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Undressing the Moon
Dark and compassionate, graceful yet raw, "Undressing the Moon" explores the seams between childhood and adulthood, between love and loss...At thirty, Piper Kincaid feels too young to be dying. Cancer has eaten away her strength; she'd be alone but for a childhood friend who's come home by chance. Yet with all the questions of her future before her, she's adrift in the past, remembering the fateful summer she turned fourteen and her life changed forever. Her nervous father's job search seemed stalled for good, as he hung around the house watching her mother's every move. What he and Piper had both dreaded at last came to pass: Her restless, artistic mother, who smelled of lilacs and showed Piper beauty, finally left. With no one to rely on, Piper struggled to hold on to what was important. She had a brother who loved her and a teacher enthralled with her potential. But her mother's absence, her father's distance, and a volatile secret threatened her delicate balance. Now Piper is once again left with the jagged pieces of a shattered life. If she is ever going to put herself back together, she'll have to begin with the summer that broke them all...
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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1172 people want to read
About the author
T. Greenwood
21Ìýbooks1,792ÌýfollowersT. Greenwood is the author of fifteen novels. She has received grants from the Sherwood Anderson Foundation, the Christopher Isherwood Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Maryland State Arts Council. She has won four San Diego Book Awards. Five of her novels have been IndieNext picks. BODIES OF WATER was finalist for a Lambda Foundation award and KEEPING LUCY was a Target Book Club selection.
She teaches creative writing for San Diego Writer's Ink and The Writer's Center. She and her family split their time between San Diego and Vermont. She is also a photographer.
More information on T. Greenwood can be found at her websites:
She teaches creative writing for San Diego Writer's Ink and The Writer's Center. She and her family split their time between San Diego and Vermont. She is also a photographer.
More information on T. Greenwood can be found at her websites:
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
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January 3, 2023I just re-read this for the first time in close to 20 years. So very strange to return to my old writing. In a way, it's like glimpsing a lost version of myself.
I am excavating - and there is a character in these pages whose story is asking to be unearthed. He's had quite a life unfold since 2002.
I am excavating - and there is a character in these pages whose story is asking to be unearthed. He's had quite a life unfold since 2002.
May 6, 2011
Some people think I am crazy when I answer the question of what books I like best and I say sad ones, painful ones, hard to read ones. It is not the sadness and pain I like, but it is all the living before the sorrow. The love, the connection, the growth. You cannot appreciate the white in life without the black. This book was so beautifully written, the parallels between the coloured glass, the drawers labelled holiday and sorrow, the opal, the crimson and blue all reflecting the myriad of emotions I felt for Piper, Quinn, their Mother and Becca, a friend we should all be so lucky to have. This book at times made me feel very uncomfortable, but I like to be challenged, I like it when a writer trusts her reader to do some writing of their own between the lines. I just loved it.
July 10, 2017
never seems to shy away from sensitive &/or sad story lines.
Her way with words, simply beautiful.
Piper is a 14 year old girl, from the "wrong side of the tracks" or in this case, the pond.
Family full of messes & all Piper wants & seems to always be looking for is someone who will stay. Stay home, stay in her life, just stay. Someone to give her love, the right kind & to guide her & be there for her.....
The story is told in alternating chapters, current as a 30 year old Piper & the past as a 14 year old.
Much sadness, horrible situations & what struck me most was how Piper never seemed to "grow", the effects of her childhood seemed to have stunted who she could have become.
There were times throughout the book, some parts of Piper's life situations that really hit hard in my heart. I felt like there were parts of me in there.
Her way with words, simply beautiful.
Piper is a 14 year old girl, from the "wrong side of the tracks" or in this case, the pond.
Family full of messes & all Piper wants & seems to always be looking for is someone who will stay. Stay home, stay in her life, just stay. Someone to give her love, the right kind & to guide her & be there for her.....
The story is told in alternating chapters, current as a 30 year old Piper & the past as a 14 year old.
Much sadness, horrible situations & what struck me most was how Piper never seemed to "grow", the effects of her childhood seemed to have stunted who she could have become.
There were times throughout the book, some parts of Piper's life situations that really hit hard in my heart. I felt like there were parts of me in there.
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July 27, 2011Favorite quotes:
But that summer she made me understand that it was not the glass that was beautiful, but the quality of light behind it.
We lie to each other to save each other, and we keep some secrets to save ourselves.
I understood what I’d wanted. I’d only wanted for someone to take care of me. To stay. Someone real. Someone whole. And I understood, finally, she was already here.
A young woman who could possibly die from cancer relives her past in order to save herself. She wants to give up so badly, but she does her best not to because she has a friend there every step of the way and if she, Piper, died, then everything that her friend believed as that which is pure and good in the world would probably die as well. It isn’t necessarily the love of her parents that she still searches for that will save her, but someone who is stable and permanent; Someone who is not only there for the important aspects of life, but the everyday aspects as well. Thought-provoking book.
But that summer she made me understand that it was not the glass that was beautiful, but the quality of light behind it.
We lie to each other to save each other, and we keep some secrets to save ourselves.
I understood what I’d wanted. I’d only wanted for someone to take care of me. To stay. Someone real. Someone whole. And I understood, finally, she was already here.
A young woman who could possibly die from cancer relives her past in order to save herself. She wants to give up so badly, but she does her best not to because she has a friend there every step of the way and if she, Piper, died, then everything that her friend believed as that which is pure and good in the world would probably die as well. It isn’t necessarily the love of her parents that she still searches for that will save her, but someone who is stable and permanent; Someone who is not only there for the important aspects of life, but the everyday aspects as well. Thought-provoking book.
July 17, 2017
I really love the way this author tells a story. She has a way of telling it that sucks you in and you feel part of it.
Piper - we follow her life from a younger girl when her mom leaves, until now, she is fighting cancer. No on in her life 'stays'. Her mom left. Her dad eventually moves out to live with his new GF. Her brother is her lifeline, but he ends up leaving for college. Her aunt is really the only one around.
Her best friend returns when she is fighting cancer to help her through.
To me Piper was just a lost soul. The cancer seems to have sucked away any of "her" that is left and she seems to reminisce about the past, what was and what could have been.
Piper - we follow her life from a younger girl when her mom leaves, until now, she is fighting cancer. No on in her life 'stays'. Her mom left. Her dad eventually moves out to live with his new GF. Her brother is her lifeline, but he ends up leaving for college. Her aunt is really the only one around.
Her best friend returns when she is fighting cancer to help her through.
To me Piper was just a lost soul. The cancer seems to have sucked away any of "her" that is left and she seems to reminisce about the past, what was and what could have been.
February 4, 2019
"But that summer she made me understand that it was not the glass that was beautiful, but the quality of light behind it."
Piper loves her mother who can see beauty in broken things. Her mother leaves when she's 14; her father is distant and is in and out of her young life. She finds comfort in the arms of an older man after being raped by someone she thought she cared for. Now, fighting cancer, Piper realizes that the quality of life is what is beautiful, not the life itself. A beautifully written coming of age story that made you reflect on all those things you hold dear.
Piper loves her mother who can see beauty in broken things. Her mother leaves when she's 14; her father is distant and is in and out of her young life. She finds comfort in the arms of an older man after being raped by someone she thought she cared for. Now, fighting cancer, Piper realizes that the quality of life is what is beautiful, not the life itself. A beautifully written coming of age story that made you reflect on all those things you hold dear.
July 10, 2017
This book was really beautifully written. Greenwood made use of all your senses to pain the story she was telling, and at times it really was enchanting because of that. However, I just didn't connect with Piper. She seemed to me to not have a consistent character. She was the sum of the things that happened to her but didn't seem to actually have any personality traits of her own. She was just in constant flux depending on her circumstance. It made it confusing to read and I found it difficult to sympathize with her character despite all the various awful things that happened to her. It felt like she was this faceless vehicle to tell the story with, and I don't know if it was like that because Greenwood wanted people to identify with her, feel like they were living this story, or if it was because she really just had a weak personality. But either way, it didn't work for me. And I think that's a real shame because the story itself and the prose were so well done.
January 6, 2011
"When you know your dying, things begin to make sense"
Summary: Piper Kincaid, a thirty year old woman with terminal cancer, relives the life altering summer she turned fourteen through flashbacks, as she comes face to face with the increasing reality of her approaching death. That particular summer her beloved mother abandoned her family, leaving a void so large in Piper's life she is willing to fill it unconventionally, even if it means sacrificing herself. A "coming of age" and "coming to terms" novel which takes the reader on a journey of acceptance of oneself.
Ramblings: Undressing the Moon touches on very sensitive subjects: being left behind, death and dying, rape and uncoventional relationships. Despite the serious overtones of the book T. Greenwood does a great job of writing a descriptively sad story without being overly morbid or morose. Reading the story reveals richly developed, likeable character dealing with difficult situations, mainly tied to loss and abandonment. Quinn, Piper's brother is the model brotherly figure stepping up to the plate, taking guardianship of Piper after their father eventually ditches them too. Becca, Piper's best friend is a beacon of light shining strong throughout the novel. She's the type of best friend everyone would love to find and truly fits the motto "best friend forever". Even Mr. Hammer, (the "villian") is a character the reader can muster a small amount of compassion for since he too is struggling with the death of his wife and losing his young daughter. Undressing the Moon follows the main character, Piper through both her past and present life. Some chapters are in the present and some chapters speak of Piper's past. Turning pages, its nearly impossible not to feel something for her horrific past and now present illness. As if it wasn't enough to have a miserable childhood, but then to grow up and become sick with a terminal disease, well it just seems so unfair! Piper has every right to throw a huge pity party, but she never does. Its her strength and her ability to preservere which make her so admirable. The only downfall to this book was the way it ended, its a bit open-ended, maybe that was the author's intention, though.
Recommendation: Undressing the Moon is a sensitive read with mature topics. I'd recommend this book to adult readers or those 14 and older. Looking for a book which gives a different perspective on life, a read which makes one step back and re-examine how good life really has been, then pick up this book and start flipping pages.
Summary: Piper Kincaid, a thirty year old woman with terminal cancer, relives the life altering summer she turned fourteen through flashbacks, as she comes face to face with the increasing reality of her approaching death. That particular summer her beloved mother abandoned her family, leaving a void so large in Piper's life she is willing to fill it unconventionally, even if it means sacrificing herself. A "coming of age" and "coming to terms" novel which takes the reader on a journey of acceptance of oneself.
Ramblings: Undressing the Moon touches on very sensitive subjects: being left behind, death and dying, rape and uncoventional relationships. Despite the serious overtones of the book T. Greenwood does a great job of writing a descriptively sad story without being overly morbid or morose. Reading the story reveals richly developed, likeable character dealing with difficult situations, mainly tied to loss and abandonment. Quinn, Piper's brother is the model brotherly figure stepping up to the plate, taking guardianship of Piper after their father eventually ditches them too. Becca, Piper's best friend is a beacon of light shining strong throughout the novel. She's the type of best friend everyone would love to find and truly fits the motto "best friend forever". Even Mr. Hammer, (the "villian") is a character the reader can muster a small amount of compassion for since he too is struggling with the death of his wife and losing his young daughter. Undressing the Moon follows the main character, Piper through both her past and present life. Some chapters are in the present and some chapters speak of Piper's past. Turning pages, its nearly impossible not to feel something for her horrific past and now present illness. As if it wasn't enough to have a miserable childhood, but then to grow up and become sick with a terminal disease, well it just seems so unfair! Piper has every right to throw a huge pity party, but she never does. Its her strength and her ability to preservere which make her so admirable. The only downfall to this book was the way it ended, its a bit open-ended, maybe that was the author's intention, though.
Recommendation: Undressing the Moon is a sensitive read with mature topics. I'd recommend this book to adult readers or those 14 and older. Looking for a book which gives a different perspective on life, a read which makes one step back and re-examine how good life really has been, then pick up this book and start flipping pages.
May 21, 2011
A beautifully written and complex book about loss, resilience, life and death. The book centers around Piper, a young woman who is dying of cancer and lovingly being cared for by her best friend since childhood. As she takes inventory of her life, she reflects back on the pain of a creative, loving mother who abandoned her in her teen years, a teacher who gives her voice, mentors and seduces her, a brother who acts like a father and father who behaves like a selfish child. The setting is a small dreary town in Vermont. Color and nature become active characters in this book especially in reference to her mother's craft of creating art panels out of abandoned pieces of glass. The prose in this book is strong and lyrical. Describing her mother "She was always on the edge of leaving" her illness "when you know you are dying, things begin to make sense" "Hope this is my mother's true and cruel legacy", describing a town tragedy: "grief was something private in my family; it was strange to see misery on parade" and in the end she realizes (I LOVE this passage) "my mother taught me how to find grace in wreckage. She taught me not how to reassemble, but how to rearrange. the stained-glass pictures she made were certain evidence that things can be broken and put back together , and that the mended thing will be more beautiful than the original. That true beauty is in the cracks, in the places where the pieces have once been shattered and then mended." So beautiful.
March 1, 2011
Piper Kincaid is only thirty-years-old when she feels a lump in her breast and learns that it is cancerous.
Her best friend, Becca, has been staying with her to provide care. However, as the story unfolds, Piper is weak from the effects of the disease and decides to turn off the chemotherapy.
Piper's mother had been a free spirit and spent much time with Piper when Piper was a young girl. The family eeked out an existence based on Piper's father's job. When the factory closed down, Piper's father lost his position. He managed to get a seasonal job but his spirit and ambition were broken.
After a time of living in her own world, Piper's mother leaves the family. She says nothing but one day is gone. Piper was only fourteen-years-old.
Piper's father looked for her for a while but gave up. He then found someone else and moved in with that woman.
With the loss of her parents, Piper is placed under the guardianship of her brother. She remained philosipical and hopeful. She relates that she dreamed of having a husband "...and the way an infant might feel like a small bird lying on my chest."
The story continues, showing Piper's lonliness and the hope that lessens as the disease continues.
The novel is wonderfully written. The reader experiences the emotional trama of this young woman who learns that her life may be ending before it had a chance to be lived.
Her best friend, Becca, has been staying with her to provide care. However, as the story unfolds, Piper is weak from the effects of the disease and decides to turn off the chemotherapy.
Piper's mother had been a free spirit and spent much time with Piper when Piper was a young girl. The family eeked out an existence based on Piper's father's job. When the factory closed down, Piper's father lost his position. He managed to get a seasonal job but his spirit and ambition were broken.
After a time of living in her own world, Piper's mother leaves the family. She says nothing but one day is gone. Piper was only fourteen-years-old.
Piper's father looked for her for a while but gave up. He then found someone else and moved in with that woman.
With the loss of her parents, Piper is placed under the guardianship of her brother. She remained philosipical and hopeful. She relates that she dreamed of having a husband "...and the way an infant might feel like a small bird lying on my chest."
The story continues, showing Piper's lonliness and the hope that lessens as the disease continues.
The novel is wonderfully written. The reader experiences the emotional trama of this young woman who learns that her life may be ending before it had a chance to be lived.
July 24, 2016
dysfunction and complicated.
November 11, 2011
I always rave about T. Greenwood. She never fails to impress nor does she ever disappoint. Undressing the Moon is an earlier novel of hers that was reprinted because of demand. Every time I go to Barnes and Noble I check to see if she's suddenly released a new book because it seems that is the way I find her. By accident but on purpose.
Greenwood has a knack for imagery. The colors in this novel are vivid and unique. Piper, the main character, has a voice her mom says is the color of "holiday." Piper's mother makes stained glass art. Throughout the book, Greenwood uses the broken glass, their colors, her mother's art as a symbol for mending broken things. It is all really quite genius.
Some people might label Greenwood's novels as depressing and heavy, but I feel they are a breath of fresh air. She seems to understand the human condition in ways that only a keen writer can. She said in an interview: "I think that we are all defined, to a certain extent, by our childhoods. My childhood memories are so vivid: the tragedies as well as the happy times. I am who I am because of the sorrows I suffered as a kid as well as the bliss. Fictional characters are no different. I almost never write about adult characters without understanding where it is that they came from. What haunts them...The very nature of narrative is that there needs to be conflict. Problems. Trouble. I simply figure out what my characters' problems are and then see them through them." She tackles sensitive issues delicately and with precision. Nobody wants to read a story about a happy family with no problems. And we all can relate, in some way, to her characters. Sure, I was never abandoned by my parents. Sure, I was never in an intimate affair with a teacher. Sure, I have never had cancer. But I understand the struggle and the fight that Greenwood's characters endure. While her characters may not be likable (I never did side with her protagonist in This Glittering World) and Piper isn't always the ideal, I think that is what makes them human. You find yourself rooting for them simply because you want them to get through. And that is the beauty of Ms. Greenwood.
Two Rivers still stands as my absolute favorite Greenwood novel, but I cannot say I have a least favorite. They're all excellent. If you're looking for books with depth, beautiful writing, and something to say about human nature, go find T. Greenwood at your local library or bookstore.
Greenwood has a knack for imagery. The colors in this novel are vivid and unique. Piper, the main character, has a voice her mom says is the color of "holiday." Piper's mother makes stained glass art. Throughout the book, Greenwood uses the broken glass, their colors, her mother's art as a symbol for mending broken things. It is all really quite genius.
Some people might label Greenwood's novels as depressing and heavy, but I feel they are a breath of fresh air. She seems to understand the human condition in ways that only a keen writer can. She said in an interview: "I think that we are all defined, to a certain extent, by our childhoods. My childhood memories are so vivid: the tragedies as well as the happy times. I am who I am because of the sorrows I suffered as a kid as well as the bliss. Fictional characters are no different. I almost never write about adult characters without understanding where it is that they came from. What haunts them...The very nature of narrative is that there needs to be conflict. Problems. Trouble. I simply figure out what my characters' problems are and then see them through them." She tackles sensitive issues delicately and with precision. Nobody wants to read a story about a happy family with no problems. And we all can relate, in some way, to her characters. Sure, I was never abandoned by my parents. Sure, I was never in an intimate affair with a teacher. Sure, I have never had cancer. But I understand the struggle and the fight that Greenwood's characters endure. While her characters may not be likable (I never did side with her protagonist in This Glittering World) and Piper isn't always the ideal, I think that is what makes them human. You find yourself rooting for them simply because you want them to get through. And that is the beauty of Ms. Greenwood.
Two Rivers still stands as my absolute favorite Greenwood novel, but I cannot say I have a least favorite. They're all excellent. If you're looking for books with depth, beautiful writing, and something to say about human nature, go find T. Greenwood at your local library or bookstore.
January 7, 2011
I really want to write some really amazing things about this book, but I lack the capacity! I can't even begin to describe how I enjoyed reading it. The characters are so beautifully developed it almost felt as though I had met them in real life. I have to admit though, it is very tragic. The main character's life seems so unfair, I felt a bit like Becca, her best friend, rooting for her and pushing her to fight. I also liked the way I could identify with her as the 14 year old girl and as a 30 year old woman("girl"). Having to come to terms with loss and solitude,and the realization of one's own mortality. Sometimes dealing with these things in ways that are self defeating. I've been there and I think that's why I enjoyed it so much. It really struck a chord. The imagery is so unique. The way Piper uses the various colors of glass to classify events and feelings in her life is something I can understand. Like an artist using the colors of their choosing to convey sentiments on canvas. Some pleasant and others not so pleasant. I will definitely see myself re-reading this in the future and I really look forward to reading T.Greenwood's other works.
July 14, 2011
I'm FINALLY getting around to reviewing this book!
I enjoyed this wonderful coming-of-age story. Piper, the protagonist, experiences a lot of heartache and sadness throughout her early years- her father loses his job which paves the way for her free-spirited mother to quietly make her exit from the family. Her father finds another woman and gradually spends more time with her until eventually, he no longer lives at home either. Piper then becomes the responsibility of her brother who while very loving and attentive, has his own life to live as well. She continues to battle with the feelings that result from her parents' abandonment, and perhaps as a substitute, begins a relationship with an older man. Of course, this affair doesn't end well. The story vacillates beautifully between the heartaches of the past, and those of the present, as Piper has been dealing with breast cancer in her 30s.
The author pulls in imagery of colored pieces of glass to illustrate the theme of brokenness in a very metaphorical and poignant way. Again, I enjoyed this book and wouldn't hesitate to read another book by the same author in the future.
I enjoyed this wonderful coming-of-age story. Piper, the protagonist, experiences a lot of heartache and sadness throughout her early years- her father loses his job which paves the way for her free-spirited mother to quietly make her exit from the family. Her father finds another woman and gradually spends more time with her until eventually, he no longer lives at home either. Piper then becomes the responsibility of her brother who while very loving and attentive, has his own life to live as well. She continues to battle with the feelings that result from her parents' abandonment, and perhaps as a substitute, begins a relationship with an older man. Of course, this affair doesn't end well. The story vacillates beautifully between the heartaches of the past, and those of the present, as Piper has been dealing with breast cancer in her 30s.
The author pulls in imagery of colored pieces of glass to illustrate the theme of brokenness in a very metaphorical and poignant way. Again, I enjoyed this book and wouldn't hesitate to read another book by the same author in the future.
November 9, 2010
4.5 stars. I like novels that hurt a bit-or actually, alot. This one had a satisfying, steady ache. This, along with emotional descriptons that deeply connect you to the characters, is what T. Greenwood does best. I really enjoyed the dynamics in this story: Piper is haunted by events that took place when she turned fourteen. Now, 29, and dying of cancer, she tries to come to terms with all that has happened to her; to finally sort through the broken pieces of her life. But some relationships and consequences simply can't be mended. We don't always get the resolution we want-I like that. I do have to say that when I got to the end of the book, I thought, "What a great last line!" Then I turned the page and there was a final part consisting of one page. Perhaps this was to give the reader some hopefulness, but it felt more like an unnecessary continuation of the story.
August 13, 2011
One of those books that makes me want to share it with every random person I find on the streets. I honestly think this author could write about anything and still make it interesting; she smashes together the strangest blend of characters and plotlines and, with her deftly beautiful writing style, somehow manages to make it all come together. She also handles many topics that are normally quite uncomfortable for anyone to talk about -- without passing judgement, merely writing about them -- so she gets extra kudos for that.
December 9, 2009
A good book, especially considering I selected it randomly from the library shelf. The author's prose is lovely (even when, or especially when, describing tragedy and sorrow) but there were some parts that didn't resonate with me, namely, the italicized sections I believe were intended as more "poetry" than prose. I read them several times and the imagery never quite fit. I think it may have been the combination prose/poetry I disliked, not the poetic voice itself. Overall, a good read.
January 30, 2011
I over this as I've loved all of her books. she touches the depth of our pain and fear and hopes as a human being, but transforms it into something manageable. I loved the ending of this book
September 20, 2021
i want to write about my experiences the way piper does. incredible work on growth and letting go and processing experiences. beware of sexual components!
March 21, 2024
Sad story dealing with real life issues. I keep coming back to this author.
March 6, 2010
Another *moving* read, very well written by Tammy Greenwood!
The main character, Piper, is a little girl who is devoted to a world that (feels her) to only include her mother. There were moments that I was left breathless by the way Piper describes and talks of her mother. There were moments when I wish her mother was standing beside me and I could shake her.
Suddenly one day, her mother leaves, leaving Piper with her father, brother Quinn and dog. Pipers grows up, unsteady and unsure; questioning everything and wonder how her mother would 'feel'. Carruing these thoughts of her mother with her through life, at 30 Piper is (still) estranged from her father and battling a serious case of breast cancer. Her closet means of support is her best-childhood-friend Becca.
A moving and heart wrenching story of a little girl constantly fighting to be 'strong'.
4.5 out of 5
The main character, Piper, is a little girl who is devoted to a world that (feels her) to only include her mother. There were moments that I was left breathless by the way Piper describes and talks of her mother. There were moments when I wish her mother was standing beside me and I could shake her.
Suddenly one day, her mother leaves, leaving Piper with her father, brother Quinn and dog. Pipers grows up, unsteady and unsure; questioning everything and wonder how her mother would 'feel'. Carruing these thoughts of her mother with her through life, at 30 Piper is (still) estranged from her father and battling a serious case of breast cancer. Her closet means of support is her best-childhood-friend Becca.
A moving and heart wrenching story of a little girl constantly fighting to be 'strong'.
4.5 out of 5
July 31, 2011
This was an amazing book. Writing about death should be sad.....but I found this book wonderfully uplifting. Piper's relationship with her friend Becca blew me away. Piper is ready to let go of life but Becca isn't........This line says it all. "It is because of Becca that I continue. I dream the white towel floating down into the center of this ring but she clings to it. She is holding on to it with every bit of her strength and her fists are stronger than mine."_
Wonderful insights into love and loss.....and I'm really getting to like the jumps from present into past. Nothing confusing about it .....past and present melt one into the other and each jump brings us closer to the truth.
Wonderful insights into love and loss.....and I'm really getting to like the jumps from present into past. Nothing confusing about it .....past and present melt one into the other and each jump brings us closer to the truth.
August 24, 2015
I love this book! My friend loaned it to me, and she didn't cry, yet I was in let's say page 20 around or so, and was crying more than a baby!
But there's this quote that I enjoyed a lot. It's “Hope is really just desire disguised, just desperation, aching, dressed up like a prayer.�
How beautiful! I really enjoyed this book. I know many wont like it since it's not the normal cliché book everyone likes to read but, it has that mother-daughter relationship, that aching feeling of wanting to reach that person... there is nothing greater than that.
Amazingly done. Five stars for you!
~Nicky
But there's this quote that I enjoyed a lot. It's “Hope is really just desire disguised, just desperation, aching, dressed up like a prayer.�
How beautiful! I really enjoyed this book. I know many wont like it since it's not the normal cliché book everyone likes to read but, it has that mother-daughter relationship, that aching feeling of wanting to reach that person... there is nothing greater than that.
Amazingly done. Five stars for you!
~Nicky
April 11, 2010
I just picked up this book written by T. Greenwood. I thought I was picking up her latest book, but I am glad that this book fell into my hands.
When I started it, I thought that I might not be able to finish it because the main character, Piper, is dying of breast cancer. I just lost my dad last month.
I am happy that I stuck with it. What prose! The story moves effortlessly from present day to when Piper's mom deserted the family when Piper was 14 years old. I truly enjoyed this story, even if it was not the one that I thought it was. It was a very goodread.
When I started it, I thought that I might not be able to finish it because the main character, Piper, is dying of breast cancer. I just lost my dad last month.
I am happy that I stuck with it. What prose! The story moves effortlessly from present day to when Piper's mom deserted the family when Piper was 14 years old. I truly enjoyed this story, even if it was not the one that I thought it was. It was a very goodread.
February 10, 2012
Spoiler alert! Wow, this was a bad book. Usually I can find at least one redeeming quality in every book, but this was the exception. The girl's mother leaves, her father checks out, she's raped by her boyfriend, has an affair with her teacher, then she grows up and gets cancer. She never finds out what happened to her mother, she never reconcils with her father, she doesn't find hope or love. She doesn't even die at the end to escape her miserable life. There was not one single funny or entertaining thing in the entire book. Even my book club couldn't find anything worth discussing.
March 21, 2009
Rarely have I read a book that breaks my heart as this one did. Perhaps it is because I identified with the protagonist. We are roughly the same age; she's dying physically. I feel like I'm dying psychologically. She faces her demise, while I am still hiding from mine. We both live solitary existences, isolated from the world around us, entering only when we feel the need. As I read about Piper's life, I tried so hard not to cry for her, for me.
March 29, 2011
So this is about a thirty year old woman dying from breast cancer, but spends a lot of time with her tragic past and (I guess?) coming to terms with it.
I guess this was an interesting take on impending death in someone so young. That point of view had my attention. I didn't feel as interested in the back story, at least for as much attention as it got. I thought more could have been explored in the here and now.
I guess this was an interesting take on impending death in someone so young. That point of view had my attention. I didn't feel as interested in the back story, at least for as much attention as it got. I thought more could have been explored in the here and now.
December 20, 2010
Poignant and wonderful - great writing that pulls you in. It was raining here today, so I just pulled up by the fire, and never stopped reading till I was done. It's an easy book to do that with. But it's pretty sad. I found myself feeling sad hours later - couldn't figure out why, but I think it was the lingering effects of this book. It's just the kind of book I love and recommend. Still, my husband is telling me I need more comedy in my life -- I think maybe he's right.
January 24, 2011
I now want to read everything by this author. Finished this one in 2 days (with lots of late-night pregnancy insomnia reading). Beautiful writing and characters with whom I did not want to part. Tragic, touching, and true to life...Piper tells the story of her life and how it was inextricably altered during the course of her 14th year through her current year of 30 as she dies of breast cancer.
August 8, 2008
My least favorite of her three novels, but her blending of poetry and prose is inspirational. The book leaves a lot of issues unresolved, which can be fine, but in this case I was left feeling like there was no specific ending.
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