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Book Reviews of The Spare Room

The Spare Room
The Spare Room
Author: Helen Garner
ISBN-13: 9780805088885
ISBN-10: 0805088881
Publication Date: 2/3/2009
Pages: 192
Rating:
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 12

3.5 stars, based on 12 ratings
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Book Type: Hardcover
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

3 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

reviewed The Spare Room on + 330 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I almost gave up on this book. Just could not handle one more friend with cancer book. But when I gave this book one more chance, I realized that this book of fiction reads more like a memoir from the point of view that sometimes when a person is battling for their life, it can really annoy the crap out of you. And thats ok.

We meet Helen as she is preparing her spare room for a friend that is coming to town to undergo three weeks of cancer treatment. How hard could that be, just provide some support and comfort and then Nicola will go home to be with her family. As Helen accompanies Nicola to the Theodore Institute she realizes that her friend of 15 years is being swindled by charlatans. How do you convince a friend that she is being harmed when she herself feels that if she just holds on a little longer a miracle will happen?

Helen must now make the choice between her personal opinion and supporting her friend. How do you hold yourself in check and watch your friend make a truly life threatening decision? Told in a soul searching and at times very funny way, Helen helps her friend live her life and prepare for her death. And to learn that sometimes you cant make choices for others and you just have to hang on and cherish what little part of themselves that they are willing to share with you.
reviewed The Spare Room on + 3 more book reviews
What a beautiful novel-Oh, if we could all have friends and be friends like those women in this book!
leahv avatar reviewed The Spare Room on + 11 more book reviews
This is a heartfelt book about a woman caring for her friend with cancer. Kept my interest and I finished reading it in one day. It is a shorter book.