One True Thing

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Summary: One True Thing is true to life
Review: As a chemotherapy nurse who followed Ovarian cancer patients from the time of diagnosis until death often, I was bowled over by the reality of this novel. This could have been written, but not as well, by several of my patients' daughters. I was impressed by the ability of the author to capture so well the range of emotions expressed as a loved one slips away. I highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates good writing or to anyone who likes to FEEL something when they read.

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Summary: Great book...if you don't read the prologue first!
Review: This is a great book. It makes you re-evaluate your relationships with your family. I could relate to each character very well. The only thing I didn't like is the prologue, it tells you tooooo much! Some people will disagree I am sure, but for me, it was better not knowing the ending first, so I skipped the prologue.

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Summary: Like Camus' "The Stranger," only humanized
Review: After reading this book, one can see a similarity between it and Albert Camus' "The Stranger." The main difference being that Anna Quilden has humanized her story and her protagonist. The problem that lies here though is that in "The Stranger," the plot was necessary to convey the theme of the novel, whereas with Quilden, the trial section does not add to the initial part of the novel, but only detracts from one of the most emotionally fueled sections ever written. Ellen, the protagonist, goes through a 100 more pages which increase the affinity of the reader for her, but takes away from the overall plot.

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Summary: Beautifully written account of a mother and daughter's love
Review: This was an amazing book that I could not put down. The emotions that Ellen and her mother experienced throughout were so true. I cried lots as I read this book. I highly recommend One True Thing.

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Summary: What was the "One True Thing" in the book?
Review: Our couples book group recently discussed this book and share many of the same positive comments expressed by other reviewers. Interestingly, the men enjoyed the book as much as the women. One question we raised which has not been mentioned by other reviewers is, what is the one true thing? At first, we thought it was love, but after more discussion, we all agreed it was truth.

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Summary: As real as it gets!
Review: This book is so real & it makes you think about your relationship with your family - especially your mother. Having had a grandmother who died from cancer I could relate to many of the details written about the different stages from the onset of the disease to the bitter end. It reflects so well the emotions & hurdles that the cancer patients themselves as well as the ones around them have to deal with. It also makes you think about your relationship with your own mother & how at times we tend to take it for granted & don't always see the real person! I highly recommend this book to all especially if you've been faced with the trials of cancer.

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Summary: Extraordinarily real.
Review: When Anna Quindlen left the OP-ED pages of the NY Times, I thought I was losing one of the only sane voices in NY.

I've read everything Ms. Quindlen has written and found ONE TRUE THING to be incredibly moving, making me question my own capacity for the bravery and comparing it to Ellen's.

Once finished, I immediately purchased BLACK AND BLUE as I needed another Anna Quindlen fix.

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Summary: Great Beach Book--Real Page Turner
Review: I read this book in one day. Anna Quindlen has a real knack for keeping your interest, or at least mine. This is the first book on my summer reading list and it will be a hard act to follow. The relationship between mother and daughter is complex and multi-dimensional..my hat is off to Anna for reaching in and examining it so closely and with such realism. Definitely a womans book though..Can't see any man having a real interest in this one.

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Summary: I read this book a second time!
Review: This book definitely made me think about my relationship with my mom and dad. I gained understanding. There were many "truisms" about life in general. Some passages I really savored. I loved the author's way of describing relationships.

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Summary: This book was very powerful.
Review: I don't think everyone would enjoy this book but I thought it was fantastic. Ellen is first seen as fairly cold-hearted and self-centered but most 24 year olds are. It is a great book for anyone who has had issues with her mother. It is sometimes easy to forget that your mother has a life of her own and had one long before you came along. I like Quindlan's style of writing and I enjoyed the outcome of the book.