" Uplifting,life-affirming,joyous- this extraordinary novel celebrates what it is to be alive by confronting what it's really like to die."
The main problem occurring in this novel is Tessa being sick.She is dying of cancer and there is nothing left the doctors can do now.Treatment hasn't worked and it has spread to every part of her body.Its only time before she cant handle this anymore,and the doctor give her less than 6 months. All they can do now is keep her as comfortable as possible, and help make the rest of her time the best they can. At the end of the novel Tessa completes her list, including the two most important things; getting her parents back together and falling in love.With her family and her boyfriend ,who she loves more than anything, by her side she can leave the world feeling accomplished and satisfied.As much as she would of love to of gone to collage , and gotten married and had kids,she knows she has felt what most will never feel in a lifetime. She has completed everything she could,she has been in love and been loved in the most beautiful way possible.She has been blessed with an amazing family and the best friend who have made her see the world in a different way.
As much as i don't like that she dies at the end of the book,i love that she completed her list,has her whole family there who love her,and has found love.She never thought she could find love this amazing before she died,but she did.And it was everything she hoped for plus more .It gave her happiness and hope when she thought it was the last thing she could feel at this time.When she was in the worst pain at the end,she said she had never been happier,and it was because of him.This book was very believable because this stuff happens to many of us.We all get sick and die,and most of us fall in love.It had nothing science fiction or unreasonable.I almost wished it wasn't true because of everything bad she had to go through,but it is.
Overall this book was a real eye opener.I couldn't put the book down the second i started reading it because every page was full of suspense and activity.It truly makes you thankful for being alive and able to do the stuff she couldn't,and will not be able to do.When she made the list of everything she wanted to do ,and she did them all even though she was very sick,it inspired me to want to make a list and accomplice everything on it.She lived every day to the fullest,because she knew she was dying,and this book makes me want to live every day to the fullest like i am dying,because you never know when that day will come.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Blog # 3 :)
The sound of a bird flying low across the garden.Then nothing.Nothing.A cloud passes.Nothing again.Light falls through the window,falls onto me,into me.
Moments.
All gather towards this one.
This book is based on a young girl,Tessa,who is 16.She is suffering from cancer,almost all her life.It has limited her from almost everything.From going to school,having friends,eating normal foods,even thinking and planning for the future.She hasn't had it easy,every day is like a struggle.A struggle to survive;survive a blood transfusion,survive a bleeding nose or not being able to breathe.Each and every morning she waked up,not knowing whats going to happen,what the world holds for her today.This could be very stressful and hard to handle.You could imagine all the problems that could come with this disease,the list goes on.She is limited to everything,and spends many hours wasted in the hospital.But throughout all this,Tessa always manages to keep a outgoing strong attitude, she can be allot to handle for most but for those than can handle it think shes caring and funny.This keeps her moving and living,not allowing herself to fall apart and waist whatever time she has left moping in bed.She wants to spend her days living,finishing her list,doing everything she has time and energy to do.And although she does not manage to complete everything on her list,she does leave the world happy.Her parents are back together,hes best friend is healthy and happy,and her boyfriend,who she loves with all her heart is by her side,keeping his promise,not leaving her side till she's gone,even then he will never forget her.
Adam met Tessa when she was far along in her disease,and knew she didnt have much time left.At first he only wanted to be friends, but tessa wanted more.So they started to date. If you knew that the person you where interested in was very sick and dying,would you continue to date them, knowing perfectly well they where dying,and it would be harder for you to let them go when you started to love them than now? or would you stay with them, and make whatever time they had left the best it can be?
Moments.
All gather towards this one.
This book is based on a young girl,Tessa,who is 16.She is suffering from cancer,almost all her life.It has limited her from almost everything.From going to school,having friends,eating normal foods,even thinking and planning for the future.She hasn't had it easy,every day is like a struggle.A struggle to survive;survive a blood transfusion,survive a bleeding nose or not being able to breathe.Each and every morning she waked up,not knowing whats going to happen,what the world holds for her today.This could be very stressful and hard to handle.You could imagine all the problems that could come with this disease,the list goes on.She is limited to everything,and spends many hours wasted in the hospital.But throughout all this,Tessa always manages to keep a outgoing strong attitude, she can be allot to handle for most but for those than can handle it think shes caring and funny.This keeps her moving and living,not allowing herself to fall apart and waist whatever time she has left moping in bed.She wants to spend her days living,finishing her list,doing everything she has time and energy to do.And although she does not manage to complete everything on her list,she does leave the world happy.Her parents are back together,hes best friend is healthy and happy,and her boyfriend,who she loves with all her heart is by her side,keeping his promise,not leaving her side till she's gone,even then he will never forget her.
Adam met Tessa when she was far along in her disease,and knew she didnt have much time left.At first he only wanted to be friends, but tessa wanted more.So they started to date. If you knew that the person you where interested in was very sick and dying,would you continue to date them, knowing perfectly well they where dying,and it would be harder for you to let them go when you started to love them than now? or would you stay with them, and make whatever time they had left the best it can be?
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Blog Number 2
Perhaps I'm dead.Perhaps this is all it will be.
The living will carry on in their world-touching,walking.And ill continue in this empty world,tapping soundlessly on the glass between us.
Tessa has almost finished completing her list,shes on number 6 now,fame.She just finished stealing her dads car and road tripping it up to an old family vacations spot,with her friend Zoey.Being there brought back so many memories for Tessa, most good,but some that brought an emptiness to her,More than the void she already had.Doing this worried both her parents and Zoey as well,because she had no care. "are you trying to get us killed" Zoey screams and Tessa wipes down the highway,while it was poring rain outside. " The roads are wet,and you don't even have your licence,let me drive"
Tessa life is also changing in ways she never thought possible.Her and her neighbour ,Adam, having been spending more time together,and Tessa is starting to fell for him.One night,after dark, Tessa find herself wanting him.What could this be,why is she feeling this?does he feel this to? does he want me to or does he just want nothing to do with me?This is it,i need to do this,I'm not going to live forever,its now or never,whats the worst that can happen?
" you told me you want to be friends" Tessa says,with a little fear
"Yeah?" replies Adam
"Well i don't want to be friends" Tessa says,then they stare at each other for a few seconds,which feels like forever for Tessa.They slowly kiss,barely toughing bodies.The next kiss isn't so innocent,as she throws him against the side of the house.
Knowing that she has little to no time left has changed Tessa in so many ways.She isn't the same innocent girl who had fun playing in the grass with her friends.Being so excited when her mom bought her a fancy jewelry box from the local market.No, that is not her,she is sick.She cant think of the future like most people,she cant plan ahead or hold of on the stuff she wants to do.If there is something she wants to do she needs to do it now.Live like your dying is how they say it,and this fits perfectly in Tessa's life.
Most look at Tessa like a bother,like a pain.She has a sarcastic personalty that people don't usually get,but why? Is it to show everyone that she doesn't need to be felt sorry for,or treated differently,or is it all just a lie? Is Tessa lying to everyone,showing them shes ok and shes not afraid,or is she just lying to herself? Maybe if she didnt have this non caring act,or bitch attitude she would fall apart.It would all just hit her like a tidal wave that she is dying.There is nothing anyone can do to hold her back,keep her living,on earth.
"You shouldn't worry about being forgotten ,Tess" Adam says as we lay beneath the stars.Its like hes read my mind.
Do you think this is all just an act for Tessa? Why do you think she goes around pretending like shes ok,like shes not scared of dying? If you knew you where dying how would you act,would you be like Tessa?
The living will carry on in their world-touching,walking.And ill continue in this empty world,tapping soundlessly on the glass between us.
Tessa has almost finished completing her list,shes on number 6 now,fame.She just finished stealing her dads car and road tripping it up to an old family vacations spot,with her friend Zoey.Being there brought back so many memories for Tessa, most good,but some that brought an emptiness to her,More than the void she already had.Doing this worried both her parents and Zoey as well,because she had no care. "are you trying to get us killed" Zoey screams and Tessa wipes down the highway,while it was poring rain outside. " The roads are wet,and you don't even have your licence,let me drive"
Tessa life is also changing in ways she never thought possible.Her and her neighbour ,Adam, having been spending more time together,and Tessa is starting to fell for him.One night,after dark, Tessa find herself wanting him.What could this be,why is she feeling this?does he feel this to? does he want me to or does he just want nothing to do with me?This is it,i need to do this,I'm not going to live forever,its now or never,whats the worst that can happen?
" you told me you want to be friends" Tessa says,with a little fear
"Yeah?" replies Adam
"Well i don't want to be friends" Tessa says,then they stare at each other for a few seconds,which feels like forever for Tessa.They slowly kiss,barely toughing bodies.The next kiss isn't so innocent,as she throws him against the side of the house.
Knowing that she has little to no time left has changed Tessa in so many ways.She isn't the same innocent girl who had fun playing in the grass with her friends.Being so excited when her mom bought her a fancy jewelry box from the local market.No, that is not her,she is sick.She cant think of the future like most people,she cant plan ahead or hold of on the stuff she wants to do.If there is something she wants to do she needs to do it now.Live like your dying is how they say it,and this fits perfectly in Tessa's life.
Most look at Tessa like a bother,like a pain.She has a sarcastic personalty that people don't usually get,but why? Is it to show everyone that she doesn't need to be felt sorry for,or treated differently,or is it all just a lie? Is Tessa lying to everyone,showing them shes ok and shes not afraid,or is she just lying to herself? Maybe if she didnt have this non caring act,or bitch attitude she would fall apart.It would all just hit her like a tidal wave that she is dying.There is nothing anyone can do to hold her back,keep her living,on earth.
"You shouldn't worry about being forgotten ,Tess" Adam says as we lay beneath the stars.Its like hes read my mind.
Do you think this is all just an act for Tessa? Why do you think she goes around pretending like shes ok,like shes not scared of dying? If you knew you where dying how would you act,would you be like Tessa?
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Before I Die- Blog One
"I don't care how old you are.This book will not leave you"
-New York Times Book Review
Everyone has to die.We all know it.
With only a few months of life left, sixteen-year old Tessa knows better than most.
Shes made a list,though-ten things she wants to do before she dies.Number one is sex. Starting tonight.
But getting what you want isn't easy.And getting what you want doesn't always give you what you need.And sometimes the most unexpected things become important.
Tessa has been suffering from cancer almost all her life,since she was 10,and the doctor have given up hope.They have told her there is nothing left they can do,and have given her an estimate of up to a year left .But it all goes downhill when the cancer spreads to her nerves and spine,making it worse than the doctor predicted.Now with only a couple months left to live,Tessa is getting more and more sick.She spends her time laying in bed,and moping around,driving her family crazy.She constantly thinks about her death,and everything she is going to miss when shes gone. "The trees, purple ribbon,Cal's magic tricks,everything red,apples,birds,moms laugh,the stars"
But this is not how Tessa wants to spend her last days on earth, " How long can i stave it off? I don't know.All i know is that i have two choices-stay wrapped up in blankets and get on with dying, or get the list back together and get on with living."
Tessa has created a list of 10 things she wants to do before she dies.From having sex,which was her number one and the first thing she completed on her list,to doing drugs,and stealing her dads car.But it seems like all she is doing is getting herself into more trouble.She gets arrested for stealing,and ends up in the hospital for jumping in a freezing lake.Zoey,Tessa's best friend,and only friend, has promised to help Tessa finish her list,but it seems that bad things keep happening to Tessa while Zoeys there. Now there are bigger problem,"Something is definitely up with Zoey.She is not acting normal,shes moody,she looks like a mess,and she keeps crying,i don't even remember every seeing Zoey cry,not even when i told her about my diagnosis"
"I'm pregnant,OK, your not the only one with problems and a messed up life" Zoey explains to Tessa one night on the beach.What is she going to do,what are they going to do? Tessa wonders if shell be there when the baby is born,she wonders if shell even make it to Christmas?
If you knew you only had one day left to live how would you feel? What would you do?Whats the one thing you have always wanted to do,but never have?
-New York Times Book Review
Everyone has to die.We all know it.
With only a few months of life left, sixteen-year old Tessa knows better than most.
Shes made a list,though-ten things she wants to do before she dies.Number one is sex. Starting tonight.
But getting what you want isn't easy.And getting what you want doesn't always give you what you need.And sometimes the most unexpected things become important.
Tessa has been suffering from cancer almost all her life,since she was 10,and the doctor have given up hope.They have told her there is nothing left they can do,and have given her an estimate of up to a year left .But it all goes downhill when the cancer spreads to her nerves and spine,making it worse than the doctor predicted.Now with only a couple months left to live,Tessa is getting more and more sick.She spends her time laying in bed,and moping around,driving her family crazy.She constantly thinks about her death,and everything she is going to miss when shes gone. "The trees, purple ribbon,Cal's magic tricks,everything red,apples,birds,moms laugh,the stars"
But this is not how Tessa wants to spend her last days on earth, " How long can i stave it off? I don't know.All i know is that i have two choices-stay wrapped up in blankets and get on with dying, or get the list back together and get on with living."
Tessa has created a list of 10 things she wants to do before she dies.From having sex,which was her number one and the first thing she completed on her list,to doing drugs,and stealing her dads car.But it seems like all she is doing is getting herself into more trouble.She gets arrested for stealing,and ends up in the hospital for jumping in a freezing lake.Zoey,Tessa's best friend,and only friend, has promised to help Tessa finish her list,but it seems that bad things keep happening to Tessa while Zoeys there. Now there are bigger problem,"Something is definitely up with Zoey.She is not acting normal,shes moody,she looks like a mess,and she keeps crying,i don't even remember every seeing Zoey cry,not even when i told her about my diagnosis"
"I'm pregnant,OK, your not the only one with problems and a messed up life" Zoey explains to Tessa one night on the beach.What is she going to do,what are they going to do? Tessa wonders if shell be there when the baby is born,she wonders if shell even make it to Christmas?
If you knew you only had one day left to live how would you feel? What would you do?Whats the one thing you have always wanted to do,but never have?
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