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graciesmom's review
4.0
4 stars out of 5
Our Short History, written by Lauren Grodstein, is a sensitively-written fictional memoir. The book had me at page one and never let go till the end. It’s funny, it’s sad and it’s a well-told tale.
Karen Neulander is writing her life story for her six-year-old son, Jake, as she is suffering from Stage IV ovarian cancer and is not expected to live much longer. Karen is a single parent, having raised Jake from the start. She plans for Jake to live with her sister’s family when she dies, but then the boy’s biological father steps, unexpectedly, back into the picture. Who will gain custody?
Our Short History is a beautifully written book and I would very much recommend it.
Publication Date: 21 Mar 2017
Thanks to Algonquin Books and Netgalley for this Advanced Reading Copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
Our Short History, written by Lauren Grodstein, is a sensitively-written fictional memoir. The book had me at page one and never let go till the end. It’s funny, it’s sad and it’s a well-told tale.
Karen Neulander is writing her life story for her six-year-old son, Jake, as she is suffering from Stage IV ovarian cancer and is not expected to live much longer. Karen is a single parent, having raised Jake from the start. She plans for Jake to live with her sister’s family when she dies, but then the boy’s biological father steps, unexpectedly, back into the picture. Who will gain custody?
Our Short History is a beautifully written book and I would very much recommend it.
Publication Date: 21 Mar 2017
Thanks to Algonquin Books and Netgalley for this Advanced Reading Copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
stephand2449's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars. The premise of this book was interesting and the first chapter and unique style of memoir storytelling pulled me in; however, as the book went on, I found it more predictable than not and, unfortunately, came to like the main character a little less. The ending was touching and caused one tear shed, but I can't say it was a book that will stick with me very long.
christenham's review against another edition
4.0
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Karen Neulander is a successful and powerful political consultant in New York City. She is raising her 6-year-old son Jacob alone and is extremely protective of him. She's been this way ever since conceiving him with someone who made it clear that kids were never part of his life's plan. Karen was diagnosed two years prior with Stage IV Ovarian Cancer, and though she is in remission, she is aware that she will not survive to see Jacob grow up. Because of this, she plans to write a book for Jacob to read when he is older.
While his mom is slowing dying, all Jacob wants to do is know his father. After much begging, he convinces Karen to contact him, and to Karen's surprise, Dave is delighted to find out more about his son and wants to have a relationship with him. A large portion of this book is Karen coming to terms with her need to let Dave be Jacob's dad.
"Our Short History" made me feel almost the entire spectrum of emotions. I really enjoyed the perspective that the book was written from. It was much more powerful than if it was told in a more traditional manner. I've never read anything by Lauren Grodstein before, but I was impressed by how much she made me feel things. My anxiety rose whenever Jacob would have a temper tantrum. When Karen got worked up, I too, felt that same level of anger. And when she felt despair, I felt it.
This book broke my heart in many ways, mostly because my mother is currently fighting cancer herself. I couldn't help but picture my mom writing this same book for her children, and at times I had to put the book down. I'm glad I read it, though, because it brought me a lot of peace.
Karen Neulander is a successful and powerful political consultant in New York City. She is raising her 6-year-old son Jacob alone and is extremely protective of him. She's been this way ever since conceiving him with someone who made it clear that kids were never part of his life's plan. Karen was diagnosed two years prior with Stage IV Ovarian Cancer, and though she is in remission, she is aware that she will not survive to see Jacob grow up. Because of this, she plans to write a book for Jacob to read when he is older.
While his mom is slowing dying, all Jacob wants to do is know his father. After much begging, he convinces Karen to contact him, and to Karen's surprise, Dave is delighted to find out more about his son and wants to have a relationship with him. A large portion of this book is Karen coming to terms with her need to let Dave be Jacob's dad.
"Our Short History" made me feel almost the entire spectrum of emotions. I really enjoyed the perspective that the book was written from. It was much more powerful than if it was told in a more traditional manner. I've never read anything by Lauren Grodstein before, but I was impressed by how much she made me feel things. My anxiety rose whenever Jacob would have a temper tantrum. When Karen got worked up, I too, felt that same level of anger. And when she felt despair, I felt it.
This book broke my heart in many ways, mostly because my mother is currently fighting cancer herself. I couldn't help but picture my mom writing this same book for her children, and at times I had to put the book down. I'm glad I read it, though, because it brought me a lot of peace.
amysbrittain's review against another edition
4.0
4+ stars for me. I really loved this fast and all-encompassing read. The premise is heartbreaking, and not one I'd normally dive in for, but Grodstein resists being emotionally manipulative and crafts what feels like an honest, sometimes very funny, quickly paced yet full story without yanking the reader's chain. It's a character-driven tragedy about preparing for death and telling the truth about a life that doesn't inspire tears or leave you with a cloyingly sweet taste in your mouth from end-of-life gems of inspiration. Karen is really faulted and smart and kickass, and is a really appealing character to see through to the end.
lorettalucia's review against another edition
4.0
This book takes the form of a mother--dying in a when-not-if way from ovarian cancer--writing an extended letter for her son to read as an adult. It is far, far funnier than I would have expected given the subject matter. Karen, the narrator, is spunky, snide and sometimes kind of spiteful. Also, rather than being a tearjerker, I found the emotion I identified with the most in the novel was Karen's rage--at her cancer, and at the man her broke her heart and gave her her son.
Definitely a page turner that I enjoyed. 4 stars.
Definitely a page turner that I enjoyed. 4 stars.
mrsbethryan's review against another edition
1.0
So I thought this would be interesting as I work with families who go through terminal illness. Was I ever wrong. The main character was very selfish and was worried that her ex would take her son away on the ONLY fact he was a lawyer and there was nothing to support that claim. Her behavior was very weird and frustrating at times.
marshaskrypuch's review against another edition
4.0
This is an absolutely devastating memoir written by a dying mother to her son. It will break your heart but will also show you that love can transcend even death.
hmonkeyreads's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 overall. Well written and it makes you feel exactly what a 43 year old single woman dying of ovarian cancer feels especially in regards to her six year old son.
But I ask you, do you want to spend your free time feeling how she feels?
Me neither.
The author did a great job but only read if you are in the mood for something like this.
But I ask you, do you want to spend your free time feeling how she feels?
Me neither.
The author did a great job but only read if you are in the mood for something like this.
mindfullibrarian's review
5.0
Oh, the tears. I spent the last 10% of this book trying to read through the tears dropping onto my Kindle, but I just couldn't stop reading. I inhaled this book in just 2 sittings and it tore at my heart. It gets to the very core of motherhood and womanhood and the very essence of life and just needs to be read. The letter-style makes it incredibly fast reading and impossible to put down. Highly highly recommend.
I received a digital ARC of this book from Net Galley - all opinions are my own.
I received a digital ARC of this book from Net Galley - all opinions are my own.
karieh13's review
3.0
“In the dark, from her hiding space under the pillow, Allie squeezed my hand, and the old platinum ring on my thumb, and we fell asleep pondering the condition of being mothers, which was, of course, the condition of helping the people you love the most in the world leave you.”
Karen, the main character of “Our Short Story” – is a mother. Her son, Jake, will not have the chance to grow up and leave her, because she is dying. She must leave him, and she writes her story, and their too short story, in order to give him a chance to know her once she is gone. This is a heartbreaking book, about the intensity of a mother’s love, and about a woman trying to do everything she can to prepare to leave the world and everything she holds dear.
She has Stage 4 ovarian cancer, and an undefined but short time to live. A single mother, she is doing all she can to ready her son for a new life without her while fiercely trying to wring out every last experience and memory of her own life. She has planned for Jake to live with her sister Allie, in Seattle…until Jake’s father enters the picture again and she is forced to deal with the unexpected feelings not only of hers, but of Jake’s and the man who never knew he was a father.
There is so much pain in this story – some physical, mostly emotional. As a mother myself, it was impossible for me to not imagine myself in Karen’s place – desperate to stay with a child you love more than life itself while having to plan for your child’s life after you’re gone. The reader experiences Karen’s frustration, exhaustion, denial and final the start to her release & acceptance.
The story starts out about her but evolves into the story of Jake – where his life will lead and how he will grow up with the people Karen has gathered to help raise him. What Jake’s memories and stories will be about the woman who bore him and raised him in the time she had on Earth.
She has done her best for him, and realizes she needs to trust in the other people who love him. “I hope that wherever and whenever this book finds you, it finds you as happy as you were at that moment – as the two of us were, the three of us, even. Eating pizza around the kitchen table, no big deal, a Thursday night. Remember that we loved each other. And that once upon a time it was the two of us, and we were our own magical family.”
As Karen starts to let go, the reader must as well – not with the ending anyone wanted, but with an ending where it belongs – at peace. In the end, it is not about the life that Karen has given her son, but what his life has given her. “And thank you for being eternal, so that when the time comes – whenever it comes – I will find the strength to close my eyes.”
Karen, the main character of “Our Short Story” – is a mother. Her son, Jake, will not have the chance to grow up and leave her, because she is dying. She must leave him, and she writes her story, and their too short story, in order to give him a chance to know her once she is gone. This is a heartbreaking book, about the intensity of a mother’s love, and about a woman trying to do everything she can to prepare to leave the world and everything she holds dear.
She has Stage 4 ovarian cancer, and an undefined but short time to live. A single mother, she is doing all she can to ready her son for a new life without her while fiercely trying to wring out every last experience and memory of her own life. She has planned for Jake to live with her sister Allie, in Seattle…until Jake’s father enters the picture again and she is forced to deal with the unexpected feelings not only of hers, but of Jake’s and the man who never knew he was a father.
There is so much pain in this story – some physical, mostly emotional. As a mother myself, it was impossible for me to not imagine myself in Karen’s place – desperate to stay with a child you love more than life itself while having to plan for your child’s life after you’re gone. The reader experiences Karen’s frustration, exhaustion, denial and final the start to her release & acceptance.
The story starts out about her but evolves into the story of Jake – where his life will lead and how he will grow up with the people Karen has gathered to help raise him. What Jake’s memories and stories will be about the woman who bore him and raised him in the time she had on Earth.
She has done her best for him, and realizes she needs to trust in the other people who love him. “I hope that wherever and whenever this book finds you, it finds you as happy as you were at that moment – as the two of us were, the three of us, even. Eating pizza around the kitchen table, no big deal, a Thursday night. Remember that we loved each other. And that once upon a time it was the two of us, and we were our own magical family.”
As Karen starts to let go, the reader must as well – not with the ending anyone wanted, but with an ending where it belongs – at peace. In the end, it is not about the life that Karen has given her son, but what his life has given her. “And thank you for being eternal, so that when the time comes – whenever it comes – I will find the strength to close my eyes.”