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Both Sides Now
Liza thinks she and her mother, Rebecca, are as different as a mother and daughter can be. Liza, a successful high school junior, works hard at keeping her life under control while maintaining a positive outlook.
Rebecca, who gave up writing after her book was rejected, recently completed grueling treatment for breast cancer. When tests reveal that more painful treatments are needed, it seems to Liza that Rebecca has given up.
As the control of Liza’s once predictable life unravels, she sees her mother’s courage and strength in a whole new light. Perhaps they can share the pain of the unknown together.
Rebecca, who gave up writing after her book was rejected, recently completed grueling treatment for breast cancer. When tests reveal that more painful treatments are needed, it seems to Liza that Rebecca has given up.
As the control of Liza’s once predictable life unravels, she sees her mother’s courage and strength in a whole new light. Perhaps they can share the pain of the unknown together.
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 2000
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94 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 1, 2012
This is such a sad story about a teenage girl, Liza, whos mother's breast cancer has come back a second time. I felt so bad for her, as her Granddad is losing his mind, her mother has cancer, her father is trying to keep his composure and the family together, and her sister, Jane, is also trying to deal with it all. Good, but sad, book.
March 10, 2017
Both Sides Now is a fiction book written by Ruth Pennebaker. I believe the theme of the book is that you should feel comfortable with sharing your feelings and you don’t always have to be strong when you are coping with problems in your life.
Both Sides Now shows the life of Liza who is a 15 year old girl. Liza’s mom, Rebecca, has breast cancer which has come back for the second time. Although her family is dealing with her mother’s cancer Liza doesn’t let it affect her life too much. She pushes it aside and acts as though nothing is going on. When Liza’s mother decides to refuse more rounds of excruciating treatment, Liza comes to the realization that her mom will not be around forever. Liza has a mental breakdown after hearing her mom’s decision. It seems as though her mom has given up on fighting the cancer, but she hasn’t, and Liza realizes her mother's strength to fight and the strength in acceptance that Liza never realized she had.
Liza is the main character in the book, she is 15 years old and she is a perfectionist. Liza always works very hard, this shows because she is a star athlete and on the honor roll. Her goal is to get into Stanford and be a doctor like her father, whom she is much more alike in personality than her mother. Her life may seem great to those surrounding her but she always tries to use optimism to hide her fear and pain of her mother’s illness which is always lingering in the back of her head. Although she says she has everything under control we see her struggle progress in her actions throughout the plot of the book.
It was very interesting to see how different people cope with illness. Liza tried to keep an open and optimistic attitude which in turn lead to her self destruction. Most people don’t know how to manage their feelings and stresses when they are faced with hardship. It was much more real and heartfelt to read about a character who was created by someone who had cancer themselves. Ruth Pennebaker, the author was herself, a cancer survivor. The book suggests that positive thinking isn’t always the answer to dealing with hardship, but that facing pain can lead to greater strength in coping. I agree with Pennebaker that optimism isn’t always the answer in dealing with hardship, and that you shouldn’t feel weak by needing to talk and cry with someone. Both Sides Now can relate to so many different people, because almost everyone can resonate with it. Just about everyone in the world has dealt with a loved going through cancer or some other type of devastating illness, there are over 14 million people in the United States alone who are currently battling cancer. My feelings about cancer remain the same that it is a terrible disease which affects the lives of far too many people and it can go to great lengths in tearing families apart. Luckily no one in my immediate family has ever dealt with cancer but I have family friends that have had to go through it, and even died from it, so I can somewhat relate to Liza and her feelings.
During this book you will be angry, happy, sad, you may laugh, and you may cry. Both Sides Now is definitely an emotional rollercoaster. If you or someone you know and love is dealing with or ever has dealt with cancer then I would suggest this book. Even if it doesn’t include you, it is a book that anyone can find some kind of emotion in reading.
Both Sides Now shows the life of Liza who is a 15 year old girl. Liza’s mom, Rebecca, has breast cancer which has come back for the second time. Although her family is dealing with her mother’s cancer Liza doesn’t let it affect her life too much. She pushes it aside and acts as though nothing is going on. When Liza’s mother decides to refuse more rounds of excruciating treatment, Liza comes to the realization that her mom will not be around forever. Liza has a mental breakdown after hearing her mom’s decision. It seems as though her mom has given up on fighting the cancer, but she hasn’t, and Liza realizes her mother's strength to fight and the strength in acceptance that Liza never realized she had.
Liza is the main character in the book, she is 15 years old and she is a perfectionist. Liza always works very hard, this shows because she is a star athlete and on the honor roll. Her goal is to get into Stanford and be a doctor like her father, whom she is much more alike in personality than her mother. Her life may seem great to those surrounding her but she always tries to use optimism to hide her fear and pain of her mother’s illness which is always lingering in the back of her head. Although she says she has everything under control we see her struggle progress in her actions throughout the plot of the book.
It was very interesting to see how different people cope with illness. Liza tried to keep an open and optimistic attitude which in turn lead to her self destruction. Most people don’t know how to manage their feelings and stresses when they are faced with hardship. It was much more real and heartfelt to read about a character who was created by someone who had cancer themselves. Ruth Pennebaker, the author was herself, a cancer survivor. The book suggests that positive thinking isn’t always the answer to dealing with hardship, but that facing pain can lead to greater strength in coping. I agree with Pennebaker that optimism isn’t always the answer in dealing with hardship, and that you shouldn’t feel weak by needing to talk and cry with someone. Both Sides Now can relate to so many different people, because almost everyone can resonate with it. Just about everyone in the world has dealt with a loved going through cancer or some other type of devastating illness, there are over 14 million people in the United States alone who are currently battling cancer. My feelings about cancer remain the same that it is a terrible disease which affects the lives of far too many people and it can go to great lengths in tearing families apart. Luckily no one in my immediate family has ever dealt with cancer but I have family friends that have had to go through it, and even died from it, so I can somewhat relate to Liza and her feelings.
During this book you will be angry, happy, sad, you may laugh, and you may cry. Both Sides Now is definitely an emotional rollercoaster. If you or someone you know and love is dealing with or ever has dealt with cancer then I would suggest this book. Even if it doesn’t include you, it is a book that anyone can find some kind of emotion in reading.
July 16, 2024
I thought this was a teenagehood favorite book of mine, but it actually wasn’t the book I was thinking of 🤣 however, I still enjoyed this so much! Liza both broke and warmed my heart❤️
July 24, 2009
This contained a lot of cursing, not my taste but interesting. The main caracter is like some people I have heard of, those who keep everything inside and dont show emotions, always wanting to be strong. She is forced to take the journey of breast cancer with her mom who has it for the second time! When she finally gets one thing right in her life(Richard, her boyfriend) everything else seems to slide down hill. Both Sides Now really opened up my mind to see that cancer doesnt just come with the falling out of hair but lots worse things! Like how it tears your family apart and how much it really changes your mind and thoughts. Both Sides Now has a surprise and quick ending with nothing but the words of the mom saying she is not going to go through with the stem cell transplant!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2014
Very intriguing, heartfelt book describing the feelings of the cancer patient, and the family & friends of the person with cancer.
Gave me lots to think about, in a very realistic way.
Gave me lots to think about, in a very realistic way.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews