Rating: 
Summary: A celebration of a remarkable partnership
Review: "On My Own at 107: Reflections on Life without Bessie" is by Sarah L. Delany with Amy Hill Hearth. Their text is accompanied by illustrations by Brian M. Kotzky. This book contains the reflections of 107-year old Sarah "Sadie" Delany after the death of her sister and lifetime companion Bessie at the age of 104.A foreword by coauthor Hearth discusses the lives of these two extraordinary African-American women and the success of their book "Having Our Say," published in 1993 and adapted as a Broadway play. Bessie was a pioneering dentist, and Sadie a teacher; remaining unmarried, the two enjoyed a lifetime partnership that lasted over a century. The main body of the text is divided into four parts, each with an introductory section by a 3rd person narrator. But the bulk of the text consists of Sadie's first-person reflections. Interspersed throughout the text are Kotzky's beautiful full color illustrations of the many flowers that longtime gardener Bessie loved: crocuses, tulips, rhododendrons, coral bells, etc. This is a wonderful book about family, faith, growing old with grace, and surviving the death of one's life partner. Sadie's voice is wonderfully moving and sometimes funny. Ultimately the book celebrates the cycles of life. This book is a touching tribute to Bessie Delany and a celebration of the enduring partnership she shared with her sister. Early in the book Sadie declares, "Why, I have been so blessed in my life!" Likewise are we readers blessed with this beautiful book. Recommended especially for those with an interest in women's studies, African-American studies, flower gardening, and issues related to the elderly.
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Summary: Queen Bessie!
Review: Bessie was my favorite sister. She had so much fire and flare. I'll miss her. This book really allows people that have lost someone to understand that a relationships still exists even though a person isn't physically here. Sadie has pictures of Bessie's favorite flowers from her garden on every other page. It is the best tribute to a person's life that I have ever read or seen. This book proves that it is the simple moments of compassion that make a life so great!
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Summary: A special book
Review: How difficult it must have been for Sadie to live without Bessie after having her companionship for over 100 years. As someone who has lost many people in my life, I truly admire the strength of this woman. She was and is a true inspiration. You won't regret buying this book.
Rating:
Summary: A special book
Review: How difficult it must have been for Sadie to live without Bessie after having her companionship for over 100 years. As someone who has lost many people in my life, I truly admire the strength of this woman. She was and is a true inspiration. You won't regret buying this book.
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Summary: I am so grateful for this little book
Review: I read the first two books about these two remarkable sisters ("Having Our Say," and "The Delaney Sisters' Book of Everyday Wisdom") and they also deserve five stars each, absolutely. In fact, the best book, in terms of literary merit, is the first one, and I loved looking at the photos in the book of the whole family, going back a few generations.
But this book here really helped me in the first year of my husband's death. I read it at least once a week, usually more. I found strength in the fact that if Sadie could make it on her own after being practically attached at the hip for over 100 years to Bessie, and loving each other so much and so well, then I would somehow find the strength to go on too.
Sometimes I was so cried out, but I was still so sad and wanted to cry more, but the tears wouldn't come. The way the "as-told-to" author Hearth expressed Sadie's feelings always helped bring back those cathartic tears.
I read many books of comfort for the grieving widow, but for some reason, this little book near saved my life.
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Summary: an amazingly postitive look at life
Review: i think this book would be a wonderful source of comfort for ANYONE who has lost a partner or loved one...it is so 'upbeat' and positive that it would help the survivor cope with loss. it is delightfully written and offers a perspective from 107 years of life that most of us will not achieve! i am giving this book to friends who need comfort and a new perspective on continuing with their lives.
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Summary: America's Oldest Bestselling Author is On Her Own at 107
Review: Now, after a quiet year of mourning and reflection, Sadie Delany has written a tribute to her little sister. ON MY OWN reveals the indomitable spirit that marked the sisters' shared life and bestselling books ( including HAVING OUR SAY), showing us all that, even at the age of 107, it is possible to start over. This spirited and tender memoir will speak to the heart of every reader and admirer of these truly remarkable women, and to anyone who has gone through the loss of a cherished loved one
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Summary: Poignant memoirs of a sibling relationship
Review: Sadie Delaney's beautiful tribute to a 100 yr.old relationship. Sisters separated by death (but not by spirit) live on in this poignant memoir. The grieving process unfolds within the pages like the blossoming of Bessie flowers. Seasons of life (and death) bloom in synchrony with the flowers that live on to comfort Sadie. They bloom in spite of their loss as does Sadie. The indominable spirits of both Sadie & Bessie abound.
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Summary: A moving account of the days after her sister's death.
Review: Sarah Delany is truly an inspiration as she speaks from her heart about coping with the loss of her sister. I found the flower sketches and comments relating to her sister to be very comforting. This book is a moving account of how it feels to lose someone close to you. Having lost both my parents last year--I found that this book made me feel a little better!
Rating:
Summary: inspiring
Review: The lives of the Delany sisters was made up of the stuff that made and kept African Americans strong...family.
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