How You Live

A couple of months ago, a friend loaned me her copy of My Sister’s Keeper and assured me it was one of the best books she’d ever read. I finished the book and had to agree with Stormi (and all the others who convinced me to read it). It was so well written and moving in many ways. Jodi Picoult has a fantastic gift of presenting multi-perspectives…and you can somehow empathize with every character.

Finished the book and was thrilled to find out that there would be a movie and thankful for the bold attention to blood cancer.  Besides Cameron Diaz nearly ruining it for me (NOT a good role for her!), it was an increible story.  I was completely wrecked and cried nearly the entire time.  It starts heavy and there’s no real relief until the end.  The tears started flowing when one of the young sisters had to have a bone marrow aspiration (and this was in the first few minutes). Something about watching it from an objective perspective, rather than as a patient, was really gripping. Those moments continued throughout the movie.

The story of My Sister’s Keeper is certainly intense and may not be absolutely realistic in every way, BUT… I was so affected because I know that this is someone’s story.  There’s a mom and dad somewhere today who will lose a child to cancer. There is a girl who will watch her sissy slip away. And there is a 16 year-old who will die too young because she lost a vicious battle with cancer.  That level of grief is overwhelming to me. 

Abigail Breslin was phenomenal, as was Sofia Vassilieva.  There were significant differences between the book and movie, but I appreciated them both. 

What did you think? If you’re a cancer survivor or family member, was it realistic? What emotions did it trigger for you?