MORAL CHOICES in her story.
SHE SHOWED HER PERSONAL COLORS!
Tom is gay.
He was married to Libby for 20 years. He loved Libby. He was struggling- in therapy. Trying to get help and figure out who he was. Yes, he withheld the information from Libby - but when they first got married - ( high School relationship), he didn’t feel safe being gay. He ‘was’ confused. He kept stuffing it down as many did in those days. He NEVER CHEATED ON HER THOUGH.
Tom sincerely loved Libby. He ‘had’ tried to tell her a few times - Libby didn’t want to hear. Point is ....even MUCH LATER towards the end of the book - Libby still never let’s him off the hook. She even says...”she wishes he had cancer”. She gets remarried. She could have invited him. She didn’t. Tom continues EVERY STEP OF THE WAY TO BE LOVING AND KIND TO LIBBY. THEY BOTH MISS EACH OTHERS FRIENDSHIP. LIBBY admits missing TOM, their friendship.....but....She INSISTS on 100% cutting off their relationship. Libby never shows an ‘ounce’ of compassion for Tom.
I felt the AUTHOR made a very unkind moral choices in her story.
I know SEVERAL - SEVERAL - REAL- TRUE STORIES where a married couple - married 15-20 years .... ( with kids).... the gay person finally comes clean.
I could tell you about 3 separate stories - all messy at first: anger, hurt, shock, etc....
But ALL OF THEM ...*ALL* of them today have the most awesome inspiring relationships. They can joke - have met each other’s new lovers - danced together - had dinners together. And guess what? The kids adjusted too!
I understand 2 stars: Readers pissed off or bored. Libby is not the most likable person in the world. She has cancer - but her illness is not becoming to her disposition in any shape or form.
I can understand 1 Star....Readers REALLY MAD. Libby - AND THE AUTHOR’S moral choices in this book felt almost ANTI-GAY!
I’m angry about this too!!!!
There are issues in this novel that might make for an interesting book club discussion
if you found out you had Cancer, do you think you would refuse to tell ‘anyone’? Your twin sibling? Your close friends? Father? Would you refuse cancer treatment or even more testing - and fly to Puerto Rico and have sex with a local?
If you found out your spouse was gay....do you think you would instantly cut off all communication? Change the lock on the house? Empty your joint bank account- take the money for yourself? Bad mouth him to strangers in cafes?
As for the ending of this book ..... that’s another discussion.
I’m going with 2.5 stars... I’ll rate up to 3 stars ......
I didn’t hate reading it - I kept wanting to know what Libby was going to do - and how things would turn out.
But honestly.....when I break this book down....it’s similar to ‘Trash-The-Oscars’...time.
This would be an easy book to TRASH-CHAT! Instead of trash-chatting the dresses ....we would trash-chat the characters and choices they made.
August 23, 2020
"It was all supposed to be very 'Eat, Pray, Die' but I promise I'm not spoiling anything when I say it didn't quite work out that way . . . " -- the opening line
I think it's official: Camille Pagan is my new favorite novelist. Who would've guessed?
After discovering her by accident with her latest release This Won't End Well just last month - thanks, county library system! - I've been working through her bibliography. Her Life and Other Near-Death Experiences is another involving story featuring a personable female protagonist. Libby (don't call me 'Elizabeth') Miller is a dependable thirty-four year-old administrative assistant in a childless but seemingly serene marriage in wintry Chicago. Her life is rocked when she receives a diagnosis for a potentially fatal form of cancer. When she is about to reveal this to her husband he first drops a bombshell of his own: he is gay. With those major developments - and keeping said diagnosis a secret from those in her small circle of family and friends, to avoid unwanted attention - Libby rejects chemotherapy and sets out to quietly live her possible last weeks alive on her own terms. This decision is also partially influenced by Libby losing her mother 25 years earlier to cancer.
Refreshingly, Libby doesn't go to extremes like 1.) eating dessert for every meal, 2.) telling mean people exactly what she thinks of them, or 3.) robbing a bank. No, she instead takes a trip to the beaches of Puerto Rico and simply lets life happen to her. She quickly meets Shiloh, a local pilot, through an original 'meet cute' type of situation and an unexpected romance blossoms between the two of them. Author Pagan excels at creating and then placing these essentially nice characters (like in her earlier works, even the so-called antagonists are shown to have positive qualities) in the midst of a comedy-drama plot that, if not necessarily realistic, still made for a very readable story.
I think it's official: Camille Pagan is my new favorite novelist. Who would've guessed?
After discovering her by accident with her latest release This Won't End Well just last month - thanks, county library system! - I've been working through her bibliography. Her Life and Other Near-Death Experiences is another involving story featuring a personable female protagonist. Libby (don't call me 'Elizabeth') Miller is a dependable thirty-four year-old administrative assistant in a childless but seemingly serene marriage in wintry Chicago. Her life is rocked when she receives a diagnosis for a potentially fatal form of cancer. When she is about to reveal this to her husband he first drops a bombshell of his own: he is gay. With those major developments - and keeping said diagnosis a secret from those in her small circle of family and friends, to avoid unwanted attention - Libby rejects chemotherapy and sets out to quietly live her possible last weeks alive on her own terms. This decision is also partially influenced by Libby losing her mother 25 years earlier to cancer.
Refreshingly, Libby doesn't go to extremes like 1.) eating dessert for every meal, 2.) telling mean people exactly what she thinks of them, or 3.) robbing a bank. No, she instead takes a trip to the beaches of Puerto Rico and simply lets life happen to her. She quickly meets Shiloh, a local pilot, through an original 'meet cute' type of situation and an unexpected romance blossoms between the two of them. Author Pagan excels at creating and then placing these essentially nice characters (like in her earlier works, even the so-called antagonists are shown to have positive qualities) in the midst of a comedy-drama plot that, if not necessarily realistic, still made for a very readable story.
October 16, 2015
I got this for the October Amazon Prime selection. It isn't often that I'll read a book in one night. The story line was grim on the surface but the book turned out to have quite a bit of humor and romance.
January 2, 2016
If you like a mildly humorous, light read....
This book is about a woman who learns she has cancer (chapter 1) on the same day her husband tells her he's gay (chapter 2). Told in first person narrative, the next 33 chapters are a somewhat humorous telling of how she handles the news.
I know the book was meant to be lighthearted, but frankly I thought her behaviour was rather childish. Admittedly, I've never been faced with such a diagnosis and such a bombshell confession. But I don't believe I would have run out of the doctor's office without listening to any treatment options. And I thought Libby's reaction to her husband would have been a little more understanding (and a little less vindictive) since 1) her twin brother was gay, and 2) apparently her husband was a really good guy.
If you're looking for some light reading, this book might hit the spot. It's a mildly entertaining, easy read. I just happen to prefer books that I can get a little more emotionally invested in. For these reasons, I give the book three stars.
This book is about a woman who learns she has cancer (chapter 1) on the same day her husband tells her he's gay (chapter 2). Told in first person narrative, the next 33 chapters are a somewhat humorous telling of how she handles the news.
I know the book was meant to be lighthearted, but frankly I thought her behaviour was rather childish. Admittedly, I've never been faced with such a diagnosis and such a bombshell confession. But I don't believe I would have run out of the doctor's office without listening to any treatment options. And I thought Libby's reaction to her husband would have been a little more understanding (and a little less vindictive) since 1) her twin brother was gay, and 2) apparently her husband was a really good guy.
If you're looking for some light reading, this book might hit the spot. It's a mildly entertaining, easy read. I just happen to prefer books that I can get a little more emotionally invested in. For these reasons, I give the book three stars.
October 2, 2015
I could not finish this book.
I tried to like it but the author tried way to hard to inject her brand of "humor" into every sentence. It got very annoying to say the least and I didn't find the character of Libby appealing in any way. When she bit an old friend on the shoulder that about clinched it, once again trying way too hard. I struggled along for a few more painful chapters and then laid this freebie to rest.
I tried to like it but the author tried way to hard to inject her brand of "humor" into every sentence. It got very annoying to say the least and I didn't find the character of Libby appealing in any way. When she bit an old friend on the shoulder that about clinched it, once again trying way too hard. I struggled along for a few more painful chapters and then laid this freebie to rest.
October 5, 2015
If anyone on here pays attention to what I read, you know I don't really do contemporary that often. But wow, this book was a gem.
The main character, Libby, is wonderful, and the author did a really great job of illustrating how a real person would react to the stream of curve balls being thrown. I loved the transformation Libby went through and the adventure we got to watch her experience. The other characters were great, too - they were diverse, unique, and lovely additions to the story.
The setting was great and the pacing was perfect. I flew through this book because even though it's a lighter read with subtle plot points, it's incredibly addicting. As you can see, I finished it in under a day! The ending was satisfying, too. The author didn't leave any lose ends and the readers receive all the needed closure after bonding with Libby for 200 pages.
My only complaint is that the plot is not the most original idea. Don't get me wrong, though, I absolutely adore the story Camille Pagán created and I would happily read more of her work. I highly recommend this book. If you have Amazon Prime - take advantage of Kindle First and choose this book (October 2015)!
The main character, Libby, is wonderful, and the author did a really great job of illustrating how a real person would react to the stream of curve balls being thrown. I loved the transformation Libby went through and the adventure we got to watch her experience. The other characters were great, too - they were diverse, unique, and lovely additions to the story.
The setting was great and the pacing was perfect. I flew through this book because even though it's a lighter read with subtle plot points, it's incredibly addicting. As you can see, I finished it in under a day! The ending was satisfying, too. The author didn't leave any lose ends and the readers receive all the needed closure after bonding with Libby for 200 pages.
My only complaint is that the plot is not the most original idea. Don't get me wrong, though, I absolutely adore the story Camille Pagán created and I would happily read more of her work. I highly recommend this book. If you have Amazon Prime - take advantage of Kindle First and choose this book (October 2015)!
May 3, 2017
Garbage! Pure fucking shit! It was an audible daily deal, and it started out good. Cancer, broken marriage, very emotional stuff. She is told her type of cancer is very bad and far enough along that there is pretty much no chance but of course they want her to do chemo and radiation and all that anyway. She watched her own mother go through that and decides to opt out. Then she goes on a short vacation before heading back home to be with her family. From the description of the book, this is where I expected her to learn some imporant thing about life but instead, she falls in love with someone else within 2 weeks time (guess she didn't care about her husband so much after all even though the first 3rd of the book is describing how much she loved him and was so devastated) I'm not sure how she fell in love with him, all the did together was basically sight see the island. Then he convinces her to do the treatment anyway so she does and it turns out the cancer wasn't too bad and the treatment isn't too bad, and she gets pregnant even though she was infertile to the point that in veto wouldn't even work for her and everything is happy and great. What a fucking cop out of an ending! And what makes it worse is not only is cancer and it's treatment dismissed as not that bad, it actually says at one point that the cancer was a gift from God and she wouldn't be where she was and in love with this new guy and happy if not for having cancer. Excuse me while I go burn a church to the ground and vent this out a bit, she was happy before! But I guess god wanted her to love someone else so instead of, oh I don't know, answering a prayer maybe? He gives her cancer to push her in the right direction. Not only was the story a pile of contradictory crap that is ment to be romantic and fails, but it actually offended me. And the title, life and other near death experiences. What the fuck does that mean? Running your car of the road and narrowly missing a tree is a near death experience. Life is not. Life always ends with death. ALWAYS.
July 10, 2017
This book reminded me a lot of the movie "6 Days, 7 Nights" with Harrison Ford. Interesting characters in cute dramady with an interesting twist.
November 28, 2015
I absolutely loved this book! This is a page turner from beginning to end. I cried and I laughed, a lot. It deals with Libby, whom I adored, and taking life by storm. She is dealing with a lot of changes in her life and sometimes doesn't know what to do, or when to do things. It is a story about the curve balls that life can throw at us and how we choose to deal with them. It is exquisitely written and I loved the characters in this book. They are well developed and true to life, which seems to be a requirement for me. The story flows smoothly beginning to the very end, though not always smoothly for Libby. You will adore this book. I know that I did. It is a must read for a few laughs. Let's not say more as I do not want to give the story away. You will love this book! You will tell all your friends to read it, yes, it is that good. You will not be able to put this book down. Unbelievable story! Great read for all!! Don't miss out on this one!! An absolute winner!!
April 14, 2022
3.5/5 🌟🌟🌟💫
In one epically crappy day Libby Miller finds out she’s got rare, unpronounceable and fatal cancer. Plus, her husband of 18 years drops a bombshell on their seemingly blissful marriage. In one moment her illusion of her happy and content life is shattered, so she literally chucks everything and heads for the sunny, tropical beaches of the Caribbean. But, no amount of tropical rum, sandy beaches, or hot pilots can help her run away from her unknown future. But, she gives it a good try.
On the surface I enjoyed this book. It's well written, fast paced and I was engrossed until the end. But, writing about cancer is hard and balancing a mostly light story with a heavy and maudlin one is a tricky balancing act. It worked in some places for me and a bit less in others. But, I really enjoy Pagán’s writing style. It's raw, biting and caustically funny, she’s not afraid to show human (and often frustrating!) flaws and emotions in her main characters.
All in all I’d recommend this book. I think it would be a good choice for a book club, there’s a lot of avenues for interesting discussion.
In one epically crappy day Libby Miller finds out she’s got rare, unpronounceable and fatal cancer. Plus, her husband of 18 years drops a bombshell on their seemingly blissful marriage. In one moment her illusion of her happy and content life is shattered, so she literally chucks everything and heads for the sunny, tropical beaches of the Caribbean. But, no amount of tropical rum, sandy beaches, or hot pilots can help her run away from her unknown future. But, she gives it a good try.
On the surface I enjoyed this book. It's well written, fast paced and I was engrossed until the end. But, writing about cancer is hard and balancing a mostly light story with a heavy and maudlin one is a tricky balancing act. It worked in some places for me and a bit less in others. But, I really enjoy Pagán’s writing style. It's raw, biting and caustically funny, she’s not afraid to show human (and often frustrating!) flaws and emotions in her main characters.
All in all I’d recommend this book. I think it would be a good choice for a book club, there’s a lot of avenues for interesting discussion.
November 24, 2015
A fast-paced read. Pick this one up.
September 3, 2016
This book was painful for me to read because it is so completely opposite of how I would react to a serious bad news diagnosis. In fact, I'm probably not a good reader for this book because I've had bad news diagnoses(plural) and had "the talks" with doctors and nurses. So I warn away anyone who deals with chronic illness and/or life-threatening conditions. This book is NOT for you.
But on top of all that, the writing is simple, the brand of humor is of the mean-spirited ridiculous type, there's no substance to the characters, and the main character screams upper-class privileged brat.
If you want to know my reasons with mild spoilers, read on, but this review is more rant-like and I'm being upfront with my personal biases here.
Basically, the author tried to fictionalize slash romanticize *eye roll* a cancer diagnosis for a woman who must also deal with the shock of learning her husband of 8 years is gay and the woman, Libby, rampages through and over anyone in her path on her way to coping. I can't tell if this is telling of how the author herself would react. If so, that is terrifying.
Sure, it's a tough situation. Sure, Libby had the loss of her mom to cancer to influence her present day reaction, but Pagan had weak reasons to support Libby's bad behavior.
Pagan essentially relied entirely on Libby's losing her mom to cancer event, which is admittedly a strong one, but people are not made up of single events and the amount of milking Pagan did with that just reminded me every time I read it that Libby had little else to properly support her actions-so Pagan had only one reason for Libby's initial decision.
Like, what else made Libby into the shallow, self-centered jerk she is in the book? Who knows, because her father didn't seem to have much influence in her memories. *more eye rolls* Pagan provided background on Paul and Lizzy's growing up with a single father, which would realistically have its own trials and tribulations, but nope, it was all on the loss of her mom to cancer. If you're going to write a jerk character, write a believable jerk please.
Then there's Libby's reaction to her husband, Tom, coming out to her. Pagan basically made Libby sound like a terrible human being with how she treated him. Being honest with oneself is not an easy thing, which was a message Libby seemed to be grappling with for herself, yet she never gave Tom any slack for his confession. That entire part of the book was not ok with me and basically sealed my belief that Libby is an ass, permanently.
Libby essentially traipses through a month or two of her cancer post-diagnosis life acting as if it gives her a reason to be an ass to everyone around her and is extremely selfish in how she treats those around her. Again, poor Tom is the main victim of her ire. It's weird because Libby is written as being aware of her craziness, but she doesn't really change, ever. She has a martyr complex, is self-centered, shallow, and is sadly a rather true depiction of how poorly educated some healthcare consumers are and how people love to self-diagnose with Google and WebMD. It really frightens me that the author wrote such a character as Libby, because it's making me wonder about her own personality.
The author's treatment of Libby and Tom's entire situation was insensitive and sending the wrong message to readers. I realize there are people like this who channel their anger outward and I know people who lash out as their coping mechanism, but I'll be honest, as someone with a chronic condition and had my own close calls, I refuse to condone such actions and think books like this send the message that using one's condition as a license to behave badly deserves a punch in the face.
Lastly, what was the point of the romance? It felt thrown in for the chick audience's benefit rather than an actual meaningful point to Libby's development.
I straight up hate this book, but I read through it to the end hoping for some redeeming factor and simultaneously challenging myself to see how cancer/illness is being treated in pop fiction.....AWFUL EXPERIENCE! The author does mention at the end that cancer has played a role in her life through friends and family, but how involved she was in those situations is not mentioned and based on what I read, her perspective on coping with cancer, or any life-threatening condition, is highly questionable. People who presume they understand the role of caregiver and patient and say so are fooling themselves.
But on top of all that, the writing is simple, the brand of humor is of the mean-spirited ridiculous type, there's no substance to the characters, and the main character screams upper-class privileged brat.
If you want to know my reasons with mild spoilers, read on, but this review is more rant-like and I'm being upfront with my personal biases here.
Basically, the author tried to fictionalize slash romanticize *eye roll* a cancer diagnosis for a woman who must also deal with the shock of learning her husband of 8 years is gay and the woman, Libby, rampages through and over anyone in her path on her way to coping. I can't tell if this is telling of how the author herself would react. If so, that is terrifying.
Sure, it's a tough situation. Sure, Libby had the loss of her mom to cancer to influence her present day reaction, but Pagan had weak reasons to support Libby's bad behavior.
Pagan essentially relied entirely on Libby's losing her mom to cancer event, which is admittedly a strong one, but people are not made up of single events and the amount of milking Pagan did with that just reminded me every time I read it that Libby had little else to properly support her actions-so Pagan had only one reason for Libby's initial decision.
Like, what else made Libby into the shallow, self-centered jerk she is in the book? Who knows, because her father didn't seem to have much influence in her memories. *more eye rolls* Pagan provided background on Paul and Lizzy's growing up with a single father, which would realistically have its own trials and tribulations, but nope, it was all on the loss of her mom to cancer. If you're going to write a jerk character, write a believable jerk please.
Then there's Libby's reaction to her husband, Tom, coming out to her. Pagan basically made Libby sound like a terrible human being with how she treated him. Being honest with oneself is not an easy thing, which was a message Libby seemed to be grappling with for herself, yet she never gave Tom any slack for his confession. That entire part of the book was not ok with me and basically sealed my belief that Libby is an ass, permanently.
Libby essentially traipses through a month or two of her cancer post-diagnosis life acting as if it gives her a reason to be an ass to everyone around her and is extremely selfish in how she treats those around her. Again, poor Tom is the main victim of her ire. It's weird because Libby is written as being aware of her craziness, but she doesn't really change, ever. She has a martyr complex, is self-centered, shallow, and is sadly a rather true depiction of how poorly educated some healthcare consumers are and how people love to self-diagnose with Google and WebMD. It really frightens me that the author wrote such a character as Libby, because it's making me wonder about her own personality.
The author's treatment of Libby and Tom's entire situation was insensitive and sending the wrong message to readers. I realize there are people like this who channel their anger outward and I know people who lash out as their coping mechanism, but I'll be honest, as someone with a chronic condition and had my own close calls, I refuse to condone such actions and think books like this send the message that using one's condition as a license to behave badly deserves a punch in the face.
Lastly, what was the point of the romance? It felt thrown in for the chick audience's benefit rather than an actual meaningful point to Libby's development.
I straight up hate this book, but I read through it to the end hoping for some redeeming factor and simultaneously challenging myself to see how cancer/illness is being treated in pop fiction.....AWFUL EXPERIENCE! The author does mention at the end that cancer has played a role in her life through friends and family, but how involved she was in those situations is not mentioned and based on what I read, her perspective on coping with cancer, or any life-threatening condition, is highly questionable. People who presume they understand the role of caregiver and patient and say so are fooling themselves.
October 20, 2015
I hesitate to categorize a book as chick lit but I am not so sure why, I like an occasional chic lit book. So often a book is chic lit but then it is so much more also. This book is about a woman that finds out she has cancer and not much chance of surviving it and comes home to tell her husband, but he inadvertently thinks she is talking about what she now knows about him, and so he confesses that yes he is gay. Uh oh.
The beginning of this book was really annoying because the author kept injecting an overdose of humor that was just distracting from the story, I was about to set the book aside, but then she reduced the unnecessary humor significantly and got on with the story. She still uses humor throughout the book to lighten the story but not an overabundance of it.
So what would you do if you found out you had cancer with a low probability of living very long? Would you still go through with the treatments for cancer, would you try every conceivable option to live or would you say no thank you, I will enjoy what time I do have? What would you do if your husband confessed after 18 years that he is gay, but still wants to be your best friend?
This book is about savoring the moments we do have and fighting to live and giving into your fate and enjoying whatever time is available. It is a book of hope, our true connections to others in our lives, letting people help, friendships and lovers, and savoring the individual moments within our lives. Like so many books she wraps things up way to quickly in the end and just a bit unbelievable but like I said it's chick lit with a little something extra.
The beginning of this book was really annoying because the author kept injecting an overdose of humor that was just distracting from the story, I was about to set the book aside, but then she reduced the unnecessary humor significantly and got on with the story. She still uses humor throughout the book to lighten the story but not an overabundance of it.
So what would you do if you found out you had cancer with a low probability of living very long? Would you still go through with the treatments for cancer, would you try every conceivable option to live or would you say no thank you, I will enjoy what time I do have? What would you do if your husband confessed after 18 years that he is gay, but still wants to be your best friend?
This book is about savoring the moments we do have and fighting to live and giving into your fate and enjoying whatever time is available. It is a book of hope, our true connections to others in our lives, letting people help, friendships and lovers, and savoring the individual moments within our lives. Like so many books she wraps things up way to quickly in the end and just a bit unbelievable but like I said it's chick lit with a little something extra.
January 4, 2017
As a child Libby watched cancer eat up her mother, so when she learns that she has terminal cancer she decides she'd rather have a few good months than go through chemo. With her mind set she goes home to tell her husband. But before she can tell him he confesses that he is gay. Devastated she kicks him out, sells all their furniture and quits her job. Then her father tells her about a magical bay in Puerto Rico where he and her mother spent their honeymoon. On a whim she books a flight in the hope of walking the sand her mother walked.
A very long time ago there was this girl (yeah that long ago) I liked. She really wanted to see that Bette Midler movie, Beaches and because I liked her that much off we went. A week later her friends were going to see it and she wanted me to meet them so off we went again. Then a few weeks later another group of friends went to see it so for the third time I went to see Beaches.
There is a lesson. Not even the most promising relationship can survive three screenings of Beaches. I actually started feeling queazy whenever we talked and to this day I feel physically ill whenever I hear Wind Beneath My Wings.
Thankfully this book is much lighter fare. Despite dealing with terminal cancer, it's optimistic and positive. So there are no depths of despair in this book, thank god. It's an easy and mostly light read.
A very long time ago there was this girl (yeah that long ago) I liked. She really wanted to see that Bette Midler movie, Beaches and because I liked her that much off we went. A week later her friends were going to see it and she wanted me to meet them so off we went again. Then a few weeks later another group of friends went to see it so for the third time I went to see Beaches.
There is a lesson. Not even the most promising relationship can survive three screenings of Beaches. I actually started feeling queazy whenever we talked and to this day I feel physically ill whenever I hear Wind Beneath My Wings.
Thankfully this book is much lighter fare. Despite dealing with terminal cancer, it's optimistic and positive. So there are no depths of despair in this book, thank god. It's an easy and mostly light read.
April 5, 2017
I absolutely loved this book. A pleasure to read and so thankful it was a free, high caliber Kindle First!
November 4, 2015
I got this book in an exchange for an honest review
Feels like forever since I wrote the review :O, the review right...
Whoah! This book was unbelievable, I feel like I came off the rollercoaster!
SPOILER ALERT!!!! If your planning on reading this book make sure you carry a pack of tissues with you, your deffo going to need them!
Libby is a very vivacious character, I loved reading her from her perspective, she is a very ideal and strong character. The way the Author has shown her courage, bravery is truly remarkable, I think there are very few people like that in this world. She truly was a lovable character.
I absolutely adored her twin, Paul. He was perfect in every way. I fell in love with him. Shiloh? don't even mention him. I was over the moon with him, he was the true essence and definition of perfection. The way he faced his obstacles in his life was spectacular and inspirational, makes me want to try harder and become a better person.
This story was a real eye opener, not just for me but for everyone else too. Time is really precious, we don't really value it or know the essence until it is gone which is normally too late then. A good reminder to live in the present, not worry about the future and take control of what I can and face my fears head on :)
Feels like forever since I wrote the review :O, the review right...
Whoah! This book was unbelievable, I feel like I came off the rollercoaster!
SPOILER ALERT!!!! If your planning on reading this book make sure you carry a pack of tissues with you, your deffo going to need them!
Libby is a very vivacious character, I loved reading her from her perspective, she is a very ideal and strong character. The way the Author has shown her courage, bravery is truly remarkable, I think there are very few people like that in this world. She truly was a lovable character.
I absolutely adored her twin, Paul. He was perfect in every way. I fell in love with him. Shiloh? don't even mention him. I was over the moon with him, he was the true essence and definition of perfection. The way he faced his obstacles in his life was spectacular and inspirational, makes me want to try harder and become a better person.
This story was a real eye opener, not just for me but for everyone else too. Time is really precious, we don't really value it or know the essence until it is gone which is normally too late then. A good reminder to live in the present, not worry about the future and take control of what I can and face my fears head on :)
December 28, 2015
This was a "cancer-lite/long time relationship breakup-lite" book. Both issues usually cause profound change in the beings they happen to. Not so in this book. The topics had so little depth I felt they were treated as one would a facial breakout or a bad haircut. What the narrator learned about herself from these intense experiences was...nothing. And so do we as the readers.
I found these flat characters only existed only in relation to the facile narcissistic narrator who talks like she lives in a sit com and who's self reflection is about 1.5 inches deep. I felt the author's 'humor fingerprints' all over it. Not once did I feel any genuine emotion.
The Disney ending was an obvious landing from page 70. If you like pat, formulaic writing with little profundity, this is the book for you.
I found these flat characters only existed only in relation to the facile narcissistic narrator who talks like she lives in a sit com and who's self reflection is about 1.5 inches deep. I felt the author's 'humor fingerprints' all over it. Not once did I feel any genuine emotion.
The Disney ending was an obvious landing from page 70. If you like pat, formulaic writing with little profundity, this is the book for you.
October 12, 2015
Talk about piling on. No wonder she had a bit of a melt-down. People get cancer diagnoses every day, but after poor Libby got HER six-months-left message of gloom and doom, she went home to find solace in the arms of her beloved husband, only to have HIM deliver another bombshell before she could say a word about her doctor's visit. After seventeen years of what she thought was a blissful marriage to the man of her dreams, Tom chose THAT day to tell her he... preferred men. He's lucky she only stabbed him in the hand.
So begins one woman's journey to face... or to ignore... the challenges ahead of her. In a thought-provoking, but easy-reading story, Pagan allows readers to ponder how they might respond to such a diagnosis. Initially, Libby responds as though she's on her own. Her life, her decision. But is that ever the case? Our decisions always have an impact on the people we love, and on the people who love us.
This isn't a depressing book, by any means. In fact, at times, it is downright amusing. Not the kind of book one would expect to find a happily ever after ending, though... or is it?
So begins one woman's journey to face... or to ignore... the challenges ahead of her. In a thought-provoking, but easy-reading story, Pagan allows readers to ponder how they might respond to such a diagnosis. Initially, Libby responds as though she's on her own. Her life, her decision. But is that ever the case? Our decisions always have an impact on the people we love, and on the people who love us.
This isn't a depressing book, by any means. In fact, at times, it is downright amusing. Not the kind of book one would expect to find a happily ever after ending, though... or is it?
October 7, 2015
WOW! This was one of the most thoroughly entertaining and engaging books I have read in some time and, quite literally, I devoured its contents in three days! My standard fare is crime/legal mysteries which I thoroughly enjoy; but, I decided to take a respite and try something different. This book came to my attention through Amazon's Kindle First program and I am so glad I chose it. From the story's outset, I became completely engrossed in Libby's life which, on the surface, was nothing short of tragic. Still, Camille Pagan found a beautiful way of revealing Libby's life challenges with a near perfect blend of harsh reality laced with humor. It was almost like listening to a stand-up comedian escort me through troubling and difficult truths while smiling and laughing throughout the routine. There have been few authors who could stir in me both tears and belly laughs in a single chapter. I am in awe of this author and recommend "Life and Other Near-Death Experiences" without exception... WOW!
November 30, 2015
Go ahead and read the synopsis and turn up your nose. I know, overkill. Two chapters in you have a husband who's gay and a cancer diagnosis. I read it because it was free and I never read the Amazon Prime free choices and I spend way too much on e-books. Plus I really liked the title. Not my usual carefully researched reasons for reading a book. That's for sure.
Truth is, I really enjoyed it. This unknown-to-me author was funny (really!) and fresh and knew how to tell a story. The characters were interesting. The Puerto Rican adventure was full of lush details and a handsome guy named Shiloh.
Milagros was a lively landlady who, of course, appeared just at the right time. Coincidences abounded. Unlikely scenarios piled on top of each other. So, it's your choice, you can either rip it apart or just enjoy it as I did. Sometimes it's fun to just get caught up in the story and give the inner critic a rest.
Truth is, I really enjoyed it. This unknown-to-me author was funny (really!) and fresh and knew how to tell a story. The characters were interesting. The Puerto Rican adventure was full of lush details and a handsome guy named Shiloh.
Milagros was a lively landlady who, of course, appeared just at the right time. Coincidences abounded. Unlikely scenarios piled on top of each other. So, it's your choice, you can either rip it apart or just enjoy it as I did. Sometimes it's fun to just get caught up in the story and give the inner critic a rest.
November 26, 2015
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Before anything else, the one thing I want to really, really talk about it is the title. The author couldn't have chosen a better name for the book. The biggest reason I might have requested this book was because of the title.
Now, the actual review part. Life and Other Near Death Experiences is a very light- hearted novel on... CANCER. I don't know how authors find an inspiration to create romance (read, The Fault In Our Stars) or humor out of cancer, the one deadly disease wiping out mankind. But yet, Camille Pagan did it and I'm glad she did because this might be the most positive book I've read about cancer.
The first half of the book really irritated me. The story revolves around Libby Miller, an optimist, who just got to know that she is suffering from cancer and that her husband is gay. So, according to her, the beautiful life she was living just came crashing down on her. I'd have liked the concept, except Libby is a rude woman. I don't know what made her into what she was throughout the story - cancer or her husband's sexuality - but she is definitely not a character I would get along with. What irked me the most is her reaction towards her husband's coming out. She literally cut him off from her life. She embarrassed him, she kicked him out of his house and then when he was concerned about her throughout the book, she just snapped at him and ignored him. Yes, the husband you loved for the last 16 years isn't attracted to your gender, but he still loves you, not the love you expect, but still a love that is enough to care about you. I couldn't make sense of Libby's decisions or manners. Yet, I have to say, the second half of the book was a pleasant surprise. Libby was discovering herself and try to take sensible decisions. Even though she was still keeping a distance from her husband and also having an affair with a Puerto Rican, I could see why she was upset. The final quarter of the book won my heart and things finally were where it should have been.
Which brings to me another aspect, which I'm not sure I actually enjoyed but I cannot bring myself to hate it either. While reading the book, I actually felt as if I am watching a movie, a romantic comedy where the heroine is running away from her problems. She ends up in an exotic destination, meets a guy, falls in love and then when reality strikes, things crumble and realizes it's time to confront our fears. I'm not saying it's bad. I loved the story, even if it was nothing new to what I have already seen or even read. But eventually I expected something more.
That being said, if a movie is ever made, I know I'm going to watch it before anyone else, because, as I'm stressing again and again, I liked the story. To create love and positivity out of cancer is really beautiful and I'm glad I ended up smiling and shedding some joy tears than crying my heart out on a tragedy.
My favorite character has to be Paul. There was not a bigger support to Libby than her own twin brother. Paul represents every reason why I've always wanted a twin, analter-ego, a support and a shoulder to cry on.
As for Shiloh, he was a cliché. Every love story has one, and while I'm not complaining about him, I'm not much into sugar coating him, either. Other characters were good too, but there was nobody as special as Paul.
So did you like it? Probably.
Is it anything special? No.
But would I recommend it? Yes.
Will you like it? That depends if you are ready to get into this with an open mind and no expectations. Don't make my mistake.
Originally on The Book Loving Nerd
“Life is devastating, if only in its limited run; but it’s incredibly good, too.”
Before anything else, the one thing I want to really, really talk about it is the title. The author couldn't have chosen a better name for the book. The biggest reason I might have requested this book was because of the title.
Now, the actual review part. Life and Other Near Death Experiences is a very light- hearted novel on... CANCER. I don't know how authors find an inspiration to create romance (read, The Fault In Our Stars) or humor out of cancer, the one deadly disease wiping out mankind. But yet, Camille Pagan did it and I'm glad she did because this might be the most positive book I've read about cancer.
“If cancer was a gift, I wanted to return it. I didn’t need a fast-acting tumor to remind me about the fleeting nature of life:”
The first half of the book really irritated me. The story revolves around Libby Miller, an optimist, who just got to know that she is suffering from cancer and that her husband is gay. So, according to her, the beautiful life she was living just came crashing down on her. I'd have liked the concept, except Libby is a rude woman. I don't know what made her into what she was throughout the story - cancer or her husband's sexuality - but she is definitely not a character I would get along with. What irked me the most is her reaction towards her husband's coming out. She literally cut him off from her life. She embarrassed him, she kicked him out of his house and then when he was concerned about her throughout the book, she just snapped at him and ignored him. Yes, the husband you loved for the last 16 years isn't attracted to your gender, but he still loves you, not the love you expect, but still a love that is enough to care about you. I couldn't make sense of Libby's decisions or manners. Yet, I have to say, the second half of the book was a pleasant surprise. Libby was discovering herself and try to take sensible decisions. Even though she was still keeping a distance from her husband and also having an affair with a Puerto Rican, I could see why she was upset. The final quarter of the book won my heart and things finally were where it should have been.
Which brings to me another aspect, which I'm not sure I actually enjoyed but I cannot bring myself to hate it either. While reading the book, I actually felt as if I am watching a movie, a romantic comedy where the heroine is running away from her problems. She ends up in an exotic destination, meets a guy, falls in love and then when reality strikes, things crumble and realizes it's time to confront our fears. I'm not saying it's bad. I loved the story, even if it was nothing new to what I have already seen or even read. But eventually I expected something more.
“Personally, I don’t care very much about everything working out perfectly, but I’m not going to not take a chance because of all the what-ifs involved.”
That being said, if a movie is ever made, I know I'm going to watch it before anyone else, because, as I'm stressing again and again, I liked the story. To create love and positivity out of cancer is really beautiful and I'm glad I ended up smiling and shedding some joy tears than crying my heart out on a tragedy.
My favorite character has to be Paul. There was not a bigger support to Libby than her own twin brother. Paul represents every reason why I've always wanted a twin, analter-ego, a support and a shoulder to cry on.
As for Shiloh, he was a cliché. Every love story has one, and while I'm not complaining about him, I'm not much into sugar coating him, either. Other characters were good too, but there was nobody as special as Paul.
So did you like it? Probably.
Is it anything special? No.
But would I recommend it? Yes.
Will you like it? That depends if you are ready to get into this with an open mind and no expectations. Don't make my mistake.
Originally on The Book Loving Nerd
November 1, 2015
“Life is devastating, if only in its limited run; but it’s incredibly good, too. And in spite of my circumstances, I could not deny that I was ready for more.”
Life and Other Near-Death Experiences is a book about actually living and what happens when your view on life and what you thought you had is stripped away from you immediately. From the very beginning, we find out that Libby has cancer and her husband drops a bomb on her at the same day, she quits her job and knows that with the short amount of time to live, she cannot be wasting any more of your life.
Booking a trip to Puerto Rico after putting the apartment for sale, she meets a local who almost gets them killed. And she knows that she is not ready to die yet and has to live her life. With so many adventures that awaits her and looking at life differently, Libby will discover herself in no other way like before.
“There was nothing I could do to change what had happened, but I could not stop myself from desperately wishing I could rewind my life and do it all over in a way that was the exact opposite of my past.”
I really enjoyed this one. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about Libby just because her world in beginning way way too optimistic for my liking. However, once she started to get out of her comfort zone and trying new things and exploring life, I really started to connect with her and felt the same emotions that she felt. I think this is the perfect read for someone who is interesting in exploring life through someone's eyes and highly recommend it!
April 6, 2016
Is it possible for a book to be funny when its themes focus on a woman who learns her husband isn't who she thought he was and that she has cancer all on the same day? Surprisingly, yes, if "Life and Other Near-Death Experiences" is anything to judge by.
Author Camille Pagan has chosen a glass-half-full lead character (Libby Miller) to face down these traumas, and it's not surprising, that she comes as close as possible to a full-blown meltdown. She quits her job, sells her condo, and leaves for a month in Puerto Rico, clearly choosing to delay any cancer treatment.
Still, it isn't possible for her to run away from her troubles. And echoes of her own mother's early death from cancer herself is playing out in Libby's head. Yet, Libby's time in Puerto Rico -- a place that is special to her mother's memory -- turns out to be just the right thing to re-engage Libby, although clearly she went there to leave the world behind.
This lovable book, however, does have one big flaw. It's the happy-ever-after ending. If a reader can accept that going in, the book will delight. For those who tend to appreciate a little more reality in their fiction, it's an ending that turns out to be a little too neat and tidy. Still, even overlooking that, this is a book that can lift your spirits and clear the fog of your troubles for a little while.
Author Camille Pagan has chosen a glass-half-full lead character (Libby Miller) to face down these traumas, and it's not surprising, that she comes as close as possible to a full-blown meltdown. She quits her job, sells her condo, and leaves for a month in Puerto Rico, clearly choosing to delay any cancer treatment.
Still, it isn't possible for her to run away from her troubles. And echoes of her own mother's early death from cancer herself is playing out in Libby's head. Yet, Libby's time in Puerto Rico -- a place that is special to her mother's memory -- turns out to be just the right thing to re-engage Libby, although clearly she went there to leave the world behind.
This lovable book, however, does have one big flaw. It's the happy-ever-after ending. If a reader can accept that going in, the book will delight. For those who tend to appreciate a little more reality in their fiction, it's an ending that turns out to be a little too neat and tidy. Still, even overlooking that, this is a book that can lift your spirits and clear the fog of your troubles for a little while.
March 1, 2019
I adore it when a book can make you laugh out loud on such serious topics—cancer and a falling-apart marriage. Libby’s character is brilliant luminous, so full of life! Highly recommended!
PS/ Thanks for reminding me why I moved to the Caribbean :)
PS/ Thanks for reminding me why I moved to the Caribbean :)
September 29, 2015
Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review: 'Life and Other Near-Death Experiences' by Camille Pagan.
In Life and Other Near-Death Experiences by Camille Pagan, we are introduced to Libby Miller, an optimist at heart, but now a woman ravaged by devastation. Her husband drops her on the same day she finds out she has cancer, and suddenly life is no longer so rosy. In her indomitable way she chooses her own destiny and elects to deny treatment and begin a life of living in the Caribbean, a dream of existence.
With nothing to lose she finds that she is unable to escape her past. Her ex, and also her twin brother continue to interrupt her tropical fun, but it is the encounter with a man that throws her world into a tailspin. What is it about challenging the fates that sets the senses on fire, and creates feelings that have been long buried? Can she risk the treatments required to keep her life on track for just a chance to love and live a bit longer. Leaving the challenge and her dreams she returns home, only to find that dreams are not so easy to dislodge.
Pagan takes us into the depth and despair of disease, and the heartache of discovery. Betrayal and pain, as well as love and romance are threaded through Libby’s rocky path of discovery. The interaction between characters is hard, humorous, sad, and at times just plain funny. The decisions are those meant to be made privately, yet we follow them with voyeuristic intent.
If you enjoy a good solid read, one with both ends of the spectrum, sadness and dismay, to romance and beauty you will want this work for your library. Pagan takes what could be tragedy and creates a lovely story of hope and living.
This would be a great book for a reading club or discussion group. The decisions and questions raised would create a great deal of dialogue.
In Life and Other Near-Death Experiences by Camille Pagan, we are introduced to Libby Miller, an optimist at heart, but now a woman ravaged by devastation. Her husband drops her on the same day she finds out she has cancer, and suddenly life is no longer so rosy. In her indomitable way she chooses her own destiny and elects to deny treatment and begin a life of living in the Caribbean, a dream of existence.
With nothing to lose she finds that she is unable to escape her past. Her ex, and also her twin brother continue to interrupt her tropical fun, but it is the encounter with a man that throws her world into a tailspin. What is it about challenging the fates that sets the senses on fire, and creates feelings that have been long buried? Can she risk the treatments required to keep her life on track for just a chance to love and live a bit longer. Leaving the challenge and her dreams she returns home, only to find that dreams are not so easy to dislodge.
Pagan takes us into the depth and despair of disease, and the heartache of discovery. Betrayal and pain, as well as love and romance are threaded through Libby’s rocky path of discovery. The interaction between characters is hard, humorous, sad, and at times just plain funny. The decisions are those meant to be made privately, yet we follow them with voyeuristic intent.
If you enjoy a good solid read, one with both ends of the spectrum, sadness and dismay, to romance and beauty you will want this work for your library. Pagan takes what could be tragedy and creates a lovely story of hope and living.
This would be a great book for a reading club or discussion group. The decisions and questions raised would create a great deal of dialogue.
May 1, 2021
I will read anything Camille Pagán writes. Her books are so relatable and so consistent.
This one has been sitting on my shelf for too long, I finally picked it up and did a mix of print and audio - the narrator was very good!
You might think by reading the summary that this book could be depressing and sad, and while some aspects of it are - the main feel of the book is light.
I could see some of Libby’s decisions being frustrating to some people or make her unlikable, but one of the things I love most about Pagán’s characters are their flaws. I think I’ve said this in every review of her books, but it is so true - while the character sometimes makes decisions you don’t necessarily agree with, they are realistic ones, despite them not always being the best decisions. Who knows how you would act being put in the same scenario?
I also have to plug my favourite book by this author because I truly feel like it’s a hidden gem - if you haven’t read Forever is The Worst Long Time - you must!!
This one has been sitting on my shelf for too long, I finally picked it up and did a mix of print and audio - the narrator was very good!
You might think by reading the summary that this book could be depressing and sad, and while some aspects of it are - the main feel of the book is light.
I could see some of Libby’s decisions being frustrating to some people or make her unlikable, but one of the things I love most about Pagán’s characters are their flaws. I think I’ve said this in every review of her books, but it is so true - while the character sometimes makes decisions you don’t necessarily agree with, they are realistic ones, despite them not always being the best decisions. Who knows how you would act being put in the same scenario?
I also have to plug my favourite book by this author because I truly feel like it’s a hidden gem - if you haven’t read Forever is The Worst Long Time - you must!!
February 2, 2018
ספר מקסים ומשעשע.
ביום שליבי מגלה שהגידול השומני שהסירו מבטנה, סרטני, היא גם מגלה שבעלה ואהוב ליבה, טום, נמשך לגברים.
טום מנסה לישר את ההדורים עם ליבי, ואפילו מציע שישארו נישואים, אבל ליבי הפגועה והזועמת אינה סולחת ואינה מגלה לו את דבר מחלתה ומחליטה לעזוב את העבודה שמעולם לא אהבה, למכור את דירתם ולנסוע לפורטו ריקו. בכל זאת הרופא נתן לה רק חצי שנה אז כדאי שהיא תנצל את הזמן היטב.
ליבי נוסעת לפורטו ריקו ושם היא מגלה ששווה להילחם עבור החיים.
סיפור שבחלקיו נוגע ללב, במיוחד הסיפור על האם ובמיוחד מערכת היחסים של ליבי עם אחיה התאום. בחלקים משעשע. ולאורך כל הספר הסיפור מקסים ומרחיב את הלב.
האופן שבו הסופרת מתארת את ההתמודדות של ליבי עם מחלת הסרטן ועם ההחלטה האם לעבור טיפולים או לא. את ההתמודדות עם המוות הקרוב והידיעה שלא תספיק להשיג כל מה שרצתה מחייה ואת התמיכה המשפחתית והחברית מסביב ליבי. כל אלה הופכים את הקריאה לקולחת ואת הספר לטוב מאוד בעיניי.
ביום שליבי מגלה שהגידול השומני שהסירו מבטנה, סרטני, היא גם מגלה שבעלה ואהוב ליבה, טום, נמשך לגברים.
טום מנסה לישר את ההדורים עם ליבי, ואפילו מציע שישארו נישואים, אבל ליבי הפגועה והזועמת אינה סולחת ואינה מגלה לו את דבר מחלתה ומחליטה לעזוב את העבודה שמעולם לא אהבה, למכור את דירתם ולנסוע לפורטו ריקו. בכל זאת הרופא נתן לה רק חצי שנה אז כדאי שהיא תנצל את הזמן היטב.
ליבי נוסעת לפורטו ריקו ושם היא מגלה ששווה להילחם עבור החיים.
סיפור שבחלקיו נוגע ללב, במיוחד הסיפור על האם ובמיוחד מערכת היחסים של ליבי עם אחיה התאום. בחלקים משעשע. ולאורך כל הספר הסיפור מקסים ומרחיב את הלב.
האופן שבו הסופרת מתארת את ההתמודדות של ליבי עם מחלת הסרטן ועם ההחלטה האם לעבור טיפולים או לא. את ההתמודדות עם המוות הקרוב והידיעה שלא תספיק להשיג כל מה שרצתה מחייה ואת התמיכה המשפחתית והחברית מסביב ליבי. כל אלה הופכים את הקריאה לקולחת ואת הספר לטוב מאוד בעיניי.
November 7, 2015
Can cancer and bitter divorce be used as backgrounds to a fun and light romance novel? It appears so. I enjoyed this book immensely - it is a great page turner, written with confidence and even some humor, even though the subject matter is no laughing matter. The main character, Libby, is mature and complex. She feels so real, that at the beginning I thought this was non-fiction, a true story. The novel follows all the rules of romantic fiction, but does it intelligently and offers added value.
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