Book review: What We Have

One of my tests for a book review is whether I can sum up the entire book in one word. The faster that one word comes to me, the better the book.

I had not even closed the covers on Amy Boesky’s What We Have, when I had my word …

BEAUTIFUL

If this was movie, I would say ‘the cinematography is beautiful’. You know when you watch a movie and the filming is so stunning it just washes over you? Like Out of Africa. But, this is a book, so the closest I can come to this is ‘the voice is beautiful’.

What if you lived your entire life knowing that your body is a ticking time bomb? What if you knew that females in your family died of cancer at a relatively young age? Your grandmother. Your aunts. That your mother, you, and your sisters are all at high risk.

This is the knowledge that Amy grew up with, and What We Have talks about the impact this has on how she views and reacts to the world.

But this is not what makes the book beautiful. What makes it beautiful is the stunningly honest and poignant telling of the relationship between a mother and her daughters, between daughters and their mother, and between sisters.

I do have to give my tissue warning on this book. I did cry. More than once as a matter of fact. But, I was never left feeling drained in any way. I just wanted to keep on reading.

I am always impressed when an author can reach into the dusty corners of their existence and shine a light on the cobwebs without coming across as bitter or dramatic.

Then add incredible grace to that, and you get …

BEAUTIFUL

More information!

Make sure you come back on September 8, 2010, to win a copy of What We Have.

Amy Boesky can be found at http://amyboesky.com/

This book review was sponsored by TLC Book Tours. For more reviews of What We Have visit tlcbooktours.com

Have you subscribed to our newsletter?

Subscribe to our free newsletter and get articles, hints & tips, and discount codes delivered to your Inbox.

The very first edition is October 1st. Don’t miss out! Click here to subscribe!