The Choice

by Henry Denker

Dr. Walter Duncan, an orthopedic surgeon devoted to his work, allows himself to lose sight of the happiness of his own wife and daughter until the family encounters a major crisis--his daughter is stricken with leukemia.

Genres: Fiction

311 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1987

Reviews

[charliest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un roman qui montre à quel point la vie peut être une chienne, et qu’elle est imprévisible. L’auteur a su jongler entre espoir et désespoir, c’est bien écrit et on est rapidement plonger dans le monde médicale, surtout celui des enfants atteints de cancer. Ce livre est une invitation à se rendre compte de la chance que l’on a d’être en bonne santé.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this in Readers Digest Condensed when it first came out [My grandparent's got this every month and I loved when I could get the mail because that meant I got first dibs on the book - I read A LOT of books that were way to "adult" for me because of this.] and then read it again later in full book form. This is one of those books that I would love a copy of as I loved it. It was one of my "go-to" books when I was a teen. A very well-written book that is heartbreaking as well. I loved every second of this one.

[Eva Tipps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is an excerpt that moved me about this tennis star teenager fighting bone cancer. Her beloved and trusted tennis coach drops by the hospital to give her a pep talk the day before the operation.

"'I came to wish you luck tomorrow,' Swede said. He smiled. 'Like before a big match. You know, those nervous minutes before you go out on the court. When everything feels tight, and your hands are cold. Let me have your hands.'
"She held out her hands to him. He took them in his, and they were indeed cold.
"'Good,' he said. 'I like it when a player is nervous before a match. One should never be overconfident.'
"He was rubbing her cold hands as he talked.
"'Tomorrow, that's going to be like a match. So you be up for it. Say to yourself, no matter what I find when I wake up, I will face it. I will overcome. Remember the first time you went to the finals? I said to you, "Play one point at a time. Don't look back at your errors. Don't look forward to the next game. Play this point." You believed me. And you did win. You went all the way. Because you knew that to lose a point, or even a game, is not to lose the whole match.... Well, tomorrow is like that, Amy. If you lose a point or two, there's still the whole match left to play. And my girl, my Amy, is not going to let down. No matter what happens. Right?'....
"'I may never be able to play again. Or run. Or even walk straight again.'
"'Amy, my dear, is that what you think life is? All those things you said, they disappear anyhow. Slowly perhaps. But the time comes when all of us can't play anymore. But we live on. We find our place. We do the best we can with what we are. That's what life really is. Whether we are sixteen or sixty, we do the best we can. You've always done that. That's what made you a champion. Be my champion tomorrow, Amy. Promise?'
"She began to weep but managed a smile and nodded.'
"That's my girl,' Swede said."

[Frederick Tan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book.

[Marko Boleyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este libro tiene una de las escenas más tristes que he leido, y creo que siempre hay que tener tiempo para aquellos a los que más queremos, uno nunca sabe cuando de repente ya no estarán.

[Malika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Histoire très émouvante et touchante. Elle raconte les sacrifices du Docteur Duncan, son succès et les miracles qu'il a accomplie. Les événements se compliquent après la maladie de sa fille Simon, c'est là qu'il revoit son rôle de père. Fin triste là ou les médecins n y peuvent rien faire, mais celà ne stope pas le Docteur Walt Duncan de continuer sa mission noble: offrir une seconde chance pour vivre aux enfants!

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another well-written book by Henry Denker.

The author seems to be familiar with the medical field. In his surgery practice, Dr. Duncan deals with cancer patients regularly. He offers them hope where he can. Then the unthinkable hits home and he doesn't want to be b--- s---'d by the pros.

[Tesnime Haouach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Une histoire très émouvante. J'ai même pleuré. J'ai trop adoré. L'un de mes meilleurs livres ever ♥ Lisez le spécialement les médecins, les futurs médecins, qui aime la médecine, qui veut vivre dans la peau de quelqu'un atteint du cancer... Lisez le. Vous ne regrettez pas. Je vous l'assures

[Cjremund · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reader's Digest condensed version

[Diane Wachter · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Choice, Henry Denker, RDC-M, #3-87, 1987. A novel about cancer patients. Okay.

[ChrisGA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still a tear_jerker Hallmark movie even after all these years.

[Philip · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predictable medical drama, hollow wooden dialog.