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A review by kittyg
So Much for That by Lionel Shriver
3.0
This is my first Lionel Shriver, and although it wasn't a favourite book for me, I get the impression from reading this that I will really like some of her other works becuase of the way Shriver writes.
This is the story of Shep Knacker and his wife. All his life Shep has worked hard and saved up in the hopes of movinbg to a remote island and living out his retirement in a relative luxury off of the money he's saved. Shep's wife has never been quite as keen on the idea, despite Shep's assurances, and as time goes on it looks less and lees likely that they will ever actually get to go to the 'Afterlife' as Shep calls it, so he sets up an ultimatum...come with me now, or I'll go alone.
Shep's wife and kids are unimpressed by his declaration, and just when he gets the courage to go his wife announces that she has been diagnosed with a highly aggressive and extremely rare cancer and Shep cannot leave becuase she will need his health insurance to cover her treatments etc. Shep is devastated by the loss of his dream, but as the time goes on and the story of their relationship and the treatments his wife undergoes develop, it may just be the one thing that can save their marriage after all.
Alongside Shep's story we also see the story of his best friend Jackson and his wife. They are family friends to Shep and his wife, but they too have their own dilemmas and troubles within their marriage, and young disabled daughter who is troubled in her own ways too. Watching the parallel stories makes for a devastating and heartfelt tale as time goes on and the relationships build, and I found it a slow but interesting read throughout.
Overall, this is definitely a heartfelt book that talks A LOT about the healthcare systems of America and shines a light on the troubles many, many people in the US face daily. It's a great book for that and a heartfelt one, and yet it's also pretty slow. For me, it worked becuase the topic was interesting, I'm not sure she's author who will appeal to everyone, but I enjoyed it and gave it 3*s in the end.
This is the story of Shep Knacker and his wife. All his life Shep has worked hard and saved up in the hopes of movinbg to a remote island and living out his retirement in a relative luxury off of the money he's saved. Shep's wife has never been quite as keen on the idea, despite Shep's assurances, and as time goes on it looks less and lees likely that they will ever actually get to go to the 'Afterlife' as Shep calls it, so he sets up an ultimatum...come with me now, or I'll go alone.
Shep's wife and kids are unimpressed by his declaration, and just when he gets the courage to go his wife announces that she has been diagnosed with a highly aggressive and extremely rare cancer and Shep cannot leave becuase she will need his health insurance to cover her treatments etc. Shep is devastated by the loss of his dream, but as the time goes on and the story of their relationship and the treatments his wife undergoes develop, it may just be the one thing that can save their marriage after all.
Alongside Shep's story we also see the story of his best friend Jackson and his wife. They are family friends to Shep and his wife, but they too have their own dilemmas and troubles within their marriage, and young disabled daughter who is troubled in her own ways too. Watching the parallel stories makes for a devastating and heartfelt tale as time goes on and the relationships build, and I found it a slow but interesting read throughout.
Overall, this is definitely a heartfelt book that talks A LOT about the healthcare systems of America and shines a light on the troubles many, many people in the US face daily. It's a great book for that and a heartfelt one, and yet it's also pretty slow. For me, it worked becuase the topic was interesting, I'm not sure she's author who will appeal to everyone, but I enjoyed it and gave it 3*s in the end.