Books › Breathless
Breathless
176 pages
A devastating, tear-soaked exploration of bodily autonomy and the impossible burdens we place on those we love.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like watching a bright summer day slowly succumb to an eclipse. It is a heavy, tear-jerking experience that strips away the invincibility of youth and replaces it with agonizing moral complexities. The narrative moves at a steady, deliberate pace, allowing the reader to sit in the uncomfortable, heartbreaking reality of anticipatory grief and the loss of bodily autonomy. Written in a straightforward, earnest style, the prose doesn't hide behind flowery metaphors; instead, it confronts the reader with raw, unfiltered emotion and impossible choices. It is a deeply compassionate but unflinching read, perfect for those who seek out cathartic, emotionally devastating stories that linger long after the final, difficult decision is made.
- Mood
- heartbreaking
- heavy
- melancholic
- tear-jerking
- Tone
- earnest
- somber
- compassionate
- unflinching
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- the limits of friendship · bodily autonomy · terminal illness · impossible choices · anticipatory grief
- The writing
- The prose is straightforward and accessible, prioritizing raw emotional impact and character dialogue over lyrical embellishment.
- The arc
- The journey shifts abruptly from the carefree invincibility of youth to a devastating, morally complex exploration of loss and agency.
- Who it's for
- Readers who crave intense, tear-jerking contemporary fiction that wrestles with heavy moral questions and the fragility of life.
Content notes
- cancer
- amputation
- terminal illness
- assisted suicide
- grief
About the book
What is the toughest request anyone can be asked to fulfill?Travis Morrison is a champion diver and one of the most popular kids at school. On the first day of summer vacation, while boating on the lake with his friends, Travis attempts a silly stunt dive that goes wrong. He fears he has broken his leg. Instead, his trip to the hospital reveals he has a rare form of cancer, and to save him, the doctors tell his parents they must amputate. In an instant, Travis's life and the lives of everyone around him are forever changed. Travis is determined that he and only he should decide the course of his life. He has a plan, but he can't carry it out alone. Will he convince one of his friends to fulfill his most important request? Lurlene McDaniel tackles a controversial subject, probing the issues of personal choice and quality of life.From the Hardcover edition.
Description from Open Library.
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