- Paperback: 386 pages
- Publisher: McArthur & Co; Reprint edition (Sep 6 2007)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1552786781
- ISBN-13: 978-1552786789
- Product Dimensions: 19.8 x 13.6 x 3.3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 476 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #228,280 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
An honest, chilling tale of a family dealing with chronic illness, this memoir's subject is Cariou's sister, Pam, who at the age of four was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis, a terminal disease of the lungs and pancreas marked by severe coughing and malnutrition; unable to pronounce her condition, young Pam dubs it instead "Sixtyfive Roses." What follows is no heartwarming tearjerker; early on, Cariou cagily warns that "the world of chronic-terminal illness is, in many ways, akin to the world of war." Written to fulfill a deathbed promise Cariou made to write "our" story, and a promise to her mother to tell the truth, the result frequently is not pretty. Initially given no more than six years to live, Pam was among the first wave of Cystics to reach adulthood (she died at 25), but her life is a daily struggle, crammed with treatments, hospitalizations, false starts and faint hope, setbacks and unfulfilled dreams. Cariou keeps readers distanced with an unemotional account that invites more wary ambivalence than sympathy, a risky technique that may put off some readers, but communicates well the complicated feelings that long-term illness can breed in families.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
"I couldn't put it down. The tale of these two sisters, how they laughed, cried and LIVED, is completely enthralling" (Angela Lansbury )
"Sixtyfive Roses is a love letter, a thank-you note, a defence, a plea, a setting straight, a reaching out. More than anything, it is an accomplishment worthy of Pam's belief in her big sister." (Globe and Mail )
"Touching, insightful and unflinchingly honest." (Brantford Expositor )
"A powerful account." (Hamilton Spectator )
"A journey through a family's struggles and triumphs." (Winnipeg Free Press )
"Candid and direct . . . a gripping often hair-raising account . . . a finely felt memoir." (London Free Press )
"[Summerhayes] has found a platform that reaches out to people living in the shadow of illness or loss, limitations of obstacles." (Montreal Gazette )
"Sixtyfive Roses is a love letter, a thank-you note, a defence, a plea, a setting straight, a reaching out. More than anything, it is an accomplishment worthy of Pam's belief in her big sister." (Globe and Mail )
"Touching, insightful and unflinchingly honest." (Brantford Expositor )
"A powerful account." (Hamilton Spectator )
"A journey through a family's struggles and triumphs." (Winnipeg Free Press )
"Candid and direct . . . a gripping often hair-raising account . . . a finely felt memoir." (London Free Press )
"[Summerhayes] has found a platform that reaches out to people living in the shadow of illness or loss, limitations of obstacles." (Montreal Gazette )
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Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Memoir Very Moving,
By
This review is from: Sixty-Five Roses: A Sister's Memoir (Hardcover)
When reading a biography, the hard part is often if you know the end of the story. This book is a powerful take of life, service, and a family that stood and faced a terrible disease and the medical community, and changed the odds, not only for their family member, but also for all families that deal with Cystic Fibrosis. This is a chronicle of a family's struggle against CF for 22 years. Our narrator, Heather Summerhayes, was 6 when her 4-year-old sister was diagnosed with CF, a disease that, at the time, her sister Pam pronounced as 'Sixtyfive Roses'.At the time of Pam's diagnoses she was only given months to live. Yet the family believed differently and fought against it. Their mother promised that they would do all they could for sick little Pam and they did. The Summerhayes helped to create the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation with the assistance of the U.S. association and the Sick Kids hospital in Toronto. They set up a Financial Advisory Board as well as a Medical Advisory Board to help families deal with this disease and to raise funds for research for a cure for this illness. This is a story of true Canadian strength - a story of hope, love and charity. This book, which spans years in a the Summerhayes' family life, will draw you into their struggle with prevailing opinions, medical advances, and always a struggle to love Pam, and seek what is best for her. Pam became one of a first wave of children diagnosed with this disease who lived into adulthood. Now the family and the medical staff were in new territory and 'all bets were off'. Heather does an amazing job of recalling her family's life, living and dying with CF. She reflects in a sober way on the hard moments and celebrates the victories. The story is told in a well balanced way, not focusing just on the difficulties of living with a terminal disease. Heather tells the story of her cherished sister's life. A life lived to the full. This book is a powerful story that will give you courage and faith to face the trials in your own life and the lives of the people who are dear to you. Celine Dion writes a moving forward. The hard part of reading biographies is that you know where the story is going - yet with this one, the journey to get there is so moving and powerful, it will be great read. (First Published in Imprint 2007-06-29 as in the book review column.)
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sixtyfive Roses - review,
By
This review is from: Sixty-Five Roses: A Sister's Memoir (Hardcover)
Sixtyfive Roses is a beautiful story based mainly in a small southern Ontario city during the 1950's to 1980. The narrative has a natural flow, carrying the reader through the seemingly insurmountable challenges confronting the Summerhayes family as they come to grips with Pamela's illness. Told from Heather' perspective, the oldest of four childen, Sixtyfive Roses skillfully articulates the broad range of feelings that she experiences, along with the issues that arise with other family members.In Sixtyfive Roses, Pamela Summerhayes, through her loving sister, Heather, has given this world a very important gift. This story is a "must-read" for anyone who is touched by grave illness. An important book, highly recommended. Nancy Misner
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sixty-five Roses, a Sister's Memoir,
By
This review is from: Sixty-Five Roses: A Sister's Memoir (Hardcover)
I found this book deeply moving and inspirational. For families with sick children or just for people with complicated families, there's a lot here that will ring true.
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