Mr. Right and My Left Kidney [Paperback]

Joan Saltzman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 14, 2006

Just when Joan and most of her friends despaired of her ever finding the right guy, there he was on a street corner in Montreal. He wasn't perfect, but who is? They careened over a raft of roadblocks. Through a series of uncanny coincidences the roadblocks crumbled. The baggage each of them had accumulated over the years melted away, valise by valise, until Joan unwittingly found herself in a real relationship for the first time. And then she was faced with a life-changing and perhaps life-threatening choice. This funny, poignant look at the serendipity of finding a life partner is for all who believe in the possibility of discovering true love, even if the price might be a vital organ.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Mr. Right and My Left Kidney is an uproariously funny look at the serendipity of finding true love at any age. Perfect for the person who has everything except hope that they will find a soul mate. And, a book about the issues a donor faces when contemplating giving a spouse or loved one a vital organ, told in a witty, disarming way.

From the Author

When I had all but given up on the possibility of finding the right guy, I looked for funny, uplifting stories like this one that would give me hope. I didn't find many that made me optimistic. When I was considering whether it made sense to give my husband a kidney, I could not find a candid,humorous memoir that would help me to make that decision. This book is for all of the people who feel that there is no hope they will ever find the right person, and for prospective donors who want to read a poignant, true story of a donor's experience.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Peripety Press; 1st edition (November 14, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0978952170
• ISBN-13: 978-0978952174
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #364,302 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great read...funny, smart, inspirational!, November 13, 2006

By 

Nokaoe (Philadelphia, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mr. Right and My Left Kidney (Paperback)

Joan Saltzman's book is as much about hearts as it is about kidneys. It's a quirky love story that also (and almost coincidentally) provides a window into the intimate details of organ transplantation. Joan writes unflinchingly about the medical issues as well as--and especially--the emotional and psychological hurdles that she, as wife/donor, and John, as husband/recipient, had to overcome. And she does it all with such pragmatic, stoic good humor that you will find yourself laughing out loud even at the most critical junctures. The subtext is the story of Joan's life before finally meeting her mate (at age 46!!), vignettes about her childhood and family that are both hilarious and poignant. This book is about a heroic act, but it's also a real story about real people, warts and all; it's heart-warming without being sentimental. I loved reading it!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a terrific read!, November 16, 2006

By 

Constant Reader "Sue" (Dallas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mr. Right and My Left Kidney (Paperback)

I glanced at Mr. Right and My Left Kidney as soon as it arrived and I couldn't put it down. Finished it in two sittings. Saltzman tells her story in a funny, but honest and very moving way. Most enjoyable book I've read in a very long time.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW!, January 12, 2007

By 

Judith Arthur (Rhinebeck, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mr. Right and My Left Kidney (Paperback)

Joan Saltzman's wonderful book is about real people, told candidly with insightful humor about herself, her family, and a culture that told women that if they're not married by age 30 and living happily-ever-after, something must be horribly wrong! The charm of this delightful book is that Joan's voice is an honest voice, and most of us have been in her shoes, even if the particulars are different. Joan did find Mr. Right, and married him. That story would be a great read in and of itself. What's marvelous about Mr. Right and My Left Kidney is that when happily-ever-after gets complicated, the author artfully describes the back-and-forth mental tennis match between what she knows she must do and what she feels about doing it. This book is refreshing precisely because the author doesn't hold back: the good intentions as well as the "not-so-nice" thoughts that all of us experience in loving someone are there for the reading. It's a great book!