Customer Reviews

Angels In Italy: A True Story of a Cancer Survivor

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have only known 2 women with breast cancer - one died and one survived. My friend that died tried to talk to me and she did show me her mastectomy scars but I was too young (22) and naive to really pay attention. The friend that survived hid a lot from me as she was having a very hard time dealing with it herself. Her family had a high incidence of cancer and all she could see ahead was death.
But after reading Susan's book, I realized how much more emotion there is involved and how somtimes you have to keep it inside and avoid it to deal with it. I am so glad Susan finally had the courage to talk about her ordeal and to overcome the trama after all these years.
Ok, I admit, I do know Susan and was there. But she kept it hidden from me for the entire year. I knew she had cancer and was getting radiation and chemo but that was all I knew. She hid everything else, even when I tried to get her to talk about it.
I am so proud to be her friend and even prouder that she wrote this book so all could learn and benefit from her ordeal but even more so she could recover. This is a wonderful book and shares so much insight that is very seldom revealed.
Thank you, Susan, from all of us but expecially from me for finally talking and taking the very last step to recovery.

Angels in Itlay. An inspiring story of a cancer srvior. i believe this story has truth to life behind it. When Susan had a repeted dream, knowing that she didnt know anything about what she was about to experience. The Love, as in the Italian man Giovanni. The hate,of the family. Anger, which she felt on many occasions. And dissapointment in docters, treatments,ect. Meeting new people is very hard, especially in another part of the world. Susan is a very strong person in this book. But after meeting her i found out shes stronger. She had her ups and downs. but after that her life turned out good. shes a very healthy person, and up beat. I think shes a sweet woman. with a very good hearted. And anyone thats met her and thats been in her presence will just fill 10 times better about them selves and their life. This story told me to take day by day to its fullest. And to make your dreams come true. and never say you cant do anything. because you can! ANd only you can make yourself fill good in the long run. I would pass this book on to anyone. this book says alot you just got to open your eyes.

Susan Hayes has written an inspiring story about surviving breast cancer. She travels to Italy and falls in love with an empathetic, charming Italian man. The book should be read by all women!! It's not only a tale about a strong, breast cancer survivor, but a wonderful love story.

This is the story of Susan Hayes journeying through the valley of the shadow that is breast cancer with an unusual twist: her discovery of the cancer is made in the middle of her romance with an Italian she had met during a trip to Italy. The story has its ups and downs. The romance has a fairy tale quality, and the Italian, Giovanni, comes off in a more positive light than you might expect (if you believe the stereotypes of Italian men.) Not only does he discover the what turns out to be the cancerous lump, but is he is also supportive and wants to be with Susan through her ordeal. Giovanni also wants to marry Susan come what may. Giovanni's mother had succumbed to breast cancer, making him sensitive and compassionate toward the woman he loved. Susan, however, having had issues with a dysfunctional family, has been used to being her own support system. In her mind, her survival depends on her focusing on that survival to the exclusion of all else including several of her relationships. I am not one to judge; I believe that in such a situation, you have to do what it takes to make it through, and I understand how hard it is to accept care and help when you have always been the one to give care and help. Understanding Susan's self-contained psychology, however, helped me to understand the third person narrative that I found somewhat affected and downright irritating (which is why I gave the book 4 stars) until I realized before the last few chapters, that such a self-contained person might have a difficult time telling her story as herself, when she had such a hard time telling friends that she had cancer or was a cancer survivor. Susan comes out as herself in the last four chapters, finally speaking in the first person. Her story is ultimately hopeful, and she does survive with regrets intact. I read the book for its Italian connection, not because I or anyone I know have had any experience with breast cancer. I, too loved Giovanni. She is lucky to have had such a supportive lover at such a time.
I do have another small quibble: Did this lady have an editor or was this book self-published? It is hard to believe that an editor would not have caught the following sentence for its muddled grammar: "After being soaked with so many chemicals, her doctor wanted her to wait for a couple of months before she poured more on her head." (Her doctor was soaked with chemicals? No wonder she needed a second opinion!)
Because the book has a hopeful message that life can go on after cancer, and because the early portions of the book read like a fairy tale, providing some escape for someone on a similar journey, I would recommend this book to any woman dealing with breast cancer. I would even give my copy to someone I knew if she were going through it (and I like to keep all of my books dealing with Italian subjects.).