- Paperback: 128 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd (7 May 1998)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0140276300
- ISBN-13: 978-0140276305
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 14 x 1.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 152,815 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
When Ruth Picardie died from complications following the misdiagnosis of breast cancer in September 1997, leaving a young husband and two-year-old twins, thousands mourned who'd never met her. Ruth's column in "The Observer" recorded with scalding honesty the progress of her illness and her feelings about living with terminal cancer. "Before I Say Goodbye" brings together these pieces, Ruth's e-mail correspondence with friends, selected letters from readers, and accounts of Ruth's last days by her sister, Justine, and husband Matt.
About the Author
Ruth Picardie was a prolific journalist, writing on everything from fashion frivolity to film criticism. Her work appeared in The Guardian, Screen International, Marie-Claire, Elle, Mirabella, etc.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
You're 32, a stone-and-a-half overweight, depressed by the stains on the sofa and have never come to terms with having piggy eyes but, still, life is pretty great: you've got a husband who can make squid ink pasta and has all his own hair, your one-year-old twins are sleeping through the night and, as for your career - well, you might be interviewing George Clooney next week. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
You're 32, a stone-and-a-half overweight, depressed by the stains on the sofa and have never come to terms with having piggy eyes but, still, life is pretty great: you've got a husband who can make squid ink pasta and has all his own hair, your one-year-old twins are sleeping through the night and, as for your career - well, you might be interviewing George Clooney next week. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is one of those books that gets handed around from person to person with a "you must read ...". I admit to having had reservations - too many people I knew have recently died of the dreaded "c". Currently living in Chile I felt horribly isolated and unable to help. This book leaves the reader in no doubt as to the kaleidescope of emotions that friends and family go through - the disbelief, the fear, the anger...it was a generous and moving book and I believe that every person who allowed a part of themselves to be published therein should be thanked..I felt an incredible respect for them.
If there is one part of this amazing piece of literature that friend's have repeatedly commented on - it is the piece by Ruth's husband. He revealed his heart and the terrible toll the illness had on their relationship - his honesty took courage and I for one am grateful for his ability to relate his feelings honestly - the good, the bad and the ugly and not resort to platitudes.
A truly moving read.
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Having read an article about how Ruth Picardie's husband was coping after her death, I was interested to read her book at the beginning of summer 1998. I read it in all innocence but was immediately struck by the similarities between us, both born in 1964, both with two young children. I cried a great deal but strangely laughed too. Her courage and her determination are a gift which she has left behind to fellow sufferers of this dreadful disease. I say fellow because some three months after first reading the book, I became one of the statistics as a young woman with breast cancer. I am one of the lucky ones. My cancer is gone but it was only after that was confirmed that I felt emotionally strong enough to re-read the book. There is so much truth to what she writes. And I wonder still how often I have said to friends that I am allowed to be bolshie because Ruth Picardie says so.
Having read the book, I now grieve for a woman I never met, and I want to help a family I don't even know. She stays alive through her book and maybe through having read it the first time I will also stay alive because she made me more careful and more aware of my own body.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was recommended this book and at first didn't know the consequences and repercussion it would have in my life. I was positively impressed by the strenght that characterises Ruth's writing and the humour with which she deals with her situation. The book is specially touching because cancer is dealt with so much casualness.It's not a book addressed to readers all over the world and is therefore void of artifice or big judgemental phrases. Unfortunately cancer is like that, it's a sincere, and growingly common, illness.. The book is heartbreaking, then again watching someone die slowly in front of you and not being able to react is horrible. I read extracts of this book again when i discovered someone close to me was dying and it touched me like nothing has before. When reading this only ideas of how unfair the world can be, how unpredictable life can be came to my mind. What can Ruth Picardie teach us with this book? For one she can teach us how to fight. Both she and those who were left behind were increadibly strong and its helpful to have connected everyone in something which is so common although it's so terribly sad. Excellent recopilation of e-mails, letters and statements,an easy read and yet so tragic that it chokes you with tears.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
facing diagnosis...
This is an excellent and moving book...I read it two years after losing one of my closest friends and I found it so helpful, poignant yet funny too. Darkness and light together. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jwtaylor
Deeply Moving
I have heard of people giving copies of this book to friends or relatives who are suffering from breast cancer or to the family of such sufferers. Read more
Published 4 months ago by boingboing
A devastating story of a women who lost her life far too early
I bought this book because I know people around me who have had cancer and I wanted to see what Ruth went through and how she coped with the news of having cancer. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Angie
An Amazing Woman!
Everyone said I was mad to read this and that I would only upset mysef but I am so glad I did. Feeling under the weather I subesequently scolded myself for feeling so down when... Read more
Published on 7 Aug 2007 by Louise Hollow
A must read for everyone
I would suggest everyone reads this book as it gives the reader an insight of how a diagnosis of cancer can affect the person and also the family unit. Read more
Published on 18 Oct 2006 by Flo Night
In between tears, you'll learn several worthwhile lessons
A short and quickly read book, and perhaps not one which you could cope with at all stages in your life, this is the brief account (kind of parallels the brief life) of the last... Read more
Published on 3 Oct 2004 by Michelle Scott
Honest and Realistic
"Before I say Goodbye" does not shy away from the word CANCER. Ruth describes what is happening in a bittersweet way in which there is no doubt that cancer is a truly... Read more
Published on 28 Feb 2002
Life at its saddest
I was given this book to take into hospital when I was to have a double mastectomy. Not a good idea under the circumstances and it did make me wonder about the motivation of my... Read more
Published on 1 Feb 2001
Read this Book!
I picked up this book while I was on holiday in London. (It was a gift for a friend who had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. Read more
Published on 5 Jan 2001 by loks1999@yahoo.com
Terribly sad...
I cried as if my heart was breaking. Read it
Published on 29 Nov 2000
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