Customer Reviews

Lisa's Story: The Other Shoe

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I lost my mother to breast cancer on September 13, 2004. She was 52, and, like the main character of "Lisa's Story," her cancer had been in remission for many years until it unexpectedly metastasized. My mother, an artist, violinist, and sculptor, attended Kent State University with Tom Batiuk, the creator of "Lisa's Story" (and Tom's some-time collaborator, Chuck Ayers). Batiuk styles much of his fictional world off of my native northeast Ohio, and so the familiarity of his characters made me a fan at an early age. As I have grown, his characters have grown, and the scope of his storylines have grown along with them. "Lisa's Story" is perhaps the crowning achievement of this constant evolution, profound, compassionate, hopeful, and very, very real.

I could not help but think of my mother as I followed the story of Lisa's battle with cancer as it unfolded in the Cleveland Plain Dealer over the past several years. As soon as this collection came out, I made a point of buying it and reading the whole story from start to finish.

It was a hard read, not because Batiuk had erred in any sense as a storyteller. Rather, this book was hard to finish because Batiuk had succeeded so completely in capturing the rollercoaster ride that is life with cancer with such utter pathos and clarity. I was weeping by the end. Don't be surprised if you're weeping, too. But don't let the tears scare you. The moral of the story is something you should take to heart, whether your life has been touched with cancer or whether you have had the great good fortune to dodge that terrible bullet. Buy this book. Read it. You will never think the Sunday funnies are just trivial confections again.

After reading this book, I felt a profound sorrow. Because of a comic strip character? While the character Lisa Moore is fictional, her experience with breast cancer rings so true! (I'm a survivor and a Reach to Recovery volunteer, so I know whereof I speak!).

From find the lump, going through surgery and treatment, Tom Batiuk explores Lisa's emotions and those of her husband Les. And GETS IT SO RIGHT! You feel her heartbreak when the cancer returns. And you feel, too, her pain as she agonizes over her treatment decisions, and wanting to leave a legacy for her daughter.

Many kudos to Tom Batiuk for being brave enough to turning the cancer experience into a strip, and treating it with poignancy, humor and love. You will love the fighting spirit of Lisa Moore - what she goes through is what women diagnosed with cancer go through, every day.

I have never read a book that could make me laugh and cry all within 2 pages of it. I read "Lisa's story" for the first time in the comic strips and fell in love with Funky Winkerbean. Now every Sunday I look forward to getting the Sunday paper just so I can read it first thing and see where Tom Batiuk is taking the characters next. It's great having the whole collection because now I can see what happens in between the Sunday ones and it actually makes me feel like I'm living the story. I really genuinely feel like I knew Lisa and when I read the line "She's gone" I cried. The imagery that Tom Batiuk used to portray her dying was incredible because it's like saying that we don't know where exactly we go when we die or whose face we're going to see on the other side, but it's comforting in a way and when she said "I love you" as her last words, talk about rip your heart out. I also love Summer and how she reacted to her mommy being sick and then her passing, it definetly reminds you of the innocence of a child. You also feel so bad for Les losing Lisa like that after being by her side and sometimes you forget that it's not just the woman going through it, but it affects the whole family. Bravo to Tom for having him stick by her through the whole ordeal. I highly recommend anyone male or female to buy this story, it's like making a new friend that you can see anytime and grieve with. Also, if you're going through it or know someone who is, it helps you to understand how they are feeling and know that you're not alone. BRAVO TOM BATIUK, you're story of Lisa is very inspiring!!!!!

I had already been reading "Funky Winkerbean" on a regular basis and had read the first series, when Lisa was "cured," so kept reading as the second story unfolded.

One day I saw something on t.v. about how some people thought this comic strip was good, but some thought it didn't belong in a comic strip. I also saw an article about it in the newspaper. That prompted me to go on line at "Funky Winkerbean" and there I discovered the book(s) that had been written. I ordered the book and received it right away. The story hasn't quite ended yet, but I can keep up and look back to clarify what was is/was happening. I'm so glad I got it because I wasn't able to see the strip every day, but had the book and could follow along.

As I said in my title, this book is very heart-warming but also has reference materials avaible for those suffering breast cancer. I've read it over several times, and each time I cry. Every time I read the strip, I also get tears in my eyes.

This story makes you actually feel a part of Lisa's life, its ups and downs, etc. You feel as if you actually know her and are a part of her family and community. I also enjoy the other storylines in the strip.

I would encourage everyone to buy this book. I loved it!!

I read an article about this book in Heal magazine, the magazine for cancer survivors. I am a 1 year Non Hodgkins Lymphoma survivor. When I received the book, I couldn't put it down. I read it through in one sitting. This is a great story for everyone-cancer victims, survivors, caregivers and anyone who wants to learn just a little bit more about patient's emotions. You don't have to have breast cancer to read this. It gives people who don't have cancer a greater understanding of what we go through.
I cried after reading this story-not for me, but for all the Lisa's out there and especially for the husband she leaves behind. I found myself worrying about her husband and the wonderful way he took care of her.
What a sensitive, thoughtful and caring story!

Lisa's Story: The Other Shoe

I followed Lisa's story online, but I had to have the book, the whole story. I just got it today and I wept as I read it, so deeply touched that I felt as if I lived it with her. Tom Batiuk brought her and all those around her to life and wrote a powerful story. Buy this book, buy it for all the Lisa's out there.

I started reading Funky Winkerbean back when Funky, Les & his pals were teenagers in high school. After a while I no longer had access to the strip so had not known about their grown-up years. About a year or so ago, I found the strip online and I now read it daily. This was a joy to read Lisa & Les's story. I imagine it must have been well received by those who have breast CA or know someone who does. I plan to save it to reread & share with friends. Kudos to Tom Batiuk for his sensitive and insightful strip.

This was a great book, I had been keeping sporadic watch for the strips as they originally came out in the paper, but this puts them all together in one cohesive story. It brings you through all the emotions one goes through when one has breast cancer or otherwise (I had a lump in my breast which when biopsied was benign...whew!) and I was crying before I was halfway through the book. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone (it also has great references in the back of the book for support groups and alternatives) who might know of somebody (or themselves) who is going through a potential scare like this one.

Having been with a close friend who as found a lump, opted for double masectomy, been declared 'in remission' only to have it recur, spread and ultimately overtake her, Batiuk really captures the whole experience--the good, the bad, the sad, and the infuriating (even the lab bungle reads as it happened to my friend).

If you've lost anyone to breast cancer, this will cut deeply. But it is worth it. It's a story that is true, and very well told. Keep the tissues nearby.

What an easy way to spread the word about breast csncer...and how a significant other male can offer patient loving support through this kind of crisis. If there is a woman in your life, buy this for both of you, you'll never regret it.