I read a lot of books about illness, but most are non-fiction (e.g., Being Mortal, When Breath Becomes Air, The Emperor of All Maladies) so I decided to try a novel. It's easy to see that everything Alice goes through in her diagnosis and treatment is true to life, and it is a nightmare. Since it's set in 1993-4, I kept hoping that leukemia treatments are now easier on the patient, but when I realized that the author's wife's death was not all that long ago, I'm guessing they are not. As a novel, this sort of works, sort of doesn't. What is the point of the random case notes scattered throughout? As others have mentioned there are abrupt shifts in time and perspective, which bogs down the narrative and some of the characters are just - huh? (e.g., the oncology resident and Merv). And I'm sorry, but their baby's name is "Doe"? I guess the author has never heard of the Baby Doe court case, but everytime that name came up that phrase popped into my head to further take me out of the story. I certainly felt the connection between Alice and Oliver, sympathizing mostly with her, although she is depicted as an exasperatingly hip and cool (but not shallow!) fashionista which for me worked against the sympathy. If I could give it 2.5 stars that would reflect my true rating, as would the nearly 3 weeks it took me to finish reading it. ( )

Had to fight against just not caring even a little bit for rich white people realizing they are not invulnerable even as they revel is unearned privilege. ( )

3.5 Stars. This is a tough read if you know someone that has had cancer treatments (and who doesn't?). The characters' struggles go beyond cancer. The on-going problem with the insurance company was real, but not as interesting, so I skimmed those parts. I didn't love the book, but felt like I understood better all that comes with cancer. ( )

This review may seem more like a (one-sided) discussion for a book group because I wish I was talking to someone who had also just read it!

I'm puzzled by the low reviews I see. This book touched me in a special way. Some books just speak to you, you know? This was one of those. I understood the characters and, in the beginning at least, wanted to know them. I was devastated by the description of Alice's diagnosis and the effects of her treatment, but mostly by her emotional journey as she came to terms with the possibility of not raising her daughter. I understood Oliver's frustrations as he attempted to navigate insurance.

About midway through, I disconnected from Oliver. Couldn't help it.

The end let me down a bit. I was waiting with baited breath to see what had happened to Alice. What I didn't expect was a disconnected daughter who didn't seem close to her at all! It was as if Alice was "untouchable" in some way, or maybe unreachable is a better descriptive? It's as if all Alice ever wanted to survive FOR didn't happen. Of course, many teens may feel this way about their parents. But there were also contradictions in how Doe described her mom: stylish, an icon, extremely old.

For me, the writing was gorgeous and knowing how Mr. Bock was inspired to write this story made it even more special and beautiful. ( )

I read every word but this was an exhausting book to read because it was so incredibly detailed from both Alice's and Oliver's points of view and experiences of Alice's cancer. Bock knew his subject because of the death of his wife but this truly gripping portrayal would make me wonder how anyone would willingly agree to all that Alice and yes, Oliver, too, endured. It was well written and more than I wanted to know but IF you were contemplating anything like this cancer experience it would be wise to read this, even though it is...a "novel." ( )