Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved by Kate Bowler

9 reviews

kdixon2's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Grief, and Terminal illness

sara_phoenix's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

5.0

 I’ve been in a reading slump and nothing is taking hold.  So why not choose this light & easy read about Kate Bowler, a professor at the Duke Divinity school, author, mother, and wife who was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer! In her 30’s! Should be fun! (Insert sarcasm here). 

 

This book is haunting and beautiful and laugh-out-loud funny and so sad it will make you ugly-cry in the Panera where a nice old man asks you if you’re ok (this really happened). Her words don’t just apply to those suffering from devastating medical diagnoses; she talks honestly about suffering and how to navigate dark moments without losing yourself.  She is tenderly and brutally honest; holding space for humor, anger, questions and doubts, hopes and dreams.  Readers, I felt that I was on a journey with her through each of her thoughts and and this realization was such a gift.  If you have ever been in a dark season; if you’ve ever experienced loss or grief or a terrible diagnosis or hard things, read this book. 

 

Also: as someone who has to give people Bad News daily in my profession, this book is PURE GOLD. If you are in the medical field, this should be required reading. 

Because of Kate, I have new language to use, new ways to show compassion, and have a glimpse – ever so small – that there is no magical cure or treatment or formula, but there is just this: “Life is beautiful. Life is hard.” 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Cancer, Medical content, Grief, Terminal illness, and Death

carriewnettles's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness and Cancer

paulabekkerus's review

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Infertility, Medical content, Terminal illness, Cancer, Chronic illness, and Death

Moderate: Blood, Cursing, and Miscarriage

cholliworth's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Medical content, Death, Terminal illness, and Cancer

lit_with_lauren's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness

avanremoortel's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

2.75

I'm not sure if this was because I was listening to the audio book in short chunks on my commute, but it had a strange arch to the story. I felt like every paragraph was written in a way that made it sound like a concluding paragraph to the chapter. It seemed like the author was trying to make every sentence something that could be quoted. Then I was surprised when I got to the end. It didn't build up to a conclusion the way I was expecting. 

It was interesting to learn about the prosperity gospel. I think I took away more societal level lessons about religion and death. But I was hoping to see more of her individual growth. It was there, but I think it could have been written in a more compelling way. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer and Terminal illness

rosalind's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Medical content, Terminal illness, and Miscarriage

Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, and Religious bigotry

lily1304's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

5.0

Honestly one of the best works of theology I've ever read. I love it. No notes.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Cancer, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Cursing, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Misogyny

Minor: Child death and Religious bigotry