Death's having a really bad day
593192
The girl who thought she was Death suddenly lives!  For untold years, she has fulfilled her purpose, taking the lives of young and old, healthy and sick alike without really ever understanding her role in the universe.  Suddenly, Death (Dorothy) is pushed into a mortal body and begins to experience all of the best and worst parts of the human experience.  She learns about the good in the world through her guardian angel Curtis, with his childlike joy.  She learns about the worst parts of humanity through interactions with the sadistic psychiatrist and his orderlies at a mental institution and most importantly, she learns about love with Randy - a grief-stricken widower.  Through these combined experiences, she finally understands how her actions impact those left behind after the death of a loved one.  The value of one human life becomes her most important lesson.
I really enjoyed this unique perspective on life, death and dying.  It is a true reflection of the human experience and all that it has to offer, told through the eyes of someone who is a bystander that gets pulled into the story of the world.  I would recommend it.
This is a voluntary review of an ARC of the story.
2143946
This is a very depressing book for several reasons.  It is not the main thrust of the book but the author, a doctor, in an early section of the book discusses how we physically and mentally gradually worsen as we get older.  If you hadn't been thinking about that topic, it's pretty gruesome reading.  Further the main thrust of the book is how assisted living facilities and nursing homes take little or no account for the individual and make end of life a pretty miserable trip.  The author has suggestions to improve this societal problem.  There is also plenty of information about the process of dying, which may not be for the faint of heart.  Five stars because it is so well-written, so well-argued, so caring.  Nice job, Doc.
2175873
I love some of the ideas this book presents. Being able to connect our minds with each other would be an amazing feat.

There is a lot of death represented in this book. I'm not sure that I agree events would unfold in such a way. The lack of control and the breaks in the chains of commands do quite a lot of damage.

In all, this is not a feel-good book, but a glimmer-of-hope book. Take that as you will.
4251514
This is a book you kind of want to not read.  You know it's going to be sad. But you can't stop reading it.  I thought it was well written makes you think about life death what's important, true friendships and unconditional love. Coping with many issues dealing with death.  Even tho it was sad I enjoyed it I wanted more...
2112257
So moving, really makes you think about the process of dying
1671393
Our redoubtable author is not experiencing a good patch of life right now.  She's married and her kids are young and she's dealing with floods and famine.  It's depressing and she's depressed, and that's of interest to anyone who is following her career (and kudos to you) but I find I'm also depressing and depressed while I'm reading it because, well, the typical mode for reading Ms Holland's works is a sensual enjoyment of the pleasures of life, and in this book she's busy dealing with the absurd inequities and painful realities of life.  Even her book on living alone is less depressing, because the more progressive readership of hers is at least familiar with the feminine struggle in a patriarchal world.  In this book?  It's more about the struggle of the average non-upper-class in a world that doesn't much care about the non-upper-class.

If she were alive, I wouldn't leave this review.  She died while divorced, of cancer, and I wish her life could be better.  I'm still finishing the last few chapters.  It's a bit of a slog.  You stand warned.
4124437
That song really touch me.  It is uplifting especially when you are having a terrible day.
1574724
I really enjoyed this book.  When families experience a death, each person has their own feelings about the effect on them. Usually talking about it truthfully is difficult. We need to realize the hurt each person holds inside and to offer support and help. Great story with a nice ending.
3397259
Sad to say after reading these reviews, this is a book I have not yet read...I am writing today because the author is a dear friend, and his son, Ben, is this moment hanging between life and death after a severe longboarding accident, with just a 10 to 15% chance of survival. If you pray, please pray for Ben Wolverton, and help support the family by buying Dave's books. (Probably not this one, as it's out of print and will not get him any royalties.) Hopefully not the .01 cent variety, either, as Ben's estimated hospital and rehabilitation expense so far is $4 million, should he survive. He has no insurance. This is not a joke. The next 24 hours are critical for him. He's a great kid, and Dave is in total shock. Please pray, meditate, or do whatever you can to help. I believe he is still in a Los Vegas hospital at this time, but I don't know the name. No flowers, just love, support, and prayers.

Update, by Dave Wolverton (aka David Farland) April 7, 2013: "About Ben's accident: Ben went long-boarding with a friend up near Snow Canyon, a scenic place with lots of rolling hills. They had never been there before, and Ben's friend, Tyler, went down a steep hill and thought that it was too difficult for Ben's board. He turned around to warn Ben, but by then Ben had already been thrown from his board.

Apparently, Ben was thrown forward and rolled head-over-heels several times. That's why he crushed his skull (down near the hind brain), and then hit his back hard enough to bruise his lungs, then broke his pelvis/crushed his vertebrae, and so on. Beyond that, he has bad "road burn" on his knees, shoulder, back, hips, and so on, and a split lip. With the concussion, his ear drum broke, and he lost a lot of blood through his left ear and again through his nose.

An ambulance reached him quickly, and stayed with him until a helicopter got there to evacuate him at about 45 minutes. It flew him to the hospital in Saint George, but they don't have the equipment/staff to handle severe head trauma cases, so they administered meds and flew him to Las Vegas.

Ben is still in a coma, but his vitals are stable. They tried feeding him some solids through a tube yesterday, and he held it down well, so they're now starting him on more food. However, he hasn't moved since about 4 hours after the accident. We'll just have to hang on and see if he wakes up."

Update May 30, 2013

Only four percent of people who have the type of head injury sustained by Ben survive. Read that sentence again to let it sink in, and then follow this link:  http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151520229164164&set=a. 10150316693824164.349498.622749163&type=1&theater

Ben is a miracle.

Medical bills have surpassed one-million dollars, and as stated before, they had no insurance. We, David's many friends, are encouraging everyone to buy a David Farland book today. And if you pray, please thank God for Ben and his recovery, and for his continued rehabilitation.

[...]

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1118777
Should be called a 'short history of private life, and a lot about famous and not so famous people and death, death, death'. The book is filled with life stories of men and women who discovered or developed the foods, medicines, and items we use today. The book just wasn't what I expected. It was fairly interesting, but some of the biographies were so long and drawn out I had a hard time staying interested. One thing I am taking away from this book-- everyone alive today should get down on their knees and be thankful that they are not living in the world as he describes it. In the past people had surgery while being fully awake, children were forced to live regimented lives, lice and rats were living on and with everyone. I could go on and on, but the past was a pretty horrible place. It's just that reading about how terrible everything was in one book is a lot to take all at one time.  He covers disease, poverty, accidents, lack of food, clean water, going your entire life without a bath, and on and on. Every page was filled with woe. People dying in every way you can imagine because they did not have the things we take for granted. I guess I am not pleased with this book was because I thought it was going to be a lighter read. As it is, it's a very depressing book almost from cover to cover. Prepare to be informed, but also prepare to be disgusted, sickened, and saddened.
3708525
The book was depressing as it told the stories of the illnesses of the people, their children and their animals. People have not learned anything from their struggles and today we risk greater disasters due to global warming and the wanton use of our national resources. Weather is getting violent, airline passengers are experiencing terrible turbulence, flooding and earthquakes are happening as never before. We need leaders who can implement corrections before we die from ignorant greed.
3480468
Good book on how to deal with death. Finding what happens when You give it to God. You can get through any storm.  Just believe his love will see you through.
4365672
having a bad day? listen to this and calm down. when I can't stand life I listen to this to go to sleep. he sounds a little weird sometimes but i like the imagery.
682935
A wonderful story narrated by death during a horrible time. A little slow at times, but it still held my interest. I'm really glad I bought it and read it. I can't wait, now, to see the movie.
3533149
Erica, I'm looking forward to learning g how Carl and the others handle the remainder of day one in this event. Looks like it'll get worse before it gets better!!
4110699
The concept is alluring. On day two it had a fatal aneurysm.
The hose was cremated and sent to "as seen on TV".
So sad ..... just getting over it.
216019
When death visits, there are problems left behind. Love can face any thing and bring a guiding destiny to bear with the help of a true medium.

Give it some thought and a good read!!