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bhnmt61's review against another edition
5.0
Kate Bowler’s thoughtful book about her experience with Stage IV colon cancer. It is short, and it is not particularly well organized, but it is sometimes funny, often heartbreaking, always honest. And it grapples with the same questions I would be asking if I were in her situation—the questions that I DO ask about the two dear friends I’ve lost to cancer. The questions anyone would ask. Bowler is a professor at Duke divinity school and her specialty is research into the prosperity gospel, so she has some interesting insights into the typical responses that people have to tragedy. Especially helpful are the two lists at the end- one of things NOT to say to someone with cancer, and one of things TO say/do. Loved it.
jfrie65's review against another edition
5.0
This book is beautifully written and FUNNY. I laughed several times and also cried.
andymanion2's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
cathyj625's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
4.0
I loved how she really made me think about how much the prosperity gospel has invaded my own belief system, even as much as I am against it. Definite food for thought!
hilary_weckstein's review against another edition
4.0
Hits a little different for me!
This - “I am stuck in present tense. With a scan around every corner, I have lost the ability to make extended plans, to reach into the future and speak its language. “
And - “The horror of cancer has made everything seem like it is painted in bright colors. I think the same thoughts again and again: Life is so beautiful. Life is so hard”
This - “I am stuck in present tense. With a scan around every corner, I have lost the ability to make extended plans, to reach into the future and speak its language. “
And - “The horror of cancer has made everything seem like it is painted in bright colors. I think the same thoughts again and again: Life is so beautiful. Life is so hard”
jess_mango's review against another edition
4.0
As someone who has gone through some fertility issues, I've grown to dislike the phrase "everything happens for a reason". I am not a very religious person so it rankled me that people thought that there was a divine reason why I wasn't getting pregnant.
In the book "Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved" , a 35-year old divinity professor is diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer and contemplates how this relates to her spirituality. The book is less about her personal experience with cancer and much more about God and how religion deals with the questions of "why do people get sick?" and "how does religion help people get better?" She talks about mega-churches, the "prosperity gospel" and their claims to heal the sick. I found this to be an interesting read about how some religions think about sickness & health.
In the book "Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved" , a 35-year old divinity professor is diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer and contemplates how this relates to her spirituality. The book is less about her personal experience with cancer and much more about God and how religion deals with the questions of "why do people get sick?" and "how does religion help people get better?" She talks about mega-churches, the "prosperity gospel" and their claims to heal the sick. I found this to be an interesting read about how some religions think about sickness & health.