So, at 1:00am this morning, I woke up to The Breadwinner puking praying to the shit bowl porcelain god. Then Jr. Peanut woke up, so I went to go nurse him...only to have him hurl chunks on my boob. After such trauma, I couldn't go back to sleep, so I decided to finish the best book I've read in a long time...My Sister's Keeper.
It's about a young girl, Anna, that was genetically engineered and conceived in order to save her older sister,Kate from the throes of APL Leukemia. For 13 years, Anna donated various parts of her body to her sister in order to keep her alive. Finally, when Kate's kidneys start to fail, Anna decides that enough is enough -- she doesn't want to donate any part of her body anymore. With the help of a lawyer, Anna sues her parents for medical emancipation from her parents.
The book is uniquely written and told through the eyes of each person in the family and those involved in the trial. The family struggled for 13 years to cope with the possibility Kate's death. It's a circumstance that severly affects the lives of each family member. Jesse, the brother, feels invisible and turns to truancy to cope and seek attention. Anna, is trapped by her sister's health--never allowed to leave or live her own life because she's had to give numerous blood, marrow, and other donations. Sara, the mother, is torn between saving one child and sacrificing another. Brian, the father, feels that what they are doing to Anna is wrong, but still wants Kate to live.
Throughout the story, I kept thinking that Sara should give up and let her daughter die because of the profound affect of Kate's looming death has had on her family. But then I thought-- wouldn't I do the same thing? Isn't it easy to get caught up in trying to take care of one person and somehow put other people second? I cried so hard and it made me think of what has happened in my own life...
After The Princess was born but before JR Peanut, I had 3 miscarriages. The first was the hardest for me. I had gone in for an ultrasound at 10 weeks and saw the heartbeat. The doctor told me that the baby looked a little small and scheduled me to come in two weeks later. When I went to the second appointment, the doctor found no heartbeat. He told me I could let the baby pass on its own or I could get a D and C. Then he patted my shoulder and said sorry. He left me alone in the room and it all sank in. I cried... a lot. I chose to let the baby pass on its own. Bad idea. My body didn't release it until three weeks later while my daughter and I were suffering from the flu. It was like a horrible period with HUGE clots. Anyway, I kind of lived through a fog for the next few months. The Princess could tell I was sad (kids pick up on these things quickly) and she would pat me when I was sad. I had two more miscarriages that didn't affect me as much but still saddened me. I was so caught up in it, I think that I didn't get to enjoy The Princess. I didn't pay as much attention and I was focused on having a second/coping with the realization that I may not be able to have more kids... kind of like how Sara (in the book) built her life around trying to keep Kate alive.
So, long story short...read this book (keep a box of tissues handy)! I'm grateful that I don't have to face the kind of challenges posed in the book.
Atonement by Ian McEwan--This book was a little bit difficult to get into. I didn't get interested until about page 100. The author uses a lot of thoughts and scenery description. I personally need some dialogue to move me through a book. It's a very sad and depressing book about a young girl that witnesses an act-- two acts actually that will change her life, her sister's life and the life of her sister's love forever. I didn't really care for the book and I'm not sure why it was chosen as book of the year by so many publications. I don't recommend it and I don't recommend the movie either.
Swapping Lives by Jane Green--This was a book about a single thirty something woman that thinks the grass is greener for women that are married and have children. After swapping lives with a mom that has those things and more, she learns to appreciate her life. This book was a quick "chick lit" book. It's not as good as her other novels (i.e. Jemima J).
The Pact by Jodi Picoult--The Pact is about a boy and a girl that grow up together because their moms became best friends when they became neighbors. Eventually, they became boyfriend and girlfriend. The two kids were so close (almost like twins) until their world came apart because of an apparent suicide pact between the two kids. This was a good book, but I actually expected a lot out of it because everyone told me how good it was. I kind of thought it was a little hokey, but it's a great summer read.
I Don't Know How She Does It by Allison Pearson--I actually liked this book despite the mixed reviews on Amazon.com. However, I did not like the ending. I think in truth, working mothers do suffer from having to do almost too much and this book is kind of an anthem for working moms. It's about a working mom struggling to make it in a predominantly male industry and the guilt she suffers because she's a working mom.
Best Friends by Martha Moody--This book was recommended to me by Sacto Girl and was chosen by someone in one of my book clubs. It was a great read. It's long but goes by fast. It's about two women that form an unlikely friendship that spans a couple decades and many tragedies. I'd recommend it.
