Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and are not influenced by the author, publisher, or other related entity.
Synopsis:
My Thoughts:
My Thoughts:
At first, I was worried that I had chosen a book that was very much wrong for me. As a mother of two young children, this one could have been a total trigger issue. There are definitely some uncomfortable and tear-jerking moments, not to mention the complete gut punch of the overall crux of the book...needing to decide how to handle the treatment of a terminal child and the ultimate death of that child. However, I think that the overall very difficult subject matter was handled quite well and very gently.
The story starts off with two parents, who are very much a couple, dealing with the deterioration of their medically compromised child. They are presented with a very difficult decision, and ultimately do not agree. What follows is two separate stories in alternating chapters. One follows the story based on the father's decision and the other alternative to the story follows what happens if the mother's choice is the one that ultimately wins out. There are also intermittent bits and pieces tossed in based on the primary physician's observations, experiences, and point of view.
I like to avoid spoilers as much as humanly possible, so I won't reveal to much of the detail. Suffice it to say, I initially couldn't tolerate the approach of the father and it still feels a bit...slimy...to me, but I felt for him later in the book and could certainly understand where he was coming from. Similarly, I wouldn't say that I could whole-heartedly put myself in the mother's camp, but I could understand the emotional and analytical reasons behind her decision.
The utilization of a dual narrative and alternate history approach was incredibly well-conceived and lends itself to a very successful story. The writing felt natural, regardless of the point of view presented at the time. The primary characters of the parents were both very well done. However, the point of view of Leila (the doctor) seemed unnecessary to the story. She was still a well constructed character, but the inclusion of her individual chapters does not necessarily lend as much to the book. She does not feel as fully developed in the plot and instead detracts slightly. I would have preferred the story to remain focused solely on the parents.
Knowing that this narrative came from an actual life experience on the part of the author makes it even more powerful. The story is heartbreaking from either side and it created a lot of internal conversation with my own point of view on the matter. Though it is full of very difficult subject matter, After the End is an excellent book and I very much enjoyed reading it.
Emotional Response: The story starts off with two parents, who are very much a couple, dealing with the deterioration of their medically compromised child. They are presented with a very difficult decision, and ultimately do not agree. What follows is two separate stories in alternating chapters. One follows the story based on the father's decision and the other alternative to the story follows what happens if the mother's choice is the one that ultimately wins out. There are also intermittent bits and pieces tossed in based on the primary physician's observations, experiences, and point of view.
I like to avoid spoilers as much as humanly possible, so I won't reveal to much of the detail. Suffice it to say, I initially couldn't tolerate the approach of the father and it still feels a bit...slimy...to me, but I felt for him later in the book and could certainly understand where he was coming from. Similarly, I wouldn't say that I could whole-heartedly put myself in the mother's camp, but I could understand the emotional and analytical reasons behind her decision.
The utilization of a dual narrative and alternate history approach was incredibly well-conceived and lends itself to a very successful story. The writing felt natural, regardless of the point of view presented at the time. The primary characters of the parents were both very well done. However, the point of view of Leila (the doctor) seemed unnecessary to the story. She was still a well constructed character, but the inclusion of her individual chapters does not necessarily lend as much to the book. She does not feel as fully developed in the plot and instead detracts slightly. I would have preferred the story to remain focused solely on the parents.
Knowing that this narrative came from an actual life experience on the part of the author makes it even more powerful. The story is heartbreaking from either side and it created a lot of internal conversation with my own point of view on the matter. Though it is full of very difficult subject matter, After the End is an excellent book and I very much enjoyed reading it.
Though good, this is undeniably a sad story. There are plenty of moments that threaten to break the reader's heart. I will say though...it's not all a complete downer. You'll have to trust me in that. It isn't sunshine and roses, but the world does go on.
Rating:
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