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Spievajte, tancujte, milujte, riskujte, nikdy sa nevzdávajte, ale predovšetkým užívajte si každú sekundu!
Tom sa do Alice zaľúbil na prvý pohľad. Tušil, že to s ňou nebude ľahké, nie je ako iné ženy. Trpí vrodenou nevyliečiteľnou chorobou, cystickou fibrózou, a uvedomuje si, že si musí užívať každý deň, lebo kedykoľvek môže byť jej posledným. Napriek tomu Alice nemá rada ľútosť. Túži jedine spievať. Odmalička jej hovorili, aby sa ani nepokúšala plniť si nejaké sny, ale nevzdala sa. Napriek zhoršujúcemu sa zdravotnému stavu sa jej podarilo získať nahrávaciu zmluvu od najvýznamnejšej hudobnej spoločnosti Sony a v roku 2002, krátkou pred smrťou, jej vyšiel prvý album s príznačným názvom Daydream (Snívanie).
Dojímavý príbeh nevšednej mladej ženy o víťazstve ducha nad nepriazňou osudu je inšpirovaný osudom talentovanej anglickej speváčky a skladateľky Alice Martineuovej, ktorá v roku 2003 vo veku 30 rokov zomrela na cystickú fibrózu.
Tom sa do Alice zaľúbil na prvý pohľad. Tušil, že to s ňou nebude ľahké, nie je ako iné ženy. Trpí vrodenou nevyliečiteľnou chorobou, cystickou fibrózou, a uvedomuje si, že si musí užívať každý deň, lebo kedykoľvek môže byť jej posledným. Napriek tomu Alice nemá rada ľútosť. Túži jedine spievať. Odmalička jej hovorili, aby sa ani nepokúšala plniť si nejaké sny, ale nevzdala sa. Napriek zhoršujúcemu sa zdravotnému stavu sa jej podarilo získať nahrávaciu zmluvu od najvýznamnejšej hudobnej spoločnosti Sony a v roku 2002, krátkou pred smrťou, jej vyšiel prvý album s príznačným názvom Daydream (Snívanie).
Dojímavý príbeh nevšednej mladej ženy o víťazstve ducha nad nepriazňou osudu je inšpirovaný osudom talentovanej anglickej speváčky a skladateľky Alice Martineuovej, ktorá v roku 2003 vo veku 30 rokov zomrela na cystickú fibrózu.
384 pages, Paperback
First published February 9, 2017
58 people are currently reading
947 people want to read
About the author
Alice Peterson
23 books226 followersAt the age of eighteen Alice had been awarded a tennis scholarship to America when she experienced pain in her right hand. It was rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and she hasn’t picked up a tennis racket since, a sadness that shall always be with her. The theme of disability features in her fiction, but there is nothing gloomy about Alice or her work. Rather this gives her fiction the added dimension of true poignancy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
February 24, 2017
A song for tomorrow tells the story of Alice Martineau who was a real person. Who had cystic fibrosis and who always dreamed of being a singer and who was on the list for a triple by pass. It is a touching heartbreaking read and I think you need to have the tissues ready. A must read for all.
I felt like I could relate to this story. Because seven years ago I was diagnosed with having Chiari Melformation a condition that won't ever get better and will continue to be with me for the rest of my life. I am in constant pain and there are a lot of things that cause it to get worse.
Overnight the carefree life I once led was gone. It completely changed my whole life and my outlook on life and the things I do. Although Alice was born with Cf I know that her outlook and experiences will have been different to mine. I still think that there is a link. We both know the courage and sheer grit that it takes to get through each day and to make your life meaningful when you are faced with so many obstacles.
Just like Alice hides her CF I don't go around shouting about my Chiari Malformation. You don't want people to judge you on your illness and above all you just long to be normal. I like Alice want people to see me for who I am and not for the things that I cannot do.
I also saw in both of us sheer determination to over come every single day and to take it all one step at a time.
I also saw that we both fiercely love our families and that we both realise that without their understanding and support our lives would have been very different indeed. My family and friends have shared my darkest moments and continue to make me want to keep fighting. I have so much gratitude and love for them.
Alice had such a beautiful voice and I am so glad that she got to live out her dreams. Her songs and lyrics are powerful and raw, emotional and understated. If you haven't listened to her albums. I really suggest checking them out. I'm sure like me you will fall in love with them.
I absolutely love that Alice Peterson has kept most of this true to the life Alice lead. Her hopes, her dreams, her medical history, her family, her love story and this is a wonderful celebration of a fantabulous woman. I also love how there are loads of wonderful song lyrics dispersed within the book.
There is so much time, effort and understanding that went into writing this wonderful book. It really is a celebration if a wonderful artist. Alice's friends and family were so very courageous to allow a book to be written about their beloved friend, daughter and sister, and I believe that this is a fitting tribute to her wonderful life.
I really hope that this book helps to raise awareness of CF. Because raising awareness is the best way for people to understand what other people with this are going through and the best way to be understanding and caring.
I would like to leave you with Alice's motto sing, dance, love, laugh, take risks, never give up and above all, make every second count.
Happy reading everyone.
I felt like I could relate to this story. Because seven years ago I was diagnosed with having Chiari Melformation a condition that won't ever get better and will continue to be with me for the rest of my life. I am in constant pain and there are a lot of things that cause it to get worse.
Overnight the carefree life I once led was gone. It completely changed my whole life and my outlook on life and the things I do. Although Alice was born with Cf I know that her outlook and experiences will have been different to mine. I still think that there is a link. We both know the courage and sheer grit that it takes to get through each day and to make your life meaningful when you are faced with so many obstacles.
Just like Alice hides her CF I don't go around shouting about my Chiari Malformation. You don't want people to judge you on your illness and above all you just long to be normal. I like Alice want people to see me for who I am and not for the things that I cannot do.
I also saw in both of us sheer determination to over come every single day and to take it all one step at a time.
I also saw that we both fiercely love our families and that we both realise that without their understanding and support our lives would have been very different indeed. My family and friends have shared my darkest moments and continue to make me want to keep fighting. I have so much gratitude and love for them.
Alice had such a beautiful voice and I am so glad that she got to live out her dreams. Her songs and lyrics are powerful and raw, emotional and understated. If you haven't listened to her albums. I really suggest checking them out. I'm sure like me you will fall in love with them.
I absolutely love that Alice Peterson has kept most of this true to the life Alice lead. Her hopes, her dreams, her medical history, her family, her love story and this is a wonderful celebration of a fantabulous woman. I also love how there are loads of wonderful song lyrics dispersed within the book.
There is so much time, effort and understanding that went into writing this wonderful book. It really is a celebration if a wonderful artist. Alice's friends and family were so very courageous to allow a book to be written about their beloved friend, daughter and sister, and I believe that this is a fitting tribute to her wonderful life.
I really hope that this book helps to raise awareness of CF. Because raising awareness is the best way for people to understand what other people with this are going through and the best way to be understanding and caring.
I would like to leave you with Alice's motto sing, dance, love, laugh, take risks, never give up and above all, make every second count.
Happy reading everyone.
April 5, 2018
Alice Martineau is no ordinary young woman. Alice has cystic fibrosis but she refuses to let that define her and make her choices. She has always wanted a singing career and she decides to go for it. Tom, meets Alice one evening at gallery displaying the work of her brother Jake. Tom has a choice whether to involve himself in Alice’s life and dreams or not. If he does it will mean being closely involved with her parents, Mary and Nicholas who are the utmost support for their daughter. Alice lives in the Martineau home. Life expectancy with cystic fibrosis is short but as well her family, Alice is blessed to have the support of a few very special friends in Susie, Milly and Cat.
This is the story of a young woman who is determined, funny and spunky. Just don’t call her brave. She objects to being called brave and refuses to let people pity her. When I first started this book I knew nothing at all about cystic fibrosis. I learned a lot along the way but in a way that is absolutely essential to the story. This is a book that will play on the emotions. One of my favourite scenes was the incident with her mother and the car from August 2001. It had me laughing and yet in tears at the same time. Alice’s mother, Mary, is an absolute gem. My heart went out to her. Alice also had couple of supportive people in the music industry.
This book and the way it is handled has the ring of truth. We get to hear the story from Alice, Mary and Tom’s points of view at varying time. I didn’t know until finished reading the book that the novel is actually based on the real young woman, Alice Martineau with cystic fibrous. The songs written in the book are her songs. And yes, I had to listen to them after I closed the book. It makes interesting listening.
A book guaranteed to make you think about the problems people deal with and the way they cope with them. I found it an interesting read and not the light chick lit book the cover suggested. Extremely readable portrayal of a likeable woman, her family and friends. But not without a villain.
This is the story of a young woman who is determined, funny and spunky. Just don’t call her brave. She objects to being called brave and refuses to let people pity her. When I first started this book I knew nothing at all about cystic fibrosis. I learned a lot along the way but in a way that is absolutely essential to the story. This is a book that will play on the emotions. One of my favourite scenes was the incident with her mother and the car from August 2001. It had me laughing and yet in tears at the same time. Alice’s mother, Mary, is an absolute gem. My heart went out to her. Alice also had couple of supportive people in the music industry.
This book and the way it is handled has the ring of truth. We get to hear the story from Alice, Mary and Tom’s points of view at varying time. I didn’t know until finished reading the book that the novel is actually based on the real young woman, Alice Martineau with cystic fibrous. The songs written in the book are her songs. And yes, I had to listen to them after I closed the book. It makes interesting listening.
A book guaranteed to make you think about the problems people deal with and the way they cope with them. I found it an interesting read and not the light chick lit book the cover suggested. Extremely readable portrayal of a likeable woman, her family and friends. But not without a villain.
December 12, 2017
I was deeply moved by this story one that focuses on a real life issue. This made me weep Mary's diary in August 1972. Mary was fooled into believing giving birth second time round is easier. When Mary gave birth to her second baby the obstetrician said that her baby's heart was in difficulty. Her baby needed to go to another hospital to remove the blockage in her stomach. Nicholas and Mary baptised their daughter in a hurry. Alice has cystic fibrosis. It was explained to Mary and Nicholas that CF was an incurable genetic condition that primarily affects the lungs and pancreas. Each of them had a one in twenty five chances carrying CF gene. The danger, however, is when two carriers Like Nicholas and Mary have a baby then there is a one in four chances of their child having CF, of course they hadn't known if they were both carriers. Jake their first baby was a healthy boy. He was the lucky one. He has escaped the odds. I have read quite a few books by Alice Peterson and enjoy them.
March 4, 2018
Δείτε επίσης και στο Chill and read
Αυτή είναι η ιστορία της Άλις και του Τομ, δύο ανθρώπων που τους είχαν πει να μην πιστεύουν στο μέλλον, να μην ακολουθούν τα όνειρά τους.
Ο Τομ ερωτεύτηκε την Άλις από τη στιγμή που την είδε έξω από μια γκαλερί. Την είδε εντελώς τυχαία όταν πήγαινε να συναντήσει τον κολλητό του σε μία παμπ. Κοίταξε στην απέναντι πλευρά του δρόμου και αντίκρισε μια πανέμορφη κοπέλα που του χαμογέλασε. Μπορεί να ήταν πάνω από τα κυβικά του, όμως αυτό δεν τον πτόησε. Αποφάσισε να τη γνωρίσει. Σύντομα κατάλαβε πως πρόκειται για μια γυναίκα με απίστευτη ενέργεια και λάμψη!
Η Άλις γνωρίζει πολύ καλά πως η ζωή της δεν είναι απλή και συνηθισμένη όπως των περισσότερων ανθρώπων. Αντίθετα, είναι απρόβλεπτη, περίπλοκη και δύσκολη και πρέπει να τηρεί ένα πρόγραμμα αν θέλει να συνεχίσει να τη ζει. Της έχουν πει να μην κάνει μεγάλα όνειρα, γιατί δεν θα μπορέσει να τα πραγματοποιήσει και θα πληγωθεί, όμως εκείνη δεν τους ακούει. Τολμά να ονειρευτεί και να κυνηγήσει το όνειρό της.
Πρόκειται για μια αληθινή ιστορία, μυθιστορηματικά δοσμένη από τη συγγραφέα όχι τόσο για να μας συγκινήσει, αλλά πιο πολύ για να μας ενημερώσει και για να μας κάνει να πιστέψουμε στον εαυτό μας και σε αυτά που μπορούμε να πετύχουμε.
Η Άλις, η βασική χαρακτήρας του βιβλίου, είναι μια κοπέλα που θα μπορούσε να είναι σαν όλες τις άλλες κοπέλες της ηλικίας της. Δυστυχώς όμως δεν είναι, γιατί η Άλις πάσχει από μια ασθένεια που περιορίζει δραματικά την ποιότητα αλλά και το χρόνο ζωής του ασθενή. Η ηρωίδα μας πάσχει από Κυστική Ίνωση, μια ασθένεια των πνευμόνων με χαμηλό προσδόκιμο ζωής.
Αυτό που θέλει η Πίτερσον να περάσει σαν βασικό μήνυμα μέσα από το βιβλίο της είναι η δύναμη και η μαχητικότητα αυτού του κοριτσιού, στοιχεία που θα πρέπει να μας χαρακτηρίζουν σε ότι κάνουμε, είτε είμαστε ασθενείς είτε είμαστε γεροί, καθώς οι απογοητεύσεις στη ζωή μπορεί να είναι πολλές, όμως δεν πρέπει να τα παρατάμε, ειδικά όταν κυνηγάμε το όνειρό μας.
Η ηρωίδα έπρεπε να ακολουθεί μια συγκεκριμένη ρουτίνα κάθε πρωί για να μπορέσει να αντιμετωπίσει μια καινούρια μέρα. Έπρεπε να ακολουθήσει συγκεκριμένη αγωγή και θεραπεία για να μπορεί να ανασαίνει χωρίς να κουράζει περισσότερο το σώμα της και να κάνει τις βασικές λειτουργίες λιγάκι πιο εύκολα. Αυτό όμως δεν την πτόησε από το να προσπαθήσει να βρει τι είναι αυτό που θέλει να κάνει στη ζωή της και να το κάνει. Δεν την πτόησε από το να αγαπήσει και να αγαπηθεί, να μη συμβιβαστεί με κάποιον που δεν νιώθει το ίδιο με εκείνη, με κάποιον που δεν τη σέβεται ή που την υποτιμά και της φέρεται άσχημα. Γιατί λοιπόν να το κάνει κάποιος υγιής άνθρωπος αυτό;
Η Άλις τελικά δεν άκουσε αυτούς που της έλεγαν “Δεν μπορείς”. Άκουσε τον εαυτό της και πίστεψε πως μπορεί να τα καταφέρει. Προσπάθησε σκληρά και δοκίμασε με όλες της τις δυνάμεις να κάνει το όνειρό της πραγματικότητα. Αν κάποιος λοιπόν, που ακόμα και το να ζήσει μια ακόμη μέρα είναι άθλος, προσπαθεί να πετύχει τα όνειρά του, γιατί να μην το κάνει και κάποιος που το να σηκωθεί από το κρεβάτι του είναι το πιο εύκολο πράγμα στον κόσμο;
Το “Ένα τραγούδι για το αύριο” είναι ένα βιβλίο που θα συγκινήσει αλλά και που παράλληλα θα μας κάνει να πιστέψουμε στον εαυτό μας και στις δυνάμεις μας, όσο μικρές κι αν νομίζουμε πως είναι!
Αυτή είναι η ιστορία της Άλις και του Τομ, δύο ανθρώπων που τους είχαν πει να μην πιστεύουν στο μέλλον, να μην ακολουθούν τα όνειρά τους.
Ο Τομ ερωτεύτηκε την Άλις από τη στιγμή που την είδε έξω από μια γκαλερί. Την είδε εντελώς τυχαία όταν πήγαινε να συναντήσει τον κολλητό του σε μία παμπ. Κοίταξε στην απέναντι πλευρά του δρόμου και αντίκρισε μια πανέμορφη κοπέλα που του χαμογέλασε. Μπορεί να ήταν πάνω από τα κυβικά του, όμως αυτό δεν τον πτόησε. Αποφάσισε να τη γνωρίσει. Σύντομα κατάλαβε πως πρόκειται για μια γυναίκα με απίστευτη ενέργεια και λάμψη!
Η Άλις γνωρίζει πολύ καλά πως η ζωή της δεν είναι απλή και συνηθισμένη όπως των περισσότερων ανθρώπων. Αντίθετα, είναι απρόβλεπτη, περίπλοκη και δύσκολη και πρέπει να τηρεί ένα πρόγραμμα αν θέλει να συνεχίσει να τη ζει. Της έχουν πει να μην κάνει μεγάλα όνειρα, γιατί δεν θα μπορέσει να τα πραγματοποιήσει και θα πληγωθεί, όμως εκείνη δεν τους ακούει. Τολμά να ονειρευτεί και να κυνηγήσει το όνειρό της.
Πρόκειται για μια αληθινή ιστορία, μυθιστορηματικά δοσμένη από τη συγγραφέα όχι τόσο για να μας συγκινήσει, αλλά πιο πολύ για να μας ενημερώσει και για να μας κάνει να πιστέψουμε στον εαυτό μας και σε αυτά που μπορούμε να πετύχουμε.
Η Άλις, η βασική χαρακτήρας του βιβλίου, είναι μια κοπέλα που θα μπορούσε να είναι σαν όλες τις άλλες κοπέλες της ηλικίας της. Δυστυχώς όμως δεν είναι, γιατί η Άλις πάσχει από μια ασθένεια που περιορίζει δραματικά την ποιότητα αλλά και το χρόνο ζωής του ασθενή. Η ηρωίδα μας πάσχει από Κυστική Ίνωση, μια ασθένεια των πνευμόνων με χαμηλό προσδόκιμο ζωής.
Αυτό που θέλει η Πίτερσον να περάσει σαν βασικό μήνυμα μέσα από το βιβλίο της είναι η δύναμη και η μαχητικότητα αυτού του κοριτσιού, στοιχεία που θα πρέπει να μας χαρακτηρίζουν σε ότι κάνουμε, είτε είμαστε ασθενείς είτε είμαστε γεροί, καθώς οι απογοητεύσεις στη ζωή μπορεί να είναι πολλές, όμως δεν πρέπει να τα παρατάμε, ειδικά όταν κυνηγάμε το όνειρό μας.
Η ηρωίδα έπρεπε να ακολουθεί μια συγκεκριμένη ρουτίνα κάθε πρωί για να μπορέσει να αντιμετωπίσει μια καινούρια μέρα. Έπρεπε να ακολουθήσει συγκεκριμένη αγωγή και θεραπεία για να μπορεί να ανασαίνει χωρίς να κουράζει περισσότερο το σώμα της και να κάνει τις βασικές λειτουργίες λιγάκι πιο εύκολα. Αυτό όμως δεν την πτόησε από το να προσπαθήσει να βρει τι είναι αυτό που θέλει να κάνει στη ζωή της και να το κάνει. Δεν την πτόησε από το να αγαπήσει και να αγαπηθεί, να μη συμβιβαστεί με κάποιον που δεν νιώθει το ίδιο με εκείνη, με κάποιον που δεν τη σέβεται ή που την υποτιμά και της φέρεται άσχημα. Γιατί λοιπόν να το κάνει κάποιος υγιής άνθρωπος αυτό;
Η Άλις τελικά δεν άκουσε αυτούς που της έλεγαν “Δεν μπορείς”. Άκουσε τον εαυτό της και πίστεψε πως μπορεί να τα καταφέρει. Προσπάθησε σκληρά και δοκίμασε με όλες της τις δυνάμεις να κάνει το όνειρό της πραγματικότητα. Αν κάποιος λοιπόν, που ακόμα και το να ζήσει μια ακόμη μέρα είναι άθλος, προσπαθεί να πετύχει τα όνειρά του, γιατί να μην το κάνει και κάποιος που το να σηκωθεί από το κρεβάτι του είναι το πιο εύκολο πράγμα στον κόσμο;
Το “Ένα τραγούδι για το αύριο” είναι ένα βιβλίο που θα συγκινήσει αλλά και που παράλληλα θα μας κάνει να πιστέψουμε στον εαυτό μας και στις δυνάμεις μας, όσο μικρές κι αν νομίζουμε πως είναι!
February 10, 2017
Alice Peterson has always been a favourite author of mine and her book By My Side has always sat on the top spot. When I read the synopsis for A Song for Tomorrow I knew this was going to be a deep moving read so I had my tissues at the ready.
Alice Martineau has always dreamed of becoming a singer but words from her past have prevented her from chasing her dream but when she gets yet another rejection from her modelling career she makes the decision to finally make her dream a reality.
When Tom sets eyes on Alice for the first time it was like love at first sight and before long a beautiful romance begins to blossom but can Tom cope with the struggles and unpredictability that Alice deals with on a daily basis?
I feel as though my heart has been pulled out and ripped into a thousand pieces and maybe taking this book with me to read whilst having my hospital treatment was not a good idea judging by the looks I received with tears running down my face! I haven’t been so moved by a book since reading Me Before You and because of Alice Peterson’s beautiful and insightful writing style mixed with the fact that this storyline is actually based on the real life of the remarkable Alice Martineau fight to achieve her dreams I found this book more personal and emotional.
As we have come to expect with Alice Peterson’s books the protagonist has a disability and in this book Alice suffers from Cystic Fibrosis. The author always explores the conditions of her characters in such depth and she brings such detailed awareness of how each characters life is affected by their condition. I was aware of CF but reading this book has opened my eyes up to the daily struggles that sufferers face. There are many people in the world who long to become singers and it is an extremely difficult industry to get in to and yet add to the mix the symptoms of CF with the damage to her lungs, the constant need to cough and struggle to breathe and yet Alice was still determined to fight her way to the top and I was routing for her the whole way through I really wanted to see her achieve her dream as this is someone who really deserves to make it.
Although this was a really emotive read I found this such a beautiful and uplifting storyline as Alice brings us many highs as we watch her on her journey to attempt to become a singer, she is such a strong, understanding and determined character who grabs life with both hands and will do everything she can to enjoy each day and push to get what she dreams of. I found I had such admiration for Alice and her outlook on life can sure teach us a thing or two.
I loved the relationship between Alice and the loveable Tom, like any new relationships there are ups and downs as we begin to get to know one and other but Tom also was learning about CF and the fact that he went out of his way to read up on the condition when this was a new relationship and could have walked away showed what a lovely guy he was and how much he adored Alice I found him really endearing.
The author has put her heart and soul into this novel and it is felt on each and every page and I can imagine chapter 75 was a difficult one to write but I had goosebumps reading this chapter as there was so much emotion put into this and it was just beautiful and this was where I broke.
Since finishing this book my interest has been piqued and I wasted no time in going online and finding Alice’s album Daydreams and her voice is liquid gold she really has a strong talent and I hope that what Alice Peterson has managed to capture in this book will help to introduce this wonderful woman’s music to many readers to enjoy.
I never believed Alice Peterson would knock my favourite By My Side off the top spot but this book has achieved that and I am sure this will be my book of the year 2017 it sure will be an incredibly hard one to beat but one thing is for sure this storyline will stay with me for a long time as it has truly captured my heart.
Alice Martineau has always dreamed of becoming a singer but words from her past have prevented her from chasing her dream but when she gets yet another rejection from her modelling career she makes the decision to finally make her dream a reality.
When Tom sets eyes on Alice for the first time it was like love at first sight and before long a beautiful romance begins to blossom but can Tom cope with the struggles and unpredictability that Alice deals with on a daily basis?
I feel as though my heart has been pulled out and ripped into a thousand pieces and maybe taking this book with me to read whilst having my hospital treatment was not a good idea judging by the looks I received with tears running down my face! I haven’t been so moved by a book since reading Me Before You and because of Alice Peterson’s beautiful and insightful writing style mixed with the fact that this storyline is actually based on the real life of the remarkable Alice Martineau fight to achieve her dreams I found this book more personal and emotional.
As we have come to expect with Alice Peterson’s books the protagonist has a disability and in this book Alice suffers from Cystic Fibrosis. The author always explores the conditions of her characters in such depth and she brings such detailed awareness of how each characters life is affected by their condition. I was aware of CF but reading this book has opened my eyes up to the daily struggles that sufferers face. There are many people in the world who long to become singers and it is an extremely difficult industry to get in to and yet add to the mix the symptoms of CF with the damage to her lungs, the constant need to cough and struggle to breathe and yet Alice was still determined to fight her way to the top and I was routing for her the whole way through I really wanted to see her achieve her dream as this is someone who really deserves to make it.
Although this was a really emotive read I found this such a beautiful and uplifting storyline as Alice brings us many highs as we watch her on her journey to attempt to become a singer, she is such a strong, understanding and determined character who grabs life with both hands and will do everything she can to enjoy each day and push to get what she dreams of. I found I had such admiration for Alice and her outlook on life can sure teach us a thing or two.
I loved the relationship between Alice and the loveable Tom, like any new relationships there are ups and downs as we begin to get to know one and other but Tom also was learning about CF and the fact that he went out of his way to read up on the condition when this was a new relationship and could have walked away showed what a lovely guy he was and how much he adored Alice I found him really endearing.
The author has put her heart and soul into this novel and it is felt on each and every page and I can imagine chapter 75 was a difficult one to write but I had goosebumps reading this chapter as there was so much emotion put into this and it was just beautiful and this was where I broke.
Since finishing this book my interest has been piqued and I wasted no time in going online and finding Alice’s album Daydreams and her voice is liquid gold she really has a strong talent and I hope that what Alice Peterson has managed to capture in this book will help to introduce this wonderful woman’s music to many readers to enjoy.
I never believed Alice Peterson would knock my favourite By My Side off the top spot but this book has achieved that and I am sure this will be my book of the year 2017 it sure will be an incredibly hard one to beat but one thing is for sure this storyline will stay with me for a long time as it has truly captured my heart.
August 13, 2018
So ein wunderschönes Buch!!❤️ ich hätt’s gar nicht mal erwartet, aber das kann ich echt nur empfehlen.
Die Mischung zwischen Liebesgeschichte, Gesangskarriere und eben auch Alice‘ Krankheit ist einfach perfekt. Alice selbst ist ein wundervoller Charakter, total stark und liebenswürdig. Und auch ihre Familie und Freunde sind so süß und unterstützend. Und dann baut das ganze auch noch auf einer wahren Geschichte auf (ich würde es übrigens nicht empfehlen, Alice Martineau zu googeln, das würde vermutlich spoilern) - natürlich ist Mukoviszidose eine furchtbare Krankheit, aber die Umsetzung in diesem Buch ist wirklich toll. 👏🏻
Die Mischung zwischen Liebesgeschichte, Gesangskarriere und eben auch Alice‘ Krankheit ist einfach perfekt. Alice selbst ist ein wundervoller Charakter, total stark und liebenswürdig. Und auch ihre Familie und Freunde sind so süß und unterstützend. Und dann baut das ganze auch noch auf einer wahren Geschichte auf (ich würde es übrigens nicht empfehlen, Alice Martineau zu googeln, das würde vermutlich spoilern) - natürlich ist Mukoviszidose eine furchtbare Krankheit, aber die Umsetzung in diesem Buch ist wirklich toll. 👏🏻
March 21, 2018
Ζούμε σ' έναν κόσμο όπου κάθε μέρα μαθαίνουμε πως κάτι κακό συνέβη σε κάποιον άνθρωπο του περιβάλλοντός μας, είτε αυτός είναι φίλος, είτε γείτονας, είτε γνωστός. Μόνο, και μόνο τότε, σκεφτόμαστε πως, ίσως, τελικά, τα δικά μας προβλήματα να μην είναι και τόσο μεγάλα, ειδικά όταν υπάρχουν άνθρωποι που έρχονται αντιμέτωποι με τον ίδιο το χρόνο, που κάθε μέρα όλο και λιγοστεύει για εκείνους. Και νιώθουμε ντροπή, θα έλεγα, όταν συνειδητοποιούμε πως οι άνθρωποι αυτοί, αντί να χάνουν την πίστη και την ελπίδα τους, γίνονται όλο και πιο δυνατοί, όλο και πιο ονειροπόλοι, όλο και μεγαλύτεροι αγωνιστές, προκειμένου να προλάβουν, να γευτούν, να ζήσουν, αρπάξουν ό,τι καλύτερο μπορούν από τούτη τη ζωή, έστω κι αν γνωρίζουν πως το νήμα της θα κοπεί, όχι απαραίτητα άδικα, αλλά σίγουρα πρόωρα.
Μια ιστορία ενός τέτοιου ανθρώπου είναι και η συγκεκριμένη, με την Alice Peterson ν' αφηγείται, ουσιαστικά, τη ζωή της Βρετανίδας τραγουδίστριας Άλις Μάρτινο, η οποία γεννήθηκε με κυστική ίνωση, μια ασθένεια που συνοδεύεται από μικρό προσδόκιμο ζωής, και που "έφυγε" από τη ζωή στα τριάντα της μόλις χρόνια, έχοντας, ωστόσο, πραγματοποιήσει ένα μεγάλο της όνειρο προηγουμένως. Γιατί παρά τις δυσκολίες της ζωής της, την ενδοσχολική βία, τον ρατσισμό, τον φόβο του θανάτου, ακόμα και τον φόβο της πραγμάτωσης του έρωτα, η Άλις είχε ένα όνειρο μεγαλύτερο απ' όλα τ' άλλα. Να τραγουδάει! Και αυτό έγινε πραγματικότητα, όταν η Sony τής προσέφερε το πρώτο της συμβόλαιο, που έμελλε να είναι και το τελευταίο της, αν και κάτι μου λέει πως λίγο θα την ένοιαζε αυτό, ακόμα κι αν το γνώριζε τότε. Όχι αφού κατάφερε ν' αφήσει πίσω της κάτι που θα την θυμίζει για πάντα. Τη φωνή της!
Το να κρίνεις, λοιπόν, ένα βιβλίο που βασίζεται σε μια ιστορία όπως η συγκεκριμένη, μου φαντάζει κάπως δύσκολο και αυτό γιατί δεν ξέρω κατά πόσο, τελικά, μπορείς να κρίνεις λογοτεχνικά κάτι που μιλάει για την ίδια τη ζωή και, μάλιστα, για μια πραγματικότητα αυτής που δεν είναι εύκολο να την αγγίξεις. Δεν είναι εύκολο όχι μόνο γιατί μπορείς πολύ εύκολα να γίνεις μελοδραματικός, αλλά και γιατί πρέπει να προσέξεις, μέσα από την τραγικότητα μίας κατάστασης, να προσφέρεις στον αναγνώστη αυτό που θα ήθελε ο ίδιος ο πρωταγωνιστής. Μια γεύση ελπίδας και αισιοδοξίας! Γιατί μπορεί η Άλις να πέρασε δύσκολα, μπορεί να στιγματίστηκε από μια μοίρα σκληρή που της κληροδοτήθηκε τόσο βίαια, όμως ποτέ δεν το έβαλε κάτω και είμαι βέβαιη πως κανέναν δεν θα συμβούλευε να το κάνει αυτό, αλλά πως με χαμόγελο θα τον παρότρυνε να παλέψει και να ζήσει την κάθε στιγμή, γιατί αυτή είναι μοναδική.
Αυτό που θα κρατήσω εγώ, από το "Ένα τραγούδι για το αύριο", είναι η πίστη της Άλις. Η πίστη της απέναντι στους ανθρώπους, στη μοίρα, στο γραμμένο του καθενός μας -είτε αυτό το έχει υπογράψει ο Θεός είτε η μοίρα-, στη ζωή, μα κυρίως, η πίστη απέναντι στον ίδιο της τον εαυτό, στα θέλω, στα μπορώ της. Η ιστορία της με άγγιξε, με συγκίνησε, και μέσα από την τραγικότητά της μου θύμισε πως τα πάντα, το κάθε τι σε τούτη ζωή, είναι στιγμές. Μικρές, μοναδικές, ανεπανάληπτες στιγμές που φεύγουν και χάνονται και δεν γυρίζουν πίσω. Γι' αυτό και πρέπει να τις αρπάζεις, να τις ζεις, να τις βιώνεις, να τις αγαπάς, με τα καλά και τ' άσχημά τους, γιατί αυτές υφαίνουν τα νήματα της ύπαρξής σου. Κι αν αυτή είναι γραφτό της να είναι σύντομο, ας είναι, αρκεί να μην ξεχάσεις να ονειρεύεσαι, να πράττεις, να την κάνεις όσο πιο μοναδική, συναραπαστική και έντονη μπορείς, για όσο μπορείς, για όσο θα 'σαι εδώ, αφήνοντας ανεξίτηλο το σημάδι σου για να θυμούνται όσο σ' αγάπησαν, και όχι μόνο, πως ήσουν εδώ... και έδωσες και πήρες ό,τι καλύτερο μπορούσες.
Μια ιστορία ενός τέτοιου ανθρώπου είναι και η συγκεκριμένη, με την Alice Peterson ν' αφηγείται, ουσιαστικά, τη ζωή της Βρετανίδας τραγουδίστριας Άλις Μάρτινο, η οποία γεννήθηκε με κυστική ίνωση, μια ασθένεια που συνοδεύεται από μικρό προσδόκιμο ζωής, και που "έφυγε" από τη ζωή στα τριάντα της μόλις χρόνια, έχοντας, ωστόσο, πραγματοποιήσει ένα μεγάλο της όνειρο προηγουμένως. Γιατί παρά τις δυσκολίες της ζωής της, την ενδοσχολική βία, τον ρατσισμό, τον φόβο του θανάτου, ακόμα και τον φόβο της πραγμάτωσης του έρωτα, η Άλις είχε ένα όνειρο μεγαλύτερο απ' όλα τ' άλλα. Να τραγουδάει! Και αυτό έγινε πραγματικότητα, όταν η Sony τής προσέφερε το πρώτο της συμβόλαιο, που έμελλε να είναι και το τελευταίο της, αν και κάτι μου λέει πως λίγο θα την ένοιαζε αυτό, ακόμα κι αν το γνώριζε τότε. Όχι αφού κατάφερε ν' αφήσει πίσω της κάτι που θα την θυμίζει για πάντα. Τη φωνή της!
Το να κρίνεις, λοιπόν, ένα βιβλίο που βασίζεται σε μια ιστορία όπως η συγκεκριμένη, μου φαντάζει κάπως δύσκολο και αυτό γιατί δεν ξέρω κατά πόσο, τελικά, μπορείς να κρίνεις λογοτεχνικά κάτι που μιλάει για την ίδια τη ζωή και, μάλιστα, για μια πραγματικότητα αυτής που δεν είναι εύκολο να την αγγίξεις. Δεν είναι εύκολο όχι μόνο γιατί μπορείς πολύ εύκολα να γίνεις μελοδραματικός, αλλά και γιατί πρέπει να προσέξεις, μέσα από την τραγικότητα μίας κατάστασης, να προσφέρεις στον αναγνώστη αυτό που θα ήθελε ο ίδιος ο πρωταγωνιστής. Μια γεύση ελπίδας και αισιοδοξίας! Γιατί μπορεί η Άλις να πέρασε δύσκολα, μπορεί να στιγματίστηκε από μια μοίρα σκληρή που της κληροδοτήθηκε τόσο βίαια, όμως ποτέ δεν το έβαλε κάτω και είμαι βέβαιη πως κανέναν δεν θα συμβούλευε να το κάνει αυτό, αλλά πως με χαμόγελο θα τον παρότρυνε να παλέψει και να ζήσει την κάθε στιγμή, γιατί αυτή είναι μοναδική.
Αυτό που θα κρατήσω εγώ, από το "Ένα τραγούδι για το αύριο", είναι η πίστη της Άλις. Η πίστη της απέναντι στους ανθρώπους, στη μοίρα, στο γραμμένο του καθενός μας -είτε αυτό το έχει υπογράψει ο Θεός είτε η μοίρα-, στη ζωή, μα κυρίως, η πίστη απέναντι στον ίδιο της τον εαυτό, στα θέλω, στα μπορώ της. Η ιστορία της με άγγιξε, με συγκίνησε, και μέσα από την τραγικότητά της μου θύμισε πως τα πάντα, το κάθε τι σε τούτη ζωή, είναι στιγμές. Μικρές, μοναδικές, ανεπανάληπτες στιγμές που φεύγουν και χάνονται και δεν γυρίζουν πίσω. Γι' αυτό και πρέπει να τις αρπάζεις, να τις ζεις, να τις βιώνεις, να τις αγαπάς, με τα καλά και τ' άσχημά τους, γιατί αυτές υφαίνουν τα νήματα της ύπαρξής σου. Κι αν αυτή είναι γραφτό της να είναι σύντομο, ας είναι, αρκεί να μην ξεχάσεις να ονειρεύεσαι, να πράττεις, να την κάνεις όσο πιο μοναδική, συναραπαστική και έντονη μπορείς, για όσο μπορείς, για όσο θα 'σαι εδώ, αφήνοντας ανεξίτηλο το σημάδι σου για να θυμούνται όσο σ' αγάπησαν, και όχι μόνο, πως ήσουν εδώ... και έδωσες και πήρες ό,τι καλύτερο μπορούσες.
February 6, 2017
NOTE: Guys, this is going to be a rather personal and long review. I know that some readers don't like it so please feel forewarned.
I am a big fan of Alice Peterson and is I knew from the beginning that I am going to enjoy this story, as she has never disappointed me, but in fact I had no idea how much it's going to affect me, how much it's going to pull at my heart strings and how special this book is going to turn out.
This book. "A Song for Tomorrow". What can I say? That everything changed for me after reading this book? That for sure I'm not going to read such a wonderful book ever again? That now I really know what a major book - hangover is? That life is a bitch? I love Alice Peterson and her stories but with this one she has exceeded herself on each level and let me tell you right at the beginning that it is this kind of book that you want to read for the first time over and over again. If I were to describe it in one word it would be BEAUTIFUL. It was like this with this book, guys: I loved it, I loved every single word of it but I also couldn't wait to finish it, to know how it's going to end - as it could really go many ways. The way Alice was full of hope till the very end broke my heart, and I myself couldn't stop but hope for a miracle, for this triple transplant to go through.
"A Song for Tomorrow" is like no other story. Based on true story of Alice Martineau, a girl born with Cystic Fibrosis, whose biggest dream was to become a singer, telling how many obstacles she needed to conquer to make her dream come true. A poignant story about incredibly strong, stubborn girl who didn't want to live limited life and who refused to be defined by her illness. A girl who wasn't afraid to dream and to make the dreams come true. Story of a daughter, sister, friend, girlfriend who loved and was loved so much.
When I was somewhere around 30% done with the reading, I googled Alice Martineau and guys, when I saw her photos I couldn't believe it, because she looked exactly as I have imagined her! I also looked for her songs and after hearing the first one I immediately went and ordered her CD - her voice is incredibly sweet and mature and the songs tell us so many stories! Thank you Alice Peterson for introducing Alice Martineau to my life. She has conquered so much in her life: her life expectancy was ten years when she was born and she lived till almost thirty. She proved she can live "normal" life with CF, she can work as a model, she can have friends, she can have a boyfriend, she can have sex and she can travel. There was so much warmth and optimism in her and you could very quickly feel a part of her life. She was for sure one of the most wonderful characters I've ever read about. To say that Alice was inspirational would be an understatement. She was much, much more than that. She reminded me of all the things important in life, how important it is to confront a difficulty, to live full, to never give up. Alice was jumping out of the pages! Her charisma, her humour were exceptional and I wasn't surprised that people couldn't say no to her, what with her gift of gab. She was determined to become a singer and when Alice wanted something, she did everything to achieve it. You can't not love Alice. Actually, all characters in this book are just brilliant, and I loved all of them. Except for Ethan, of course. Alice's friends, her anti - support group were adorable, her family was one and only. It must be a real luck to be surrounded by so many people who love you so much, and give this love back.
And to be honest, I feel ashamed. I feel ashamed in comparison to Alice Martineau and her spirit, her life motto "make every day count" and "never take anything for granted" and when I think how much of my life has already passed me by, how much happened without me and that I don't have a dream in my life, that I am complaining because I have a headache, that perhaps I don't enjoy life as much as I should. Don't get me wrong, I am incredibly thankful for many things in my life, but it's just that after reading such stories you start to think and the conclusions you come to are not always the most optimistic ones. I would love to have Alice's spirit, to be as brave ( I know. I KNOW, the taboo word, forgive me Alice!) as she was.
We have some distant friends whose daughter has CF. She's 7 years old now. They organize fundraisers and they collect money for CF research. They try to live normal life, however hard it is, and I think we can never imagine it. Alice Peterson, however, has showed us how difficult it is, she told us all the aspects of being ill, what does it involve and how much influence it has on all lives. I couldn't stop admire Alice and her family, how they almost never lost their optimism, how they loved each other and supported each other, how they understood each other without words and how they tried to always find this something positive out of this serious situations. The relationship between Alice and her mum was beautiful! So full of love, partnership and understanding, and I could only admire Alice's parents for being so strong. And there were many emotional, moving moments in this book but the ones that mostly brought tears to my eyes were the entries from Alice's mum diary. They were written in a funny, light way and they showed how much strength were in this woman, but underneath you could easily spot how sad they were. The love story of Alice and Tom was one of the most beautiful I have ever read. Tom has fallen in love with Alice at first sight and even though he was scared, so scared to lose her, he was determined to be with her. Their love was beautiful, pure, genuine, but also not a bed of roses. All the feelings and emotions were SO GENUINE.
In the end I was a snotty, weepy mess. "A Song for Tomorrow" was the best example of how genius a writer Alice Peterson is - I can't stop admiring how wonderfully and effortlessly she brings all the emotions to life, how she puts them into words and how she makes the reader laugh through tears. She is exceptionally good in writing heart - breaking and at the same time uplifting stories. I think that this book is Alice Peterson's best book yet. She has never feared to write about touching, tricky issues, to bring things that make some lives unbearable but this time she's really outdone herself. The way she has dealt with the subject is just indescribable, the story is full of compassion, understanding. If you think that this book is going to make you feel low than I can assure you that it won't. If you think that this story is going to focus only on Alice's disease than I can assure you it isn't. Because it is also a story about the power of love, about unconditional love, about accepting and letting go. This book is a MUST READ. It is one of the most beautiful, captivating novels I have ever read. It is a book that you will never going to forget, I can bet. I can't recommend it highly enough.
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
September 25, 2022
This is based on the true story of Alice Martineau, a British singer who had cystic fibrosis. This is a fictional account of her life, covering her childhood, details of her illness, her romances and her dreams of getting a record deal.
I didn't know much about CF going in to this story. I can't imagine a life where you get told from birth that you won't live very long, and that your condition will get progressively worse.
Alice is a very inspiring character. That someone with a lung condition can decide to become a singer, and not only that, but go on to actually record an album and get a record deal, is something truly incredible. It just reminds you that there is nothing that can stop you from trying to achieve your dreams.
This story definitely pulled on my heart strings, and will stay with me for a long time.
I didn't know much about CF going in to this story. I can't imagine a life where you get told from birth that you won't live very long, and that your condition will get progressively worse.
Alice is a very inspiring character. That someone with a lung condition can decide to become a singer, and not only that, but go on to actually record an album and get a record deal, is something truly incredible. It just reminds you that there is nothing that can stop you from trying to achieve your dreams.
This story definitely pulled on my heart strings, and will stay with me for a long time.
February 9, 2017
Originally posted on: http://www.albainbookland.com/2017/01...
Since discovering Alice Peterson a few years ago, I've fallen in love with every single book she has written. Her stories always make me cry but somehow, she always manages to make feel better about life. And A Song for Tomorrow is no different in this sense, an unforgettable heart-breaking and uplifting story. But it's also so much more. I'd might even say that A Song for Tomorrow is Alice Peterson at her best.
As soon as I read the blurb, I knew this was a story like no other. It's based on the true story of Alice Martineau, whose biggest dream in life was to become a singer. Circumstances though were all against her and her dream: she had Cystic Fibrosis and a life expectancy of ten years when she was born. From the beginning of the book, you can tell how much research and care Alice Peterson put into this book. Alice is one of the most wonderful characters I have ever read and her story is definitely one not to be missed.
I really cannot imagine how hard it must be to live with CF but I do think that this book shows us a fair portrayal of it and I'm sure that it will raise awareness on this horrible disease. One thing that I found extremely inspirational and brave about the character of Alice, was how she did not let CF rule her life. It reminded me how important it is to live at the full, follow your dreams and keep fighting.
But this story was not about Alice and her disease. Far from it. It was about Alice and her life, her family, her friends, the love of her life and her music. I loved how supportive her family was and how we got to read entries from her mother's diary; this gave us a great insight on the family dynamics and how it affected them all since the beginning. And the love story between Tom and Alice was perfectly imperfect. She really deserved a good worthy man and I think she found him.
I could keep going on and on about how beautiful and amazing and up-lifting this story is but I'm gonna stop now and let you discover it for yourself. Let me tell you one last thing though, it's only January and I'm quite sure I've already found a firm contender to book of the year. Also, having read this story, I can easily understand why everyone who knew Alice Martineau was absolutely enchanted with her. What a woman, what a story!
Since discovering Alice Peterson a few years ago, I've fallen in love with every single book she has written. Her stories always make me cry but somehow, she always manages to make feel better about life. And A Song for Tomorrow is no different in this sense, an unforgettable heart-breaking and uplifting story. But it's also so much more. I'd might even say that A Song for Tomorrow is Alice Peterson at her best.
As soon as I read the blurb, I knew this was a story like no other. It's based on the true story of Alice Martineau, whose biggest dream in life was to become a singer. Circumstances though were all against her and her dream: she had Cystic Fibrosis and a life expectancy of ten years when she was born. From the beginning of the book, you can tell how much research and care Alice Peterson put into this book. Alice is one of the most wonderful characters I have ever read and her story is definitely one not to be missed.
I really cannot imagine how hard it must be to live with CF but I do think that this book shows us a fair portrayal of it and I'm sure that it will raise awareness on this horrible disease. One thing that I found extremely inspirational and brave about the character of Alice, was how she did not let CF rule her life. It reminded me how important it is to live at the full, follow your dreams and keep fighting.
But this story was not about Alice and her disease. Far from it. It was about Alice and her life, her family, her friends, the love of her life and her music. I loved how supportive her family was and how we got to read entries from her mother's diary; this gave us a great insight on the family dynamics and how it affected them all since the beginning. And the love story between Tom and Alice was perfectly imperfect. She really deserved a good worthy man and I think she found him.
I could keep going on and on about how beautiful and amazing and up-lifting this story is but I'm gonna stop now and let you discover it for yourself. Let me tell you one last thing though, it's only January and I'm quite sure I've already found a firm contender to book of the year. Also, having read this story, I can easily understand why everyone who knew Alice Martineau was absolutely enchanted with her. What a woman, what a story!
July 16, 2017
I know - it looks like I'm reading Chick Lit - but this book is based on the life of Alice Martineau and I remember watching a very moving BBC documentary about her life back in 2004 shortly after she died and still have her CD.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_M...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_M...
March 16, 2017
I'm on a quest to read a book this month that makes me cry and Song For Tomorrow was highly recommended by several members of my book club. Alice is 26 years old and determined to become a famous singer. She has a wonderful support network behind her including her fabulous parents, brother, best friends and a new boyfriend Tom. She's determined, driven, passionate and funny. She's also very brave but we aren't suppose to tell her that! Alice has Cystic Fibrosis and has to face up to her own mortality but she won't let the CF define her. Based loosely on a true story, this is an inspiring tale. Note: I didn't actually cry during this book!
March 7, 2017
"When the odds are against you, that's when you need to dream the most"
Cystic Fibrosis is a life threatening condition and there is no cure.
I myself have this illness, and that is why I picked up this book.
It's opened my eyes!
Life is precious.
It doesn't matter if you have a "disability" a "condition" "health issues" that shouldn't stop ANYONE fulfilling there dreams and having a chance at happiness.
Incredible, inspiring read!
"Sing, dance, love, laugh, take risks, never give up and, above all, make every second count" Alice Martineau
Cystic Fibrosis is a life threatening condition and there is no cure.
I myself have this illness, and that is why I picked up this book.
It's opened my eyes!
Life is precious.
It doesn't matter if you have a "disability" a "condition" "health issues" that shouldn't stop ANYONE fulfilling there dreams and having a chance at happiness.
Incredible, inspiring read!
"Sing, dance, love, laugh, take risks, never give up and, above all, make every second count" Alice Martineau
July 15, 2020
Dieses Buch erhält von mir 4 ⭐️.
June 5, 2018
Just finished this most beautiful, heart-breaking but inspirational novel. The main character, Alice, has cystic fibrosis, but that's just a small part of a very big character. She wants to become a famous singer and her journey to achieve that goal is something that will stay with me for a very long time. I'd also like to know more about Alice Martineau, the real person this novel is based upon. I really feel for what she and her family and friends went through and I'm sure they agree that Alice Peterson has done her justice.
I feel it's a story everyone should read, if only to make them realise that their life might not be as hard as others.
I feel it's a story everyone should read, if only to make them realise that their life might not be as hard as others.
April 27, 2017
I now understand why this is rated so highly.
So well written and very respectful of Alice's real life battle with CF
So well written and very respectful of Alice's real life battle with CF
January 20, 2018
Alice is beautiful enough to be a model, she can sing and is an amazing song writer. She also has cystic fibrosis and this makes it difficult for her to predict what her days will look like. She will have good and bad moments, but that doesn't mean she lets her illness stand in her way. Alice is chasing her dreams and she will do anything to reach her goals. She's determined to be noticed by a record company and wants the world to hear her songs.
When Alice meets Tom she knows he is the one. He feels the same about her, but being with someone who doesn't have a long life expectancy proves to be difficult for him. Alice is a ray of sunshine and she brightens up his life, but that means losing her will shatter his heart. Will he be able to handle this? Alice is a strong woman with plenty of talent and Tom can't stay away from her, but they do have their problems. Alice wants to find true love, sing and live her life to the fullest, even if that means she's taking risks and might get hurt.
A Song for Tomorrow is a beautiful poignant story about an incredible woman. Alice is fierce, beautiful inside and out and kindhearted. She loves with all her heart and I loved her passion for life, singing and writing songs. She has to accept that her illness brings a lot of uncertainties and she and the people around her are dealing with it the best way they can. I admired the honest way Alice Peterson writes about the insecurities that are coming with being this ill. She openly talks about mortality, relationship problems, frustrations because of being too ill to do anything and the heartbreak it causes. She combines this with a stunning story about an admirable woman, filled with positivity and hope and she does that in a terrific way.
A Song for Tomorrow is an impressive story. The inspiration for the story was singer Alice Martineau and I loved how Alice Peterson combines fiction and reality. I admire the way she writes about living with a chronic illness, she describes the suffering and hardship as well as the wonderful moments, the extra enjoyment of things other people would take for granted. A Song for Tomorrow is a gorgeous combination of happiness and sadness. The ending moved me to tears and will stay with me for a long time. Alice Peterson has written another fantastic book that I highly recommend.
When Alice meets Tom she knows he is the one. He feels the same about her, but being with someone who doesn't have a long life expectancy proves to be difficult for him. Alice is a ray of sunshine and she brightens up his life, but that means losing her will shatter his heart. Will he be able to handle this? Alice is a strong woman with plenty of talent and Tom can't stay away from her, but they do have their problems. Alice wants to find true love, sing and live her life to the fullest, even if that means she's taking risks and might get hurt.
A Song for Tomorrow is a beautiful poignant story about an incredible woman. Alice is fierce, beautiful inside and out and kindhearted. She loves with all her heart and I loved her passion for life, singing and writing songs. She has to accept that her illness brings a lot of uncertainties and she and the people around her are dealing with it the best way they can. I admired the honest way Alice Peterson writes about the insecurities that are coming with being this ill. She openly talks about mortality, relationship problems, frustrations because of being too ill to do anything and the heartbreak it causes. She combines this with a stunning story about an admirable woman, filled with positivity and hope and she does that in a terrific way.
A Song for Tomorrow is an impressive story. The inspiration for the story was singer Alice Martineau and I loved how Alice Peterson combines fiction and reality. I admire the way she writes about living with a chronic illness, she describes the suffering and hardship as well as the wonderful moments, the extra enjoyment of things other people would take for granted. A Song for Tomorrow is a gorgeous combination of happiness and sadness. The ending moved me to tears and will stay with me for a long time. Alice Peterson has written another fantastic book that I highly recommend.
February 7, 2017
A Song For Tomorrow is easily the best book I have read this year, so far, and I suspect will be a strong contender for one of my books of the year.
I want to tell you every last thing about this book, but if I do I will be doing it a grave disservice, as there is no way I can either stop and not give away vital spoilers, nor can I really describe just what I am feeling right now. I fear anything I write won't do this absolutely wonderful book justice and all I want to do is encourage you to stop reading this rambling, go and buy this book, and tell you to start reading.
I firmly believe this book will live with me for a long time, and that it will also do great things to highlight just what it is to live with Cystic Fibrosis, which is a horrible genetic disease, that Alice was born with. It is based on the story of singer Alice Martineau, and it feels as though there has been a lot of thought and research but into the way the story has been portrayed.
Alice Peterson, is no stranger to writing about tricky subjects, in fact as far as I can recall all of her books definitely have a more serious side to them, but I think she has outdone herself here. The story is filled with compassion, and my emotions were being ramped up the entire time. I was pretty much in tears towards the end, and I really wasn't sure which way the book was going to end, but I had realised that tissues were likely to be a must.
The writing is beautiful, and despite the tricky subject matter, there are also moments that did make me laugh. There is a wonderful cast of characters, who I really felt for, especially Alice's anti-support group, which are her best friends, two fellow CF sufferers. Alice's brother Jake was just what you would want for in a sibling, and their regular movie nights brought great pleasure.
Besides Alice, who is of course the key to this entire story, and is the person I'd rather you discover for yourself, as I don't have the words, or at least I do, but Alice hates people calling her brave, and that is the sort of language I would want to use. Tom, falls in love with Alice at first sight, and even after discovering she has Cystic Fibrosis, was determined to be with her, and their's is such a pure and wonderful love, but not without its complications.
A Song For Tomorrow is written predominately from Alice's perspective, but we get occasional diary entries from her mother, which gives the family's perspective on the whole situation, in fact the story starts with the entry from when Alice was born, and it was from that moment that I was hooked on the book. The other point of view we see is Tom's and he is a lovely man, who is just trying to support Alice the best he can.
Alice is determined to become a singer, and it is so inspiring the way she doesn't let anything stand in her way. We see some of her lyrics and the are powerful, and I loved the vocal coach, who was adamant that she would turn Alice into a gold medal standard Olympian of the music industry.
There are many elements to this book, but ultimately it is an inspirational tale of someone who is trying to live life to its fullest, while not letting her condition affect her, includes a powerful love story and a supportive family dynamic.
Thank you to much to SJV at Simon & Schuster for this copy of the book, which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
I want to tell you every last thing about this book, but if I do I will be doing it a grave disservice, as there is no way I can either stop and not give away vital spoilers, nor can I really describe just what I am feeling right now. I fear anything I write won't do this absolutely wonderful book justice and all I want to do is encourage you to stop reading this rambling, go and buy this book, and tell you to start reading.
I firmly believe this book will live with me for a long time, and that it will also do great things to highlight just what it is to live with Cystic Fibrosis, which is a horrible genetic disease, that Alice was born with. It is based on the story of singer Alice Martineau, and it feels as though there has been a lot of thought and research but into the way the story has been portrayed.
Alice Peterson, is no stranger to writing about tricky subjects, in fact as far as I can recall all of her books definitely have a more serious side to them, but I think she has outdone herself here. The story is filled with compassion, and my emotions were being ramped up the entire time. I was pretty much in tears towards the end, and I really wasn't sure which way the book was going to end, but I had realised that tissues were likely to be a must.
The writing is beautiful, and despite the tricky subject matter, there are also moments that did make me laugh. There is a wonderful cast of characters, who I really felt for, especially Alice's anti-support group, which are her best friends, two fellow CF sufferers. Alice's brother Jake was just what you would want for in a sibling, and their regular movie nights brought great pleasure.
Besides Alice, who is of course the key to this entire story, and is the person I'd rather you discover for yourself, as I don't have the words, or at least I do, but Alice hates people calling her brave, and that is the sort of language I would want to use. Tom, falls in love with Alice at first sight, and even after discovering she has Cystic Fibrosis, was determined to be with her, and their's is such a pure and wonderful love, but not without its complications.
A Song For Tomorrow is written predominately from Alice's perspective, but we get occasional diary entries from her mother, which gives the family's perspective on the whole situation, in fact the story starts with the entry from when Alice was born, and it was from that moment that I was hooked on the book. The other point of view we see is Tom's and he is a lovely man, who is just trying to support Alice the best he can.
Alice is determined to become a singer, and it is so inspiring the way she doesn't let anything stand in her way. We see some of her lyrics and the are powerful, and I loved the vocal coach, who was adamant that she would turn Alice into a gold medal standard Olympian of the music industry.
There are many elements to this book, but ultimately it is an inspirational tale of someone who is trying to live life to its fullest, while not letting her condition affect her, includes a powerful love story and a supportive family dynamic.
Thank you to much to SJV at Simon & Schuster for this copy of the book, which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
April 21, 2017
I picked up this book (from net-galley, thanks!) thinking it was a romance/chicklit. However, if you’re thinking of reading Song for Tomorrow, be warned that it is more of an inspirational dramatic tale with a romantic undertone that will bring a tear to your eye.
Alice already has a boyfriend and has had some minor success as a model. She isn’t particularly passionate about either. She meets Tom and feels an instant attraction. While sorting out her lovelife, she also decides to pursue the career she’s always wanted; to become a singer. Life is short, after all. In particular, it’s expected to be short for Alice. Alice has cystic fibrosis.
This book is based upon the real life story of Alice Martineau (some fictional characters/scenarios were added by the author but on a whole, now that I’ve researched this a little, most of it reflects Alice’s real life). Unfortunately, at the beginning of the book, this was not stated. I didn’t realise until the end/acknowledgements that Alice wasn’t simply a fictional character. I think this is a real error on the part of the publishers because it made me reflect upon the characters in a completely different way and I would have enjoyed googling Alice’s songs etc whilst reading.
This will sound silly, but the beginning and ending of the book were great, but the middle sagged. Right up to the 40% mark, and from the 90% mark onwards, I would have quite happily given Song for Tomorrow a rating of 5/5. In between Peterson just seemed to get lost for a moment. I thought later that perhaps she was trying to add some substance and drama to the plot. This was unnecessary as Alice’s life was dramatic enough.
Basing the book on its writing merits alone, I would complain about the change of point of view. We get chapters from Alice and her mother which are first person, and then abruptly we get some chapters titled ‘Tom’ written in the third person point of view. I found this jarring.
I also admit I became a little disinterested in some of the repetition in the storyline from the halfway point of the book onwards. Yes, Alice wants to be a singing star. Yes, Tom finds the disease overwhelming at times because he wants a family. Yes, people are ignorant when it comes to disabilities. Yes, Alice is a funny girl who loves her friends, family and the medical staff who attend to her. I don’t know… I didn’t need to hear these sort of things over and over and they bogged down the flow of the book at times.
Despite these occasional missteps from Peterson, Alice Martineau’s and her family’s real life struggle increased my respect for the book. It will bring a lot of attention to organ donation and cystic fibrosis awareness. Alice Martineau’s music will also gain a new wave of fans. (Yes, I have now listened to her songs via youtube but unfortunately I can’t find them on itunes or spotify in Australia.)
Ultimately I enjoyed it and would recommend it.
4 out of 5
Alice already has a boyfriend and has had some minor success as a model. She isn’t particularly passionate about either. She meets Tom and feels an instant attraction. While sorting out her lovelife, she also decides to pursue the career she’s always wanted; to become a singer. Life is short, after all. In particular, it’s expected to be short for Alice. Alice has cystic fibrosis.
This book is based upon the real life story of Alice Martineau (some fictional characters/scenarios were added by the author but on a whole, now that I’ve researched this a little, most of it reflects Alice’s real life). Unfortunately, at the beginning of the book, this was not stated. I didn’t realise until the end/acknowledgements that Alice wasn’t simply a fictional character. I think this is a real error on the part of the publishers because it made me reflect upon the characters in a completely different way and I would have enjoyed googling Alice’s songs etc whilst reading.
This will sound silly, but the beginning and ending of the book were great, but the middle sagged. Right up to the 40% mark, and from the 90% mark onwards, I would have quite happily given Song for Tomorrow a rating of 5/5. In between Peterson just seemed to get lost for a moment. I thought later that perhaps she was trying to add some substance and drama to the plot. This was unnecessary as Alice’s life was dramatic enough.
Basing the book on its writing merits alone, I would complain about the change of point of view. We get chapters from Alice and her mother which are first person, and then abruptly we get some chapters titled ‘Tom’ written in the third person point of view. I found this jarring.
I also admit I became a little disinterested in some of the repetition in the storyline from the halfway point of the book onwards. Yes, Alice wants to be a singing star. Yes, Tom finds the disease overwhelming at times because he wants a family. Yes, people are ignorant when it comes to disabilities. Yes, Alice is a funny girl who loves her friends, family and the medical staff who attend to her. I don’t know… I didn’t need to hear these sort of things over and over and they bogged down the flow of the book at times.
Despite these occasional missteps from Peterson, Alice Martineau’s and her family’s real life struggle increased my respect for the book. It will bring a lot of attention to organ donation and cystic fibrosis awareness. Alice Martineau’s music will also gain a new wave of fans. (Yes, I have now listened to her songs via youtube but unfortunately I can’t find them on itunes or spotify in Australia.)
Ultimately I enjoyed it and would recommend it.
4 out of 5
December 21, 2016
Whilst not impossible to write a novel of this kind without it, I do think having experience of the challenges faced by those with a chronic (possibly life limiting) condition often brings a whole new dimension, a certain empathy if you will, to the writing. And, based on the author's own experiences after she too was diagnosed with a chronic condition, A Song For Tomorrow is nothing if not empathetic towards its characters. Yes, even those who you at first might think totally undeserving of it.
Told from multiple points of views, there is always the danger that the narrative becomes confused, the different threads lost, if only momentarily, along the way. No such worries here. The narrative flows seamlessly, Alice (loosely based on singer/songwriter Alice Martineau) and 'love interest' Tom's thoughts along with Alice's mother Mary's diary entries each adding to the telling of an exceptional fictional story of one young woman's struggle with a chronic lung condition as she fulfils her wish to become a singer/song writer.
Gritty, the author pulls no punches when it comes to the ramifications (both realised and possible) of Alice's condition, a box of tissues is highly recommended, but most of all this is a life affirming novel of making the most of every day, of following your dreams.
One of my favourite reads of 2016, everything I was hoping for and so, so much more. I had anticipated the ending going one of several ways and, without giving away the merest hint of a spoiler, am so pleased that it ended the way it did.
Copyright: Tracy Terry @ Pen and Paper
Told from multiple points of views, there is always the danger that the narrative becomes confused, the different threads lost, if only momentarily, along the way. No such worries here. The narrative flows seamlessly, Alice (loosely based on singer/songwriter Alice Martineau) and 'love interest' Tom's thoughts along with Alice's mother Mary's diary entries each adding to the telling of an exceptional fictional story of one young woman's struggle with a chronic lung condition as she fulfils her wish to become a singer/song writer.
Gritty, the author pulls no punches when it comes to the ramifications (both realised and possible) of Alice's condition, a box of tissues is highly recommended, but most of all this is a life affirming novel of making the most of every day, of following your dreams.
One of my favourite reads of 2016, everything I was hoping for and so, so much more. I had anticipated the ending going one of several ways and, without giving away the merest hint of a spoiler, am so pleased that it ended the way it did.
Copyright: Tracy Terry @ Pen and Paper
November 25, 2016
A moving story of guts and determination!
The author is a natural story teller as opposed to being a journalistic styled writer. Her characters in the book are believable everyday people we can relate to in some form or another.
Because of the debilitating disease, Alice must endure, the author could have written the story allowing the reader wallow in self-pity all the way through the book. Instead, we are uplifted by Alice's strength and courage to believe that her life's dream can come true in the face of so much adversity.
Towards the end, I couldn't put it down. Take a big box of tissues along if it comes to the big screen!
Lynn
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
The author is a natural story teller as opposed to being a journalistic styled writer. Her characters in the book are believable everyday people we can relate to in some form or another.
Because of the debilitating disease, Alice must endure, the author could have written the story allowing the reader wallow in self-pity all the way through the book. Instead, we are uplifted by Alice's strength and courage to believe that her life's dream can come true in the face of so much adversity.
Towards the end, I couldn't put it down. Take a big box of tissues along if it comes to the big screen!
Lynn
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
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January 6, 2017A warm story, based on real life, that will raise awareness of people living with cystic fibrosis.
April 23, 2017
A book of inspiration,hope and sadness. A fabulous read that takes you into the life of a CF sufferer with honesty and raw passion.
April 18, 2018
Few books deal realistically with serious health issues plus contemporary romance for YA readers. 'A Song for Tomorrow' is the second Alice Peterson book I've read. Her earlier one was more autobiographical about Petersen's initially promising tennis career being stopped by rheumatoid arthritis and how she turns the singlemindedness of athletic training to ways of handling her health and writing books. Admirable. The conflict is with the condition, not against the family who in both stories is portrayed positively. In fact, the mother Mary in 'Song for Tomorrow' is the heroine. The way in which the family lifestyle is woven into the challenges of coping with a chronic illness is extremely well paced in the fictionalised 'A Song for Tomorrow' where instead of the dream of being a novelist becoming the means of coping with the rheumatoid arthritis , Alice works through the cystic fibrosis limitations on her lungs, to become a singer-song writer. Even how the parents accept the boyfriend staying over regularly, and how he copes with her 'health incidents' and the humour of mis-hitting the panic button. The handling of a sexually active character who is also dealing with real health limitations but is determined not to regard herself as a victim, is the strength of this book. Quite a lot of emphasis upon her 'prettiness' and getting dressed up, but also on the sheer logististics of being a girlfriend who requires so many 'meds' and breathing equipment to travel with her. The technique of presenting various characters' viewpoints in different chapters, gives another perspective. And it's not all gloom and doom. There is humour.
Having the aim of becoming a famous singer/song-writer when you have cystic fibrosis affecting your lungs to the point of needing a triple transplant, seems a far goal, but the story is based around a real girl, song-writer Alice Martineau, although fictionalised.
It's just a little confusing to have the real author of 'A Song for Tomorrow' called Alice, and the fictionalised character called Alice but since the story was inspired by the real song-writer Alice Martineau, it's understandable.
Highly recommended for YA readers but also for health professionals. I learnt a lot about cystic fibrosis but also about living in the present and having a dream.The middle section with the realistic details of friends and family support and the sheer effort required to function, are a tribute to Martineau's family, but also to Petersen's research.
The escalation to fame and public recognition when her health is so limiting, seems overly dramatic, but we all need dreams.
What I appreciated was the writing skill with which the humour was paced between the obviously serious hospitalisations and waiting for the transplant call. The acknowledgements and comments from the real Martineau family indicate the breadth of research and support which will give this 'faction' a long life.
Having the aim of becoming a famous singer/song-writer when you have cystic fibrosis affecting your lungs to the point of needing a triple transplant, seems a far goal, but the story is based around a real girl, song-writer Alice Martineau, although fictionalised.
It's just a little confusing to have the real author of 'A Song for Tomorrow' called Alice, and the fictionalised character called Alice but since the story was inspired by the real song-writer Alice Martineau, it's understandable.
Highly recommended for YA readers but also for health professionals. I learnt a lot about cystic fibrosis but also about living in the present and having a dream.The middle section with the realistic details of friends and family support and the sheer effort required to function, are a tribute to Martineau's family, but also to Petersen's research.
The escalation to fame and public recognition when her health is so limiting, seems overly dramatic, but we all need dreams.
What I appreciated was the writing skill with which the humour was paced between the obviously serious hospitalisations and waiting for the transplant call. The acknowledgements and comments from the real Martineau family indicate the breadth of research and support which will give this 'faction' a long life.
January 4, 2018
A beautifully moving, thought provoking and well researched novel following Alice on her journey to become a singer whilst coping with the effects of Cystic Fibrosis.
A fictional story, but based around the real life of Alice Martineau, it focuses on Alice's strength and tenaciousness to achieve her childhood dream and become a famous recording artist. She is determined to live life to the full and although my heart ached for her and all that she has to contend with, I was also uplifted by her wonderfully positive attitude. Her network of family and friends were amazing and I felt truly inspired after finishing the book which is a lovely tribute to her life. I also looked up Alice Martineau's music on Spotify and felt even more connected to the story after hearing her gorgeous voice.
Another great offering from Alice Peterson.
A fictional story, but based around the real life of Alice Martineau, it focuses on Alice's strength and tenaciousness to achieve her childhood dream and become a famous recording artist. She is determined to live life to the full and although my heart ached for her and all that she has to contend with, I was also uplifted by her wonderfully positive attitude. Her network of family and friends were amazing and I felt truly inspired after finishing the book which is a lovely tribute to her life. I also looked up Alice Martineau's music on Spotify and felt even more connected to the story after hearing her gorgeous voice.
Another great offering from Alice Peterson.
March 24, 2017
Wow. Such a brilliant book, that left me with a tear in my eye.
I relate so much kind of to the main person within the book, Alice, she is a fighter of an illness, just like I am... though CFS/ME isn't CF, they're both known as 'silent illnesses'. Alice's fight was constant just like mine, except I have nothing to live for like she did.
I loved every second of the book, and to find out it is based on a true story made my heart break even more, I really did enjoy this book, and would recommend it for anyone. But be warned... you will cry...
I relate so much kind of to the main person within the book, Alice, she is a fighter of an illness, just like I am... though CFS/ME isn't CF, they're both known as 'silent illnesses'. Alice's fight was constant just like mine, except I have nothing to live for like she did.
I loved every second of the book, and to find out it is based on a true story made my heart break even more, I really did enjoy this book, and would recommend it for anyone. But be warned... you will cry...
March 1, 2019
Alice has cystic fibrosis but she doesn’t let it get her down. She has always dreamed of being a singer so she decides that life’s too short so she will do it. She meets Tom at her brother Jakes art exhibition. They fall in love quickly but can Tom cope with the stresses of what Alice has to deal with?
This was a beautifully written book and I have to say I knew nothing about cystic fibrosis before I read this book so I have in fact learnt a lot along the way.
My first by Alice Peterson but already looking for others to read.
This was a beautifully written book and I have to say I knew nothing about cystic fibrosis before I read this book so I have in fact learnt a lot along the way.
My first by Alice Peterson but already looking for others to read.
May 8, 2020
I když byla kniha o tom nejtěžším, co si dokážeme v životě představit, většinu času jsem se u ní usmívala. Byla jsem šťastná spolu a hlavní hrdinkou, jak dělá jednotlivé kroky, aby dokázala vše, co si přeje. Její urputnost, pevná vůle a touha po lásce mě uchvacovaly. Děkuji autorce za skvělý zážitek.
February 25, 2018
Wow what a beautiful story, laughed out loud and sobbed....now looking to read more from this author :-)
October 9, 2018
A really good read. An insight into life with CF and at the same time an inspiring story of a determined young lady.
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