Review: Five Days Left

Five Days Left by Julie Lawson Timmer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Five Days Left is a novel that juxtaposes two stories where the deadline of five days is significant. Mara is a wife, mother, lawyer and is also suffering from Huntington's Disease. Her plan is to commit suicide to end her life on her own terms, before the effects of the disease leave her helpless to do anything. The other story in the book is about Scott, a married man who has spent a year looking after his start basketball player's little brother. In five days, he will have to return him to his mother, who will be released from jail. The link between the two stories is a forum that the two both participate in about parenting foster/adopted children.

While Mara's story was compelling and believable, Scott's story just didn't seem as realistic. It wasn't that the situation was unbelievable, but the way the characters in that story went on and on about their feelings--most people don't even talk like that in therapy sessions. But Mara's story was heartbreaking and a little bit empowering at the same time. Overall, these stories that explore pure joy and pure heartbreak are interesting and paint a picture of how people are really connected to each other, even if they don't think they really are.

*Received this book free through Penguin First to Read



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