Dance When the Brain Says No [Paperback]

Mary Kathleen Price (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 2009

"Dance When the Brain Says No" is a mother's poignant memoir about her young daughter, Leslie, and her valiant battle against brain cancer. The heart and soul of this tender story are found in Leslie's own words expressed in poetry, journal entries, and letters. We learn firsthand how one remarkable young woman faces the terror of a disease that threatens to destroy the very essence of who she is. How Leslie, her family, and friends react to her illness provides a revealing look into our human response to fear and the potential we have for extraordinary courage.

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Forest Dale Publishing Company (August 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0984163603
• ISBN-13: 978-0984163601
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,732,804 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A young woman's journey with a brain tumour, December 25, 2009

By 

Denis Strangman "www.theibta.org" (Canberra, ACT, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dance When the Brain Says No (Paperback)

This is a book by a mother whose vivacious and strong-willed daughter developed a medulloblastoma brain tumour when she was 19 and died from it two and half years later. It is based around writings (letters, notes and poems) by the daughter, Leslie Doyle, and a narrative by her mother Kathleen. Chapters about Leslie's life before the emergence of the tumour alternate with chapters about her journey with the tumour. It is a story about Leslie, Kathleen, her then husband Mike, their adopted son Dan, and the various people who were part of this journey - medicos, health professionals, College friends, boyfriends, and even those who only had brief walk-on parts.

It is an intensely sad but rewarding book. I read it in one sitting on Christmas Day, the book having arrived unexpectedly via Amazon on Christmas Eve.

5.0 out of 5 stars Of interest to any seeking inspirational cancer memoirs, November 10, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dance When the Brain Says No (Paperback)

The human spirit has an undeniable tendency to tell cancer to shove it. "Dance When the Brain Says No" is the memoir of a mother who reflects on her daughter's brain tumor diagnosis, her determination to live her life in spite of the disease, and the inspiration her tenacity brought to bear. "Dance When the Brain Says No" will be of interest to anyone seeking inspirational cancer memoirs.

5.0 out of 5 stars More than just a memoir, September 11, 2009

By 

B. Hassler (Bethesda, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dance When the Brain Says No (Paperback)

I read this book from cover to cover without a break. It held my attention because of the tension set up by the author by the juxtaposition of chapters about the diagnosis and treatment of a young woman's brain cancer with chapters about her life leading up to the diagnosis. One knows that the illness is coming while Leslie is leading a life of excitement and promise after graduating from high school, completely unaware of what is to come. Leslie's own poems and essays and heart-wrenching journals are interspersed. I hope that her mother's gripping memoir will help bring to light the contributions that Leslie would undoubtedly have brought to the world had she lived.