Between Two Kingdoms: What almost dying taught me about living

Between Two Kingdoms: What almost dying taught me about living

  • Downloads:8813
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2022-05-27 09:51:43
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Suleika Jaouad
  • ISBN:0552173126
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

We all face moments that bring us to our knees: heartbreak, trauma, illness。 When things don't go to plan this is the book to reach for - an inspirational memoir about what we can learn about life from a brush with death。

At just twenty-two, on the cusp of adult life, Suleika Jaouad was diagnosed with leukemia and given a 35 per cent chance of survival。 For the next five years, her world comprised four white walls, a hospital bed, fluorescent lights, tubes and wires。 She became patient 5624。 At twenty-seven, and celebrating her first year of remission, Suleika realized that, having survived, she now had no idea how to live。 And so she set out to meet some of the many strangers who had written to her about their experiences of life, death, healing and recovery in response to her Emmy-Award winning New York Times column, 'Life Interrupted'。 Between Two Kingdoms is the result。 Drawing on Suleika's TED Talk, now with 4 million views, it illuminates universal questions about how we live, mourn, heal and grow up, and what it means to begin again。

Download

Reviews

Jamie Hecker

Poignant and searing。I imagine there are several types of persons who will be drawn to this book。 Those who enjoy memoirs; those who have or had cancer, in the present or the past; caregivers to cancer patients, and finally to my specific demographic - Leukemia (AML) diagnosis followed by a stem cell transplant (SCT)。Although our circumstances are quite different - Suleika was diagnosed at age 22, mine was age 55 - I was struck at the significant parallels in our 'journeys。' I know firsthand how Poignant and searing。I imagine there are several types of persons who will be drawn to this book。 Those who enjoy memoirs; those who have or had cancer, in the present or the past; caregivers to cancer patients, and finally to my specific demographic - Leukemia (AML) diagnosis followed by a stem cell transplant (SCT)。Although our circumstances are quite different - Suleika was diagnosed at age 22, mine was age 55 - I was struck at the significant parallels in our 'journeys。' I know firsthand how the recovery from a SCT goes。 In fact, I'm still undergoing it。 I'm almost 1 yr post-SCT。 No signs of relapse, but it's a reality that is always parked in the back of my mind。Suleika's book resonated with me on stunningly specific levels。 Her description of hospital confinement, guilt, wondering about life 'after' cancer, survival at a personal cost -- these are emotions and feelings that have coursed through my veins since my AML diagnosis through SCT and recovery。I heartily recommend this book to Cancer survivors and caregivers, and to AML patients in particular。 。。。more

Dianne

Very moving memoir, for a life so interrupted。 Truly an opportunity to think about what is important。

Claire

LOVED the beginning of this- honest, authentic, compelling。 The second half got not as interesting to me, but overall, this was beautiful。 Also so inspired by her 100 day projects

Sue

One my favorite memoirs I’ve ever read。 I will read it again and again。 I will refer back to it for its life lessons and the acquired wisdom of its young author。 I keep very few book with which I do that: Night, Tuesdays with Morris, and The Joy Luck Club。 This book just became number four in my very small, prized collection。The incredible story is the cancer journey of a very young woman, the writer, Suleika Jaouad。 But that is misleading。 It is also her healing journey。 Anyone ever in need of One my favorite memoirs I’ve ever read。 I will read it again and again。 I will refer back to it for its life lessons and the acquired wisdom of its young author。 I keep very few book with which I do that: Night, Tuesdays with Morris, and The Joy Luck Club。 This book just became number four in my very small, prized collection。The incredible story is the cancer journey of a very young woman, the writer, Suleika Jaouad。 But that is misleading。 It is also her healing journey。 Anyone ever in need of healing of any kind (pretty much everyone), whether physical or emotional, needs to read this。 Anyone who is a caretaker needs to read this。 Anyone who provides counseling must read this。 Anyone whose soul needs a boost must read this。 。。。more

Candace Taylor

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 I read this as an independent globe trotter and as the daughter of a mother going through Pancreatic cancer。 Part one had me in tears, she truly summed up my mothers struggles, thoughts and feelings so well。 The setbacks and the successes。 I bought it for my mom immediately, as well as a highlighter to highlight passages knew she loved。 She said it captured her thoughts and feelings perfectly。 I happened to pick it out of my bookshelf only days after my Mom’s last chemo before remission。 It gave I read this as an independent globe trotter and as the daughter of a mother going through Pancreatic cancer。 Part one had me in tears, she truly summed up my mothers struggles, thoughts and feelings so well。 The setbacks and the successes。 I bought it for my mom immediately, as well as a highlighter to highlight passages knew she loved。 She said it captured her thoughts and feelings perfectly。 I happened to pick it out of my bookshelf only days after my Mom’s last chemo before remission。 It gave me so much more empathy than I already had, reading her words on her experience。 She also described well the caregiver experience。 How often we feel held back in our caregiver position, and sometimes fight feelings of resentment。 This made me rethink everything。 As a woman who actively fought against falling in love at such a young age so that I could adventure, I screamed at the book every time she dated so quickly or almost married and made embryos at such a young age - so angry to always be reading about a guy, as if that was the priority! It was like reading about myself at her age, before I went adventuring。 So when she herself noticed she needed to take an adventure I fell even further in love with the book。 Suddenly she was even more relatable - to my mother as she went through cancer and myself as a caregiver, and then to myself as a woman who also went adventuring alone, albeit for other reasons around the same age。 Some will have had a life too uncomplicated and linear to appreciate this book - married their first love right out of school, no Illness in them or their family, no reason to go it solo on the road while everyone around them married and popped out babies。 I wish others to not have to understand the pain in being a cancer patient or the caregiver to one, but because I do, I am so grateful for what she gave us in this book。 I rooted so hard for her, not only to get through cancer, but to fall I love with herself and the open road before someone else - all of which she did。 Cheers Suleika! ❤️ 。。。more

Robyn

Love。

Thomas

Great memoir, powerful and heartbreaking and optimistic

Nancy McCann

A beautifully written memoir that goes far beyond the usual cancer narrative。 While Jaouad does deliver an unflinching account of the struggles of cancer treatment, this book is so much more。 It is a tale of love, friendship, adventure, and self discovery, from the eyes of someone made wise beyond their years due to being dealt a terrible hand so early in life。 Jaouad’s honest voice led me to feel like she was a close friend by the end of the book, and I will anticipate future writings by her as A beautifully written memoir that goes far beyond the usual cancer narrative。 While Jaouad does deliver an unflinching account of the struggles of cancer treatment, this book is so much more。 It is a tale of love, friendship, adventure, and self discovery, from the eyes of someone made wise beyond their years due to being dealt a terrible hand so early in life。 Jaouad’s honest voice led me to feel like she was a close friend by the end of the book, and I will anticipate future writings by her as one looks forward to a visit from a dear friend。 I wish her all the best as I know she continues to struggle with illness。 。。。more

AnneMarie StClair

No wordsJust read this book。 It will open you in unexpected ways。 I had to stop and cry sometimes。 This book will stay with me forever。

Marti Tommasone

A memoir tracing the authors journey from before, during and after cancer。 Author does a great job conveying the emotion that this illness brings into someone life。

Lauren Sudeyko

After recently losing a close young cousin to cancer, I felt like I better understood my cousin's journey after reading this book。 I have empathy for how lonely the cancer journey can be and how life is not perfect once you are done with chemo or even when you are in remission。 Suleika is a fantastic author and really humanizes her experience。 Fantastic read and would highly recommend。 After recently losing a close young cousin to cancer, I felt like I better understood my cousin's journey after reading this book。 I have empathy for how lonely the cancer journey can be and how life is not perfect once you are done with chemo or even when you are in remission。 Suleika is a fantastic author and really humanizes her experience。 Fantastic read and would highly recommend。 。。。more

SR

What a thoughtful insightful real journey of suffering from leukaemia at an young age。 It shows true spirit,love, forgiveness。 Suleika is an amazing woman and an excellent writer。 Must read book。

Lavinia Băra

"𝙄̂𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙪𝙖̆ 𝙡𝙪𝙢𝙞", 𝙎𝙪𝙡𝙚𝙞𝙠𝙖 𝙅𝙖𝙤𝙪𝙖𝙙"Rămâi pe linia de plutire。"Romanul este un debut spectaculos al tinerei Suleika Jaouad。 Prima parte a cărții este despre lupta pentru viață。 Ea împărtășește în mod deschis și vulnerabil trecerea prin acest proces oribil。 Partea a doua este despre vindecare și despre cum să-ți reiei viața la care nu mai sperai vreodată。 Pentru că bucuria și pierderea coexistă adesea。。。 Suleika Jaouad s-a născut la New York dintr-un tată tunisian și o mamă elvețiană。Toate visuri "𝙄̂𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙪𝙖̆ 𝙡𝙪𝙢𝙞", 𝙎𝙪𝙡𝙚𝙞𝙠𝙖 𝙅𝙖𝙤𝙪𝙖𝙙"Rămâi pe linia de plutire。"Romanul este un debut spectaculos al tinerei Suleika Jaouad。 Prima parte a cărții este despre lupta pentru viață。 Ea împărtășește în mod deschis și vulnerabil trecerea prin acest proces oribil。 Partea a doua este despre vindecare și despre cum să-ți reiei viața la care nu mai sperai vreodată。 Pentru că bucuria și pierderea coexistă adesea。。。 Suleika Jaouad s-a născut la New York dintr-un tată tunisian și o mamă elvețiană。Toate visurile i-au fost curmate de un diagnostic necruțător la numai 22 de ani: leucemie mieloidă acută。 Au urmat patru ani de tratamente, de chimioterapie, de transplant de măduvă osoasă。 "Suntem cu toții pacienți în fază terminală pe-acest pământ – întrebarea nu e 𝘥𝘢𝘤𝘢̆, ci 𝘤𝘢̂𝘯𝘥 survine momentul morții。" Jurnal al durerii, "𝘐̂𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘶𝘢̆ 𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘪。 𝘈𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘪 𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘳-𝘰 𝘷𝘪𝘢𝘵̦𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘢̆", este o poveste despre maturitate。 O aventură de drum lung。 O poveste de supraviețuire și o poveste de dragoste, însă nu acea dragoste plină de romantism, ci mult mai mult - conexiune, comuniune, devotament。"E singura opțiune。 Iubește-i pe cei din jur。 Iubește-ți viața。 Iubirea e cel mai puternic antidot pentru suferință。" Procesul de vindecare este un act de descoperire brută, terifiant aș zice。 Abordarea proactivă și disciplinată a vieții a ajutat-o pe Suleika să treacă peste toate și să trăiască din nou atunci când cancerul a intrat în remisie。Reafirmarea independenței și îmblânzirea propriilor temeri are loc la scurt timp după vindecare - o excursie cu terrier-ul ei adoptat, Oscar, printr-o America cu noi prieteni fiind doar primul pas spre redescoperire。"。。。uneori tot ce poți face e să fii prezent。 Iar când lucrurile se complică să rămâi în continuare prezent。"Iar concluzia la care ajunge Suleika este efectiv izbitoare: "Nu, dacă aș putea, nu mi-aș anula diagnosticul。 Nu aș da timpul înapoi。" pentru că "Viața nu este un experiment controlat。" Nu există gram de autocompătimire în această povestire。 Suleika este o femeie puternică, inspiratoare, de o onestitate dezarmantă și un bun exemplu pentru toți cei care trec prin asta ori au în familie membrii care se confruntă cu orice tip de boală。 O urmăresc deja pe rețele de socializare și fiecare postare dint-ale ei îmi dă speranță。 Am încredere că va scrie o nouă carte despre noul său drum prin viață și despre menirea ei。"Nu există niciun atlas care să cartografieze bucata de autostradă singuratică, neluminată de lună, care se întinde între cel care erai la început și cel care ai ajuns să fii。"Vreau doar să mai adaug că Tara Westover este una dintre persoanele care au sprijinit-o。 Știu că sunt mulți iubitori ai jurnalului ei。 😊 。。。more

Alissa

I loved the first part, didn't love the second, which felt less honest and was trying too hard to put a positive spin on having cancer。 Maybe this is because I was unfairly comparing Jaouad to Megan O'Rourke, as the latter is more complex in her musings about whether she was fortunate to have been chronically ill for a decade because she learned so much。 The first half of Jaouad's book is more of what I like in a memoir: a more honest recounting, which can allow for nuance and ambivalence。 In th I loved the first part, didn't love the second, which felt less honest and was trying too hard to put a positive spin on having cancer。 Maybe this is because I was unfairly comparing Jaouad to Megan O'Rourke, as the latter is more complex in her musings about whether she was fortunate to have been chronically ill for a decade because she learned so much。 The first half of Jaouad's book is more of what I like in a memoir: a more honest recounting, which can allow for nuance and ambivalence。 In the second half, there's a buoyancy that feels imposed on the book, and I can't help but wonder if an editor imposed it so we had some sort of arc。 I would have been fine without one。 。。。more

Maude Peterson

made me want to pack up and travel。 inspiring but also coated with general malaise, perhaps inevitable given the plot line

Jessica Vique

The bad language ruins it for me。

Maryann

Intimate soul searching while standing in the kingdoms of wellness and illness。 At once totally well, then one foot in each, then totally ill, then moving with one foot in each after trauma, with the final section experiencing how to be totally alive in wellness again。 So many aspects of the two kingdoms to consider, and this author explores those aspects deeply。 Very interesting and engaging。

Rachael Pawlak

One of the best memoirs I’ve read。 Such an honest look at cancer diagnosis。 But so gutted her leukemia returned after publishing this book。

Mrs。 Buechele

4。5 The road trip at the end took longer than I wanted; however, it was amazing! Hit close to home with me, but I am so glad I listened to this book! Beautiful quotes: “You have to shift from the gloom and doom and focus instead on what you love。 That’s all you can do in the face of these things。 Love the people around you。 Love the life you have。 I can’t think of a more powerful response to life’s sorrows than loving。”“Talking about the ones we’ve lost keeps them alive。”

Becca

4。5 The road trip at the end took longer than I wanted; however, it was amazing! Hit close to home with me, but I am so glad I listened to this book! Beautiful quotes: “You have to shift from the gloom and doom and focus instead on what you love。 That’s all you can do in the face of these things。 Love the people around you。 Love the life you have。 I can’t think of a more powerful response to life’s sorrows than loving。”“Talking about the ones we’ve lost keeps them alive。”

Cassandra Nunes

This book was an incredible true story about love, loss, illness and recovery。 Such an honest look into the dark corners of a cancer survivor’s struggles, you can’t help but feel like you know and relate to Suleika in some way。

Deborah

I can’t imagine。

Serena

Monumental! This book was so tragic and beautiful。 It’s a memoir that tugged me so thoroughly and provided new perspective and appreciation for life and what it means, what the point is, what our purpose is here。 The importance of community, overcoming depression, accepting new limitations and learning to thrive within them。 It was inspiring and thought provoking and I needed it。

Rhonda

I thought that this was such a well-written book。 I found myself jotting down many of the things the author learned about herself, and life, as she went through her journey as a cancer patient。

Charlotte Steckly

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 What a thoughtful peak into the life of Suleika。 How amazing to go through the journey with her and the final realization of the importance of not protecting one’s heart and having the courage to pursue love even when we don’t know where it will lead

Melanie Springer Mock

Jaouad is a lovely writer, and tells a compelling story。 The ending both dragged a bit, but also seemed less developed than when she was focusing on her story, and her experience。

Christina Swigart

“To be well now is to learn to accept whatever body or mind I currently have。”

Kathi Crawford

Honest, heartbreaking and inspiring!

Donna

This is an interesting, intriguing read about a world I knew nothing about。 But those last 100 pages: they sing, absolutely song 。。。

Kristina Nessralla

This book touched me on so many way。 I highly recommend everyone to read it and take stock of their lives!!!! Loved it