Customer Reviews

Saying it Out Loud

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

 

 

I read Go And Come Back and was excited to discover Abelove's second novel. It is surprising what a departure this book takes from her first in terms of setting and subject; but like her first book, Saying It Out Loud is a wonderful read. It shifts back and forth between current and past memories, despair and hope, pain and humour. I found myself smiling through my tears at many points in this book. Although the plot, a mother dying of cancer, is decidedly dark, the story manages to be sweet and funny and tender and sad without being maudlin. Saying It Out Loud definitely has a lasting impact.

This is such a surprising and wonderful book. It's about Mindy's search for solid ground while her mother is dying. I cried and I laughed, but more than that, I marveled. No sentimentality, but plenty of real feeling, real heart, and real insight. I was stunned when I read about Mindy, combing her mother's hair in the hospital while worrying about jiggling her mother's brain tumor. I was delighted by the report by Mindy's friend's younger brother about "The Three Told Sloth." There are dozens of perfect moments like these woven through SAYING IT OUT LOUD. I'm richer and wiser for having read this book, and you will be too.

Mindy is a high school student, living with her mother and father. She's always thought things were pretty good and pretty normal with her family, although she hasn't really related well to her father since she was a child. He doesn't seem to listen to her much at all, and she misses the closeness they used to have when she was little. It doesn't matter all that much to her, though.

But now Mindy's mother is dying of a brain tumor. When she was first sick and would complain about feeling so awful, Mindy was a typical teenager toward her. She thought her mother was being overly dramatic and faking how bad things were. Mindy never believed there was something really wrong until her mother was very sick in the hospital and fading fast.

Mindy is wracked with guilt over the way she has treated her mother lately, and she can't seem to come to terms with the fact that her mother is dying. Her father spends all of his time at the hospital and has grown even more distant from Mindy, who really needs his support. How will she be able to get through this and go on after her mother is gone?

I liked that things didn't all work out in the end of this book. It was a pretty realistic ending, where there was no miracle to make everything all better. I liked how the book showed Mindy trying to get on with her life and be a normal person, even though there was always a part of her thinking about her mother's death.

It seemed as though Mindy's mother lived long enough after they found the brain tumor that Mindy could have made things okay between them so when she died Mindy wouldn't have felt so much guilt. I also thought Mindy's father should have been able to see his daughter was hurting and should have been able to do something about it.

Mindy has just realized that her mom has a brain tumor. Throughout the book, Mindy reflects on the past events with her mom, and how much she has ignored her mom throughout her life. Mindy has to learn how to live with her mom's brain tumor and her dads neglectance. Gail, Mindy's best friend, helps her through many rough times, and helps her feal as if she belongs. Even though Midny is supposed to be concentrating on collage applications, she can not get her mind off of what is happening in her life.

Saying It Out Loud makes you think about how much you would miss someone, and how you only miss some people when they are gone. This book relates to life by showing the ups and down of life. Through out my life I have not liked my mom being in my life, but and having second thoughts about it.

The story is so depressing it's ridiculous! All Mindy does is rant to herself and blame herself for her mothers death... I was so sad that I was in a bad mood all day after I finished reading it... I would recommend not reading it.

My book, "Saying it out loud" was very interesting. It was interesting because during the time that I read this wonderful book I realized how unfair life can be. By this I mean that you might have someone very special that you love but that person might not stay with you forever. Relating to the book, a 19-year-old girl Susan has her mother struggling for her life in the hospital. Her mother is in the hospital due to a brain tumor. One day Susan went to visit her mom and make her company like any other person would do. A week later she went to go visit her mother, Sarah at the hospital. Later that afternoon Dr. Lawrence walked in the room. She then talked to Susan about her mother's critical condition. The Dr. said that her mom's tumor was the size of an apple and was unfortunately increasing its size. She then said that her mom would have to be taken into surgery in order to remove the monster in her mother's head. Susan was very nervous and scared but she had hope. She knew the surgery would be successful and that her mom was going to be better soon. Mrs. Lawrence then gave Susan the date when her mother was going to be operated. It was a week from the present day. The week had passed and Susan was ready for the upcoming challenge. As Susan sat patiently in the lobby imagining her mom and herself together having a great time. Dr. Lawrence then interrupted Susan's thoughts. She had a disappointed and guilty look on her pale face. She then told Susan the terrible news. The Dr. then explained to her what had happened. "We lost your mother during surgery. She lost a lot of blood and the tumor was too big for us to handle. There wasn't even a little possibility of you mother surviving." As Susan threw her self on the ground she began to cry as loud as she could from the bottom of her heart. Unfortunately Susan lives on her own as she remembers the great times she spent with her mother, Sarah.

My book, "Saying it out loud" was very interesting. It was interesting because during the time that I read this wonderful book I realized how unfair life can be. By this I mean that you might have someone very special that you love but that person might not stay with you forever. Relating to the book, a 19-year-old girl Susan has her mother struggling for her life in the hospital. Her mother is in the hospital due to a brain tumor. One day Susan went to visit her mom and make her company like any other person would do. A week later she went to go visit her mother, Sarah at the hospital. Later that afternoon Dr. Lawrence walked in the room. She then talked to Susan about her mother's critical condition. The Dr. said that her mom's tumor was the size of an apple and was unfortunately increasing its size. She then said that her mom would have to be taken into surgery in order to remove the monster in her mother's head. Susan was very nervous and scared but she had hope. She knew the surgery would be successful and that her mom was going to be better soon. Mrs. Lawrence then gave Susan the date when her mother was going to be operated. It was a week from the present day. The week had passed and Susan was ready for the upcoming challenge. As Susan sat patiently in the lobby imagining her mom and herself together having a great time. Dr. Lawrence then interrupted Susan's thoughts. She had a disappointed and guilty look on her pale face. She then told Susan the terrible news. The Dr. then explained to her what had happened. "We lost your mother during surgery. She lost a lot of blood and the tumor was too big for us to handle. There wasn't even a little possibility of you mother surviving." As Susan threw her self on the ground she began to cry as loud as she could from the bottom of her heart. Unfortunately Susan lives on her own as she remembers the great times she spent with her mother, Sarah.

I was having a lot of conflicts with my mother when I bought this book. I am glad I got it. It made me laugh and cry. I have read it many times! It is easy to read and best of all it makes you think twice about people you dislike.

Mindy's mother has been diagnosed with a brain tumor,andsuddenly Mindy finds her world changed. Alienated from her fatherand separated from her mother, Mindy's supposed to be thinking ofcollege applications - but can't accept her mother's illness and demise. A realistic, different story of death affecting family interactions.