If I Just Breathe
by Tina Koral
List Price:
Our Price: $11.87
You Save: $3.08 (21%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.97 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Tina KoralEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-10-22
ISBN: 1440419922
Number of pages: 128
Publisher: CreateSpace
Book Reviews of If I Just Breathe
Book Review: 1st person account - for everyone
Summary: 4 Stars
This is not a book just for women, or for people who have cancer/know someone with cancer/etc. I can tell you what this book is *not* - it's not a "Why me?" story, nor is it an "I'm a hero" book. It's the story of a young woman who faced a devastating situation, and worked her way through it with a lot of pluck and determination.
The problem with true stories is that life never wraps up all the threads of a life in neat bundles at regular intervals. While we can rejoice at the positive ending of her book, we can't imagine that the author spends her life "Happily ever after."
At the risk of being "that jerk" who has negative things to say about a cancer survivor's book. . . There were a couple areas I'd have like to see fleshed out. First, the author's husband (one of her main reasons for living) is less developed in the story than than one of the doctors she later sued for malpractice. Her husband seems like a great guy - I really would have liked to have gotten to know him better. I was a little disappointed with the transcripts near the end of the book - I didn't think they added much to her narrative.
I was very impressed with the writing and structure of the book, esepecially considering the author's background wasn't as a jounalist or fiction writer. The story of her struggle and triumph is presented in a very readable manner that makes her a real person, and really draws you in to what's happening. Much more than a diary or bare recitation of facts.
The author has succeeded twice: she's survived a very aggressive cancer, and has produced a well-written book about the experience.
Summary of If I Just Breathe
In August 2003, Tina Koral was an ambitious medical research assistant with a blossoming career, and a newlywed with dreams of children. But her life was about to change forever. If I Just Breathe is the story of Koral's breast cancer diagnosis at age thirty, after her tumor was left to grow and spread for eighteen months because her doctors said she was too young to get breast cancer. While in treatment, Koral initiated a medical malpractice lawsuit against two doctors and two major Chicago area hospitals. During this time she wrestled with the questions that many young women with cancer do - will this kill me? Will I be able to have children? Will the doctors be held responsible for their negligence? With such universal themes of body image, fertility, and triumph over adversity, If I Just Breathe will inspire any woman to be resilient in the face of life's difficult times.Memoirs Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Memoirs Books
Kingdom of Fear: Loathsome Secrets of a Star-Crossed Child in the Final Days of the American Centuryby Hunter S. Thompson
Penguin Books, Limited (UK); Published: 2008-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.11
Price in other shops:
Never Have Your Dog Stuffedby Alan Alda
Arrow Books; Published: 2007-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.59
Price in other shops:
The Hunger: A Story of Food, Desire, and Ambitionby John DeLucie, Graydon Carter
Ecco; Published: 2009-05-12; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $1.76
Price in other shops:
Brotherhood of Warriors: Behind Enemy Lines with a Commando in One of the World's Most Elite Counterterrorism Unitsby Aaron Cohen, Douglas Century
Ecco; Published: 2008-04-29; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $6.82
Price in other shops:
Not Lost Forever: My Story of Survivalby Carmina Salcido, Steve Jackson
William Morrow; Published: 2009-10-06; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $4.99
Price in other shops:
Unlocked: The Life and Crimes of a Mafia Insiderby Louis Ferrante
Harper Perennial; Published: 2009-02-24; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.98
Price in other shops:
Writing Places: The Life Journey of a Writer and Teacherby William Zinsser
Harper; Published: 2009-05-19; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $4.08
Price in other shops:
Got the Life: My Journey of Addiction, Faith, Recovery, and Kornby Fieldy
William Morrow; Published: 2009-03-10; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $3.98
Price in other shops:
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life (P.S.)by Barbara Kingsolver, Camille Kingsolver, Steven L. Hopp
Harper Perennial; Published: 2008-04-29; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.72
Price in other shops:
The Ride of My Lifeby Mat Hoffman
It Books; Published: 2003-09-16; Paperback; Book
Best price: $15.95