Rating: 
Summary: Curl up and...
Review: One True Thing is a perfect book for a quiet day, a jumble of quilts and a fire. Quindlen's prose is melodious and its lyricism belies her stark observations about how we understand and are understood by those we love. I was suprised at the adept adaptation of his novel for the screen. The film managed to capture some of the book's most arresting moments while adding important scenes perfectly in keeping with Quindlen's style and intention. Some readers have complained that the men in the book are weak. That's true. They are weak, selfish, self-centered, lacking in compassion and empathy when those qualities are needed most. This is the experience of many, many women who trudge on alone, particularly in times of crisis and great emotional pain in their lives and those of their families. We have all certainly seen ordinary women die alone with great courage or use their strength and compassion to guide others toward a dignified death while the men in their lives slink into a corner, too upset to cope. Men are generally forgiven this peculiar flaw, requiring even more women to step in and take their place. It is the lack of complaint by women that renders male behavior in this regard utterly invisible. Ellen's dying mother, an icon of self-sacrifice, has helped to perpetuate this behavior in her husband by labeling it a weakness of character. Ellen herself will have none of his excuses, knowing that love involves the will as well as the heart, and so is powerfully reprimanded by her mother. And hey -- where are her brothers while she struggles on alone as daddy keeps his extreme distance? Nobody even gives her a week off! That isn't to say that all guys are wimpy poops like George Gulden or creeps like Ellen's pretty-boy beau or that all women are Mother Theresa (thank god, or the dead would be dead even faster) But if most man were as compassionate and emotionally generous as say, Pierce Brosnan (yeah, ladies, he's not just hot), One True Thing would ring shrill as a cheap phone. It does not. I recommend the book for Quindlen's beautiful prose, her confrontation of our worst fears and for her story-telling style. The judicial aspects of the book's (but not the film's) ending were attenuated, distracting and more unlikely than not, but One True Thing is a keeper, a loaner and a book I will long remember.
Rating:
Summary: More about truth than euthanasia
Review: As the title indicates, this book is about truth - what could be called everyman's "search for truth" but actually can be cut down to the almost knee-jerk tendency we humans share to categorize, then usually through pain to actually act and discover our misconceptions, and then adjust them to a deeper truth. So truth seems capricious at times. If there is one true thing, Ellen's mother Kate has hit upon it. Kate's family, in turn, recognize it in her. It is love, agape love, stronger than the eros love, though not exclusive of it, (and it is the eros love that Quindlen seems to generally refer to.) I disagree that the male characters are weak - and see it, rather, that other characters, male and female, pale in light of Kate and Ellie. I have never read any of Anna Quindlen's work before and I am impressed. I have no criticism but still wouldn't call this a masterpiece. Euthanasia? Yes, an integral part of the story but, NO, this is not a book about euthanasia, or mercy killing, or whatever you want to call it. Ellen Gulden makes many judgements but, ultimately, none on euthanasia. Instead I see a story about a mother and daughter, within a family, dealing with bittersweet illuminations from pain and terminal illness.
Rating:
Summary: Touching read . . .
Review: This is the third novel I have read by Anna Quindlen. I haven't seen the movie, which is probably a good thing, because many a time the movie doesn't live up to the book. One True Thing is a very poignant, not to mention, heartrending and graphic, detailed tale about a young woman in her early 20s named Ellen Gulden, who has to leave her home in New York and her career as a journalist to take care of her ailing mother. Her once vibrant and lively mother now had cancer, and her father forced her to stay on as caretaker by a trick of guilt. Having two relatives in my family pass away from this dreaded disease, but not a witness to the brutality of it, it was still a difficult book to read, regardless. This isn't only a story about cancer, though; it is also a book about how this young woman's relationship with both her mother and father, change. It's also about how the whole experience changes her as a person. At the beginning of the book, Ellen seemed rather self-absorbed and indignant. I wouldn't have wanted to be her friend. However, as she took care of her mother, and then later took the blame for killing her mother, I found her to be more likable. Only a strong person could have taken the blame for giving her mother too much morphine to put her out of her misery. Why would she do such a thing? I believe she was protecting her father, whom she had thought had given her mother the overdose. However, both father and daughter miscalculated Katherine, the woman whom was fighting the battle of her life. This is a story of courage on both Katherine's part, as well as Ellen's. This is also a book that brings up a very debated and controversial issue: The dignity to die. When one is suffering and in pain, should we be able to give them something to put them to sleep, much like we put our pets out of their misery? It's an issue that's been debated for years, and will still be debated as our health system continues to change. The ending was also done very well, as there weren't lose ends to tie. Ellen found her answer to who killed her mother, and she changed her profession and outlook as well. She had indeed grown from the experience, and what was the most touching thing, was that she got the time to really get to know her mother. She had always been her father's daughter, and for a short time, she became her mother's daughter. One True Thing was a touching and moving story, and what's more is, it makes you think. It is also continued proof of how talented of a writer Anna Quindlen is.
Rating: 
Summary: Decent ending, but thin, weak storytelling along the way
Review: I picked up this book after hearing it mentioned on NPR -- the story of a daughter faced with euthanasia issues with a dying mother sounded interesting. Yet, except for a slight twinkle at the end, it was not a very stimulating read. While a real life situation like the one in the book would be terribly deep and heavy, the book felt surprisingly light and fluffy. This was not a bad book, say like "A Man in Full," but it was a little weak.
Rating: 
Summary: A very thought provoking novel !!!!!
Review: I really enjoyed this book. Of course the subject matter is not enjoyable (terminal illness), however the way her daughter was able to transform her character from a self-centered egotist to a compassionate woman seemed to make the journey more bearable. As a stay-at-home mom, I found it heartwarming that her daughter could come to respect and appreciate her mother and eventually chose a career based on that realization.
Rating:
Summary: Haunting, Vivid and Too Real For Some!
Review: If you can get past the first few pages, One True Thing is a realistic look at the end of life. I would not suggest this book for someone who is still in the greiving stages of losing a loved one from cancer. However, once overcoming the loss (if ever possible) you'll find One True Thing a realistic and engulfing read. Through Ellen, you are able to see the emotions and reactions of friends, family and even oneself, to the numerous and complicated events that a cancer patient, and her family, go through. When you're in the heart of such termoil, your not really able to think, feel or see clearly. One True Thing is a nice way to experience some real reflection, without having to re-live the ultimate tragic end.
Rating:
Summary: Best book I have read in a long time
Review: This book is one of the best books I have read in a long time. I have read one other Anna Quindlen, "Black and Blue" and was not that impressed. I am so glad that I gave her another try in this book. Every step of it was worth it. She dealt with the emotions truly and without any sense of sentimentality. It is a great read for anyone who is not afraid to face their greatest fears and deal with them head on. Ellen develops as a person throughout the course of the book and her transformation is not forced. I would highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: A truly absorbing read
Review: I think this is a truly beautiful story about family relationships. It is wonderfully told and the descriptions of the illness and reactions to it by the different family members rings very true. The ending was neatly tied up, which was very satisfying. I recommend this book to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: amazing
Review: after watching someone close to me die of cancer, this book hit a little to close to home. my mother quit her job to take care of my grandmother and she saw a side to the disease that I never did. This book gave me a window into that world - one which I think we all should see.
Rating:
Summary: §ä¤@¦ì¤ÀÂ÷¤v¤[ªº·R¤H§õ®¦°¶ David Lee
Review: ·q±ÒªÌ: ÁÂÁ§Aªº¯d¨¥ªO¥iµ¹§Ú¯d¨¥µ¹¤@¦ì§Ú©Ò·Rªº¤H ¨Ã¥B§Æ±æ¦p¦³¤H»{Ãѧõ®¦°¶ªº¤H½Ð»P§ÚÁpµ¸ §Ú¤w§ä¥L16¦~¤F,§Æ±æ¥L¯à¬Ý¨ì§ÚªºW¤ß ½Ð³t»P§ÚÁpµ¸ David Lee live in houston 11734 wickchester ln houston tx 77043 I form Taiwan my name is Sydney cheng telephone number is 88633832866
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