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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
2.5 Well written for sure, but not the fun read people have been advertising. It’s a cancer memoir with a favorable outcome.
Reeling from the loss of her sister and husband, writer Delia Ephron relays her story as she is diagnosed with the same leukemia that took her sister’s life. This was overall a good read. It was in parts unnecessarily defensive and some of the romance parts were a bit much, but it was a great story of survival.
A reflective, gripping, tragic yet hopeful, well written and beautifully narrated memoir (recommend the audiobook). I love that this author offers a story with a mix of events and emotions and from the viewpoint and voice of an older generation. You can't help but feel for Delia, examine what you would do in a similar situation, and generally reflect on how terrible and amazing our lives on this earth can be. She's genuinely entertaining, thoughtful, loving and true to herself.
Here's my one, large, issue with this book. Delia is privileged. Extremely privileged. She acknowledges this 1-2 times in the book at small points and notes "luck" as part of her story - it's all privilege. Delia has an amazing cast of friends and connections around her. No doubt due to her being a good friend and person, but also her personal and family connections through business. Those connections and that support ultimately help save her. And she has money - apparent in so many of the chapters of her story - where she lives, where and how she travels, access to medical care, etc. While her story is compelling to read, I couldn't help but think to myself "Dear God, if this is what it took (lot of work and suffering) for this very well off and well connected woman to get through this and have a quality of life, my family would have no chance. No chance of getting that level of Dr., no chance of having that level of personal support." Perhaps I am (hopefully) wrong, but this reflection on my part downturned the memoir more into an interesting personal story. It stops at having reflection, a view point, a call to action to a certain extent because it dips into being unrelatable with privilege.
Here's my one, large, issue with this book. Delia is privileged. Extremely privileged. She acknowledges this 1-2 times in the book at small points and notes "luck" as part of her story - it's all privilege. Delia has an amazing cast of friends and connections around her. No doubt due to her being a good friend and person, but also her personal and family connections through business. Those connections and that support ultimately help save her. And she has money - apparent in so many of the chapters of her story - where she lives, where and how she travels, access to medical care, etc. While her story is compelling to read, I couldn't help but think to myself "Dear God, if this is what it took (lot of work and suffering) for this very well off and well connected woman to get through this and have a quality of life, my family would have no chance. No chance of getting that level of Dr., no chance of having that level of personal support." Perhaps I am (hopefully) wrong, but this reflection on my part downturned the memoir more into an interesting personal story. It stops at having reflection, a view point, a call to action to a certain extent because it dips into being unrelatable with privilege.
Thank you to LibroFM and Hachette Audio for an audio version of Delia Ephron’s memoir, Left on Tenth: A Second Chance at Life.
Delia Ephron, the youngest sister in the famous writing/show biz Ephron family, has written a memoir that is primarily focused on finding late-in-life love and facing the same type of leukemia that killed her beloved sister, Nora.
Left on Tenth begins with the loss of Ephron’s husband Jerry, whom she had been married to for nearly forty years. This monumental loss and life change sent Ephron into a deep grief as she learned to cope with her post-Jerry life. After writing an article on her loss, she is contacted by Peter, a psychiatrist living in California, who felt a connection to Ephron’s grief, having lost his own wife. Even more surprising, Peter had been on a date with Ephron when they were in College, which Ephron did not remember. They reconnect through emails, which eventually progress to phone calls, and quickly, a meet-up in person. Their connection is magnetic and their courtship is brief, as they decide to get married and Peter moves to New York to be with Ephron. They are both in their early 70’s and eager to enjoy their time together.
Soon after marriage, Ephron is diagnosed with the same aggressive leukemia that killed her older sister, plunging her into a long battle with cancer, which also coincided with the pandemic. Newly married, their life is once again, turned upside down with illness, fear, and uncertainty.
Left on Tenth is a heartfelt memoir on taking chances on love and the importance of the relationships we develop with others. In Ephron’s case, this goes beyond her husband and family, to include deep friendships. She never had children, but she plays a mother-like role to several young women in her life, bonds that she holds dear. I come from a very small family and I saw this play out when my aunt and uncle, who did not have children, grew older. Their friends became a vital part of their care and connection to the wider world. It made me keenly aware of the need to cherish and grow all of the relationships in our lives, especially when times are good. We need to show up for each other.
The audio book is read by Ephron, which I appreciated. Hearing her tell her own story added an important dynamic. Despite being heavy with intense situations, Ephron also has a keen sense of humor, which shines through in both her writing and vocal intonation. A memorable scene includes her frustrations with a phone company in the wake of her husband’s death. As someone who has had to handle the affairs of several deceased loved ones, I can relate to the ridiculous and mind-numbing frustrations that occur when closing out accounts.
I highly recommend Left on Tenth. It’s a reminder that although life can be harsh and unfair, there are also wondrous and beautiful moments especially those found through connections with others. Also, don’t sell yourself short, as incredible things can and do happen at all stages in life, including new relationships, new adventures, and new projects. Life does not happen on a preset timeline.
Delia Ephron, the youngest sister in the famous writing/show biz Ephron family, has written a memoir that is primarily focused on finding late-in-life love and facing the same type of leukemia that killed her beloved sister, Nora.
Left on Tenth begins with the loss of Ephron’s husband Jerry, whom she had been married to for nearly forty years. This monumental loss and life change sent Ephron into a deep grief as she learned to cope with her post-Jerry life. After writing an article on her loss, she is contacted by Peter, a psychiatrist living in California, who felt a connection to Ephron’s grief, having lost his own wife. Even more surprising, Peter had been on a date with Ephron when they were in College, which Ephron did not remember. They reconnect through emails, which eventually progress to phone calls, and quickly, a meet-up in person. Their connection is magnetic and their courtship is brief, as they decide to get married and Peter moves to New York to be with Ephron. They are both in their early 70’s and eager to enjoy their time together.
Soon after marriage, Ephron is diagnosed with the same aggressive leukemia that killed her older sister, plunging her into a long battle with cancer, which also coincided with the pandemic. Newly married, their life is once again, turned upside down with illness, fear, and uncertainty.
Left on Tenth is a heartfelt memoir on taking chances on love and the importance of the relationships we develop with others. In Ephron’s case, this goes beyond her husband and family, to include deep friendships. She never had children, but she plays a mother-like role to several young women in her life, bonds that she holds dear. I come from a very small family and I saw this play out when my aunt and uncle, who did not have children, grew older. Their friends became a vital part of their care and connection to the wider world. It made me keenly aware of the need to cherish and grow all of the relationships in our lives, especially when times are good. We need to show up for each other.
The audio book is read by Ephron, which I appreciated. Hearing her tell her own story added an important dynamic. Despite being heavy with intense situations, Ephron also has a keen sense of humor, which shines through in both her writing and vocal intonation. A memorable scene includes her frustrations with a phone company in the wake of her husband’s death. As someone who has had to handle the affairs of several deceased loved ones, I can relate to the ridiculous and mind-numbing frustrations that occur when closing out accounts.
I highly recommend Left on Tenth. It’s a reminder that although life can be harsh and unfair, there are also wondrous and beautiful moments especially those found through connections with others. Also, don’t sell yourself short, as incredible things can and do happen at all stages in life, including new relationships, new adventures, and new projects. Life does not happen on a preset timeline.
This book came along at the right time for me. Reading about cancer is tough, but reading it while you’re living it is something else.
This is about Ephron losing her husband, meeting a new man and starting a romance all before a leukemia diagnosis. The suffering is detailed and familiar but the hope is also evident.
This is about Ephron losing her husband, meeting a new man and starting a romance all before a leukemia diagnosis. The suffering is detailed and familiar but the hope is also evident.
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer
challenging
emotional
funny
medium-paced
i’m just happy she’s alive and well-loved by those around her :) + bonus points for all the medical jargon, it was fun to learn while reading
*full review up on my instagram!*
*full review up on my instagram!*
emotional
hopeful
reflective