Love in the Time of Cholesterol (Hardcover)

~ Cecily Ross (Author) "This is a story with a happy ending, a story that began not far from the outcropping of rock overlooking Georgian Bay where Basil and..." (more)
Key Phrases: New York, Cousin Roger, Hart House (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Ross, food critic at Canada's Globe and Mail, chronicles the prelude to and two years following her husband's heart attack and open heart surgery. She and Basil meet while working at a magazine, fall in love and marry. Yet it's the younger of the two (he's 39 and she's 46) who falls victim to heart disease, though he's in denial about the problem and brushes off his initial heart attack ("The pain was awful, but it's gone now," he tells Ross, and then hops in the shower). Though Basil is "an extremely private person," Ross writes with unabashed detail about her husband's health, dwelling on every hint and clue to his ultimate diagnosis: unstable angina, likely caused by an arterial blockage interfering with blood flow to the heart. As the couple deal with their frustrations with medical personnel and Basil's growing depression and anxiety, Ross remains a staunchly devoted wife. While the book humanizes the clinical aspects of heart disease, Ross's recipes (though enticing enough) lack nutritional stats and are not well connected to the narrative (the segue from surgery to Date and Walnut Loaf is one example). However, families coping with heart disease will no doubt find that the reassuring love tale of Basil and Cecily rings true. (Feb.)
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Product Description

A food writer's moving portrait of how she and her husband cope in the aftermath of his heart attack and bypass surgery

For the millions of readers coping with a loved one's medical issues, this moving account by food editor Cecily Ross will strike a deep chord. With honesty and humor, she tells the story of her husband's unexpected heart condition, his recovery from bypass surgery, and the dramatic toll it took on their lives.

In 25 chapters with two heart-friendly recipes at the end of each, you'll join Cecily and her husband, Basil, as they swear off doughnuts, learn how to meditate, flirt with vegetarianism, and come to better appreciate the simple pleasure of sharing a meal. This glimpse into the lives of a man who survived a life-threatening illness and the woman who supported him throughout his recovery offers consolation and courage to the many who face this disease every day.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (December 12, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071464948
• ISBN-13: 978-0071464949
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,411,057 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cholesterol Confusion, December 15, 2006

By	Reeder5 (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love in the Time of Cholesterol: A Memoir with Recipes (Hardcover)

Having recently been diagnosed with high cholesterol,the title of this book caught my eye. The story was interesting, sympathetic, scary. I like the idea of blending recipes with a memoir, but I was utterly shocked at the ingredients in the recipes - butter, eggs, butter, eggs...um...isn't that part of the problem? Still, I enjoyed the story and wish the author and her husband only the best in health.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An interesting story, but. . ., August 16, 2006

By	Anita Williams (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

. . .I could not help but get frustrated at the way Ms. Ross portrays her husband. She paints him as if he were a dog or a developmentally disabled child. You understand wanting to feel sympathy for this couple as they journey through and beyond a near-death experience. Unfortunately, she makes us feel more sorry for him for being married to someone who (albeit probably inadvertently) seemingly disrespects him.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Destined for a Lifetime Movie, April 19, 2006

By	Georgiann Dogolo "food writer wannabe" (Connecticut) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Saw this book in the library - it was the clever title and jacket art that caught my eye and aroused my curiosity. I checked it out and was rewarded with an honest, poignant, and inspiring account of love the second time around and surviving heart disease. If you enjoy reading Ruth Rheichls memoirs, then this should delight you.