Life & Other Near-Death Experiences + Giveaway
What will you do if everything in your life has turned upside down? This is a story of what Libby did.
ABOUT THE BOOK
MY THOUGHTS
OK. Let's get this over with. I loved it. I love it. Yes, in past and present tense. As I sit here thinking about it, I love it even more. Why? For the witty dialogue, the crazy theatrics, the lighthearted approach to a dilemma that can cripple life in general, and most of all the melodramatic mindset of our protagonist, Libby. Do I agree with her? Not necessarily, but I can relate to her. I believe I have my moments of over-wrought emotional displays and thoughts. I'm probably having one right now over the very fact that this book is just so REAL. It's real, but with moments that doesn't seem real. Life happens, and many times things will not go as you wish or as it seems. As I'm reading this, all in one sitting, not even moving a bit, causing my leg and derriere to go numb afterwards, might I add.
Libby was dealt two very big blow that questioned her school of thought from the beginning. Her optimism had somehow clouded over all the clues that lead to this event, yet I love how it comes full circle for her to find optimism in the midst of chaos and supposedly despair. Is life really that fragile? And if so, would you have followed what Libby did? One of the first stages of dealing with trauma is denial and then anger.
As to the characters, Camille did a wonderful job bringing in fun characters to support Libby and the storyline. From Tom, to Paul to Milagos and of course Shiloh, they all added to the element of empathy and attraction to Libby and to Life and Other Near-Death Experiences. Even the "evil" Jackie and Dr. Sanders heighten the realistic factor to all of this.
TO PURCHASE A COPY
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Title: Life and Other Near-Death Experiences
Author: Camille Pagán
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
ABOUT THE BOOK
Libby Miller has always been an unwavering optimist—but when
her husband drops a bomb on their marriage the same day a doctor delivers
devastating news, she realizes her rose-colored glasses have actually been
blinding her.
With nothing left to lose, she abandons
her life in Chicago for the clear waters and bright beaches of the Caribbean
for what might be her last hurrah. Despite her new sunny locale, her plans go
awry when she finds that she can’t quite outrun the past or bring herself to
face an unknowable future. Every day of tropical bliss may be an invitation to
disaster, but with her twin brother on her trail and a new relationship on the
horizon, Libby is determined to forget about fate. Will she risk it all to
live—and love—a little longer?
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OK. Let's get this over with. I loved it. I love it. Yes, in past and present tense. As I sit here thinking about it, I love it even more. Why? For the witty dialogue, the crazy theatrics, the lighthearted approach to a dilemma that can cripple life in general, and most of all the melodramatic mindset of our protagonist, Libby. Do I agree with her? Not necessarily, but I can relate to her. I believe I have my moments of over-wrought emotional displays and thoughts. I'm probably having one right now over the very fact that this book is just so REAL. It's real, but with moments that doesn't seem real. Life happens, and many times things will not go as you wish or as it seems. As I'm reading this, all in one sitting, not even moving a bit, causing my leg and derriere to go numb afterwards, might I add.
Libby was dealt two very big blow that questioned her school of thought from the beginning. Her optimism had somehow clouded over all the clues that lead to this event, yet I love how it comes full circle for her to find optimism in the midst of chaos and supposedly despair. Is life really that fragile? And if so, would you have followed what Libby did? One of the first stages of dealing with trauma is denial and then anger.
"This was around the point at which I stopped listening and started going through a rapid-fire version of the Kubler-Ross model of grief." (2)From personal experience, when I heard some bad news from a doctor, I remember having done exactly that. I stopped listening and started staring off to space. I didn't hear a word. At what stage would you have come to the realization that life may not be as hopeless as you think? Emotionally and sentimentally, Libby's reaction to everything made me root for her. It made me understand her, not necessarily be her.
As to the characters, Camille did a wonderful job bringing in fun characters to support Libby and the storyline. From Tom, to Paul to Milagos and of course Shiloh, they all added to the element of empathy and attraction to Libby and to Life and Other Near-Death Experiences. Even the "evil" Jackie and Dr. Sanders heighten the realistic factor to all of this.
The injection of subtle humor and
slight sarcasm possibly added to the melodramatic aspect of it all, but it
gives this rather somber topic a "light beyond the tunnel" aspect
that I truly relish and appreciate. It's hope. It's about finding the hope in
every situation which makes it worthwhile and not pull readers into a
darkness that already surrounds topics like cancer. Sometimes it's also the
journey, and with Life and
Other Near-Death Experiences, the journey for Libby changed her and
revived her, and I hope reading this will revive you too.
Now don't
forget to enter for your chance to win your very own copy of Life and Other Near-Death
Experiences. Scroll down to
see how to enter.
TO PURCHASE A COPY
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GIVEAWAY
Simple. Just leave a comment for Camille or myself about this post. Please include your email in the post. Remember to use [at] and [dot] to avoid spammers.
One winner will receive a copy of Life and Other Near-Death Experiences, brought to you by Camille Pagán and TLC Book Tours. Winners will be selected randomly by Random.org. This giveaway ends on November 25, 2015. Open to US addresses only. Please feel free to share.
Simple. Just leave a comment for Camille or myself about this post. Please include your email in the post. Remember to use [at] and [dot] to avoid spammers.
One winner will receive a copy of Life and Other Near-Death Experiences, brought to you by Camille Pagán and TLC Book Tours. Winners will be selected randomly by Random.org. This giveaway ends on November 25, 2015. Open to US addresses only. Please feel free to share.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Camille
Pagán’s work
has appeared in dozens of publications and on websites including Forbes,Glamour, Men’s Health, Parade, O: The Oprah Magazine, Real Simple, WebMD.com, and Women’s Health. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and two children.
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