About this title: Both a memoir and an investigation, Rieffs tribute to his mother--writer Susan Sontag--explores her final battle with cancer and looks at the state of medical science and leading cancer physicians who combine treating patients with pursuing the cutting edge of research.
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Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9780743299466ISBN:0743299469
Description: Good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Date Published: 01/2008
ISBN-13:9780743299466ISBN:0743299469
Description: Very good in very good dust jacket. Very Good, In very good dust jacket. Glued binding. Paper over boards. With dust jacket. 180 p. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9780743299466ISBN:0743299469
Description: Good in good dust jacket. Ex) Library Copy. Moderate wear on Cover/Interior Pages. Usual library markings. Glued binding. Paper over boards. With dust jacket. 180 p. Audience: General/trade. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9780743299473ISBN:0743299477
Description: New. New books small to none shelf wear A brand-new, unused, unread copy in perfect condiion. Return Policy Any defects, damages, or material differences with your item, must be reported to us within 7 days of receipt of the item or 30 days from date of shipment. The returned merchandise must be postmarked within 30 days of the shipment notification. Non-deliveries must be reported within 30 days of Shipment Notification. Undeliverable, unclaimed, refused, or insufficient addresses will be ... read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9780743299466ISBN:0743299469
Description: A wonderful copy with some minor edgewear to the cover. Dust Jacket has some edgewear present. -, Hard Cover, Very Good / Very Good. read more
Description: Very good. Book has appearance of light use with no easily noticeable wear. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more
Description: Good. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Good. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
"Reminded me of "Nothing to be Frightened Of". (Susan Sontag clearly as scared of extinction as Julian Barnes - and me!). Poignant in parts, though the relationship between Sontag and her son seemed chilly."
"Those looking for deeper insight into Sontag's life won't find it here. This book is mostly about Rieff trying to come to terms with his mother's death and his guilt over his inability to help her more in her last weeks and days. Rieff mostly fails to resolve these feelings of guilt, and thus the book meanders through Sontag's illness, from her diagnosis to her death, returning again and again to the same painful topics: Sontag's intense fear of death and Rieff's concern over telling her the truth about her illness.
Rieff (taking his mother's stance on the issue) rejects the use of war as a metaphor in the discussion of disease while simultaneously painting a picture of his mother's illness with that inevitable terminology, frequently referring to the days following her death as "the aftermath" and to himself as a "survivor". Other contradictions and inconsistencies abound, but perhaps that is to be expected when writing about such sensitive material.
At the end the only conclusion that one can reach is that there is no coming to terms with death, either for the dying or for those surrounding and supporting them."
"The books covers a very short, but painful timeframe for the author - from when his mother was diagnosed with cancer until her death.
And I think it is that short timeframe that makes this book somewhat repetitive and vague. He never gets into his own feelings - of course his mother didn't want to die! I get it. It's on every other page.
Also, I would love to know why he hates Annie Liebovitz so much. I bet that would have been an interesting chapter. He was very dismissive of their relationship...maybe he didn't really want his mom to be a lesbian?
I read this in one day, and considered returning it to B&N that same day."
"less about sontag's death, more of a rather repetitive debate about comforting those who are ill....specifically those who refuse to accept their impending death."
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