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Between Two Kingdoms
Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted | Suleika Jaouad
A searing, deeply moving memoir of illness and recovery that traces one young womans journey from diagnosis to remission and, ultimately, a road trip of healing and self-discovery. In the summer after graduating from college, Suleika Jaouad was preparing, as they say in commencement speeches, to enter the real world. She had fallen in love and moved to Paris to pursue her dream of becoming a war correspondent. The real world she found, however, would take her into a very different kind of conflict zone. It started with an itchfirst on her feet, then up her legs, like a thousand invisible mosquito bites. Next came the exhaustion, and the six-hour naps that only deepened her fatigue. Then a trip to the doctor and, a few weeks shy of her twenty-third birthday, a diagnosis: leukemia, with a 35 percent chance of survival. Just like that, the life she had imagined for herself had gone up in flames. By the time Jaouad flew home to New York, she had lost her job, her apartment, and her independence. She would spend much of the next four years in a hospital bed, fighting for her life and chronicling the saga in a column for The New York Times. When Jaouad finally walked out of the cancer wardafter three and a half years of chemo, a clinical trial, and a bone marrow transplantshe was, according to the doctors, cured. But as she would soon learn, a cure is not where the work of healing ends; its where it begins. She had spent the past 1,500 days in desperate pursuit of one goalto survive. And now that shed done so, she realized that she had no idea how to live. How would she reenter the world and live again? How could she reclaim what had been lost? Jaouad embarkedwith her new best friend, Oscar, a scruffy terrier mutton a 100-day, 15,000-mile road trip across the country. She set out to meet some of the strangers who had written to her during her years in the hospital: a teenage girl in Florida also recovering from cancer; a teacher in California grieving the death of her son; a death-row inmate in Texas whod spent his own years confined to a room. What she learned on this trip is that the divide between sick and well is porous, that the vast majority of us will travel back and forth between these realms throughout our lives. Between Two Kingdoms is a profound chronicle of survivorship and a fierce, tender, and inspiring exploration of what it means to begin again.
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BiblioBoyd
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A heartbreaking, eye-opening, and inspiring read. Suleika‘s experiences are so palpable, I didn‘t want the book to end.

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Amor4Libros
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Loved this one! Tough read at times, but I appreciated Suleika‘s recount of her cancer experience.

Excellent audiobook. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

mcctrish This is an excellent audio book ❤️❤️ 1mo
Jjaxn95 I‘m reading this right now! 1mo
Amor4Libros @mcctrish Yes! 😊 1mo
Amor4Libros @Jjaxn95 Awesome! How are you liking it? 1mo
50 likes4 comments
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Amor4Libros
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Current audiobook…I‘ve been curious about Suleika‘s story after watching Netflix‘s American Symphony.

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Deblovestoread
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#SchoolSpirit #Bus

Recommended by Ann Patchett, still on Mt. TBR

@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

BarbaraBB I‘ve been interested in this one as well 2mo
Eggs Oh I loved this one ❤️💔 2mo
kspenmoll Oh loved her book! 🩷 2mo
45 likes3 comments
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SW-T
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Pickpick

Amazing memoir. Very insightful, compelling, and vulnerable. Seeing Ms Jaouad‘s journey from symptoms to diagnosis to treatment and beyond was very eye opening. Really, really liked this one. 💛💛

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Beatlefan129
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Pickpick

Not many stories exist in the world about young adults who are navigating a cancer diagnosis, so this book fills a very important void. Jaouad is a great writer and it was very brave of her to share such a vulnerable time in her life. I didn‘t care quite as much for the 2nd half of the book detailing her post-cancer road trip, but I still very much recommend this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Amiable This was a great read! 👍🏼 4mo
61 likes1 comment
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ncsufoxes
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Pickpick

My dad passed away unexpectedly last month. He had been hospitalized in January for hallucinations & loss of muscle control. Postmortem the doctor that signed his death certificate said it was Lewy Body dementia. The doctor said he was most likely living with it for at least 5 years. He was being followed by neurologist & neuropsychiatrist & it was completely missed. Anyhow I have been either reading fluff books or books about loss, grief, hard

ncsufoxes subjects as I‘m working through my grief. My dad was such a strong, healthy person it was hard to see him deteriorate so fast in the last few months. I‘m thankful for my mom & him that it was fairly quick & painless (my dad had a pretty horrific childhood & happy he didn‘t suffer). I think I‘ve been gravitating to difficult reads to work through my feelings. As others have said this is a great book & really gets to the heart of life before & after 6mo
ncsufoxes an illness. How to get through when there is no real guidebook to work through all these complicated feelings. “Healing is figuring out how to coexist with pain that will always live inside you, without pretending it isn‘t there or allowing it to hijack your day.” So, I‘m trying to navigate this new normal & coexist as I work through my thoughts & feelings. (My life has been just pretty crappy the last 2 months). #bookspin 6mo
AmyG I am so very sorry for your loss, my friend. Please know I am thinking of you and your family. Sending a big hug. 6mo
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Bookwormjillk I am so sorry. Thinking of you. 6mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I‘m so sorry for your loss 💔 6mo
Librarybelle So sorry for your loss 6mo
Jas16 I am so deeply sorry for your loss. 6mo
TheBookgeekFrau I'm so sorry for your loss 💔 6mo
KadaGul @ncsufoxes I can't even begin to fathom the depth of your loss and the overwhelming emotions you must be experiencing. Please do know, you are in our prayers 🛐. 6mo
Tamra Take care of yourself. 6mo
TheAromaofBooks A lovely review - so sorry for your loss. It's devastating to have someone wrenched out of your life when you aren't expecting it. 💔 6mo
CBee I am so very, very sorry 😢💔 6mo
21 likes12 comments
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Donna1980
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This is my current book club pick. Not my normal choice and the content is hard going. Someone‘s personal suffering is always painful to read but this lady is a born writer. So much so that at times I‘ve felt like I was reading fiction, the jolt back to reality often lands with a bump and a few tears.

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Donna1980
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May‘s TBR stack! Excited to finally read Prophet Song. The tagged is a book club pick and definitely out of my comfort zone!

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Hilary427
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Pickpick

Total emotional tearjerker, but so good! One of those books everyone should read. (20)
⭐️: 4.5/5

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NovelNancyM
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Pickpick

I was not familiar with Suleika Jaouad until I watched the documentary American Symphony, which is in some ways a sequel to this memoir. Cancer is never good, but for someone in their twenties with a brain that is not fully developed, it wreaks havoc not only on the body, but also the mind and soul. Though her cancer returned in 2020, I am happy Suleika landed on her feet, and ended up with Jon.

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sebrittainclark
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4.5/5

An emotional, but really lovely memoir about cancer and figuring out how to live after your life is completely changed.

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HeatherBookNerd
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Pickpick

Suleika graduated college, moved to Europe, and was falling in love, when at 22, she was diagnosed with a leukemia. The diagnosis upended everything, sending her into a world of illness, hospitals, and treatments. She charts the course of her disease and how it changes her relationships - to her body, to the people she loves, to the world. It is a glimpse at how this young woman attempts to come to terms with her own mortality. Incredibly moving.

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Tkgbjenn1
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Pickpick

A very well written and heartfelt story of a young woman‘s struggle with cancer while in her twenties and it‘s effect on her life and the lives of those she loved.

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Anna40
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Pickpick

The main part of this memoir is about Suleika‘s illness starting with the first symptoms,roughly a year before her diagnosis.Only the last part takes her on a road trip where she visits people she connected with because of her NYTimes column.I didn‘t find her insights inspiring,but it‘s a well written,honest account and I like her.I enjoyed reading her thoughts and self reflection.She experienced so much physical pain,death-it‘s heartrending.

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RebelReader
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It‘s Friday for me and it‘s sunny and 84degrees in Minnesota in April! Finished this one on my balcony. It‘s my #bookspin book and I‘m continuing to move through my #AwesomeApril stack.

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2y
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Suet624
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My dear friend has been diagnosed with cancer of several organs. Oddly enough I was listening to this book when we found out. I wanted to describe what this woman had gone through as she treated and survived, but decided that wasn‘t very helpful. Jaouad is fearless and relentless in telling her story. Her journey across country after her many treatments is a testimony to the bravery involved in carrying on despite the fear of recurrence.

Leftcoastzen So sorry to hear about your friend. 2y
CBee Dear Sue, I‘m so sorry about your friend 💔 2y
Suet624 @Leftcoastzen @CBee thank you. I spent a few days in bed after hearing the news. I‘m glad my job is ending soon so I can assist more actively with care and support. (edited) 2y
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CBee @Suet624 she is very lucky to have you ♥️ 2y
AmyG I am so very sorry. You have your health, you have it all. 2y
Jas16 Oh Sue. I am so very sorry. 2y
sarahbarnes I am so so sorry. 💔 2y
batsy I'm so sorry about your friend's diagnosis. Sending lots of love ❤️ 2y
erzascarletbookgasm Sorry about your friend 2y
BarbaraBB Oh Sue I am so sorry ❤️ 2y
AnnieMcC Oh, that's awful news about your friend, Sue and very interesting that you were listening to this (wonderful!) book at the same time. I have been following Suleika's journey since reading this book last year.

2y
Deblovestoread So sorry about your friend. Glad she has you to help. 💜 2y
LeahBergen Oh, that‘s dreadful news! I‘m so sorry. ❤️❤️ 2y
squirrelbrain Very sorry to hear about your friend. I‘m sure you will be of great comfort to her. 2y
Ruthiella So sorry to hear that. ❤️ 2y
MaureenMc 💗💗💗 2y
Suet624 @AmyG @Jas16 @Sarahbarnes @batsy @erzascarletbookgasm @Barbarabb @Deblovestoread @leahbergen @squirrelbrain @ruthiella @MaureenMc Thank you all for your kind words. So many people are experiencing such crummy stuff right now. My best wishes to all of you. 2y
Suet624 @AnnieMcC Thanks Annie. It seems Suleika just had some testing done? Was she nervous about a recurrence or is that standard that she has to have that testing? 2y
AnnieMcC @Suet624 She had to have a second bone marrow transplant early last year. I believe she and Jon Batiste got married right before she went in the hospital last year. She's had a long, slow recovery. She's pretty amazing.
2y
Sparklemn So sorry about your friend and so glad that you'll be able to help with the care-giving. 2y
Suet624 @AnnieMcC Thanks for the update. Did she get the bone marrow from her brother? 2y
Suet624 @Sparklemn thank you. 💕 2y
kspenmoll Sue I am saddened for you and your dear friend. Going through her process with her is a sacred gift. Nourish yourself as best you can. Sending love. 2y
kspenmoll I have been following Suleika‘s journey too since I read her book when it came out. 2y
Reggie Sue, I‘m so sorry. 2y
Jeg Very sorry to hear about your friend. Take care. X 2y
AnnieMcC @Suet624 Yes she did.
2y
BkClubCare {{{hugs}}} 2y
55 likes28 comments
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DaniJ
Pickpick

Stunningly heart wrenching story. Suleika bridges the gap between the well and the unwell. Read this book. Just do it.

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LibraryCin
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I found the first half, with all the medicine and treatments and trying to hold her relationship together much more interesting than her road trip. The most interesting person (for me) she met on the road trip was the man on death row in Texas. He wrote to her early on in her cancer journey, and the parallels were really surprising to me. Something that scared me about the book was how much support and help she needed throughout.

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Rachel.Rencher
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Pickpick

This was such a real and raw account of what it's like to be a young person with illness. I will continue to follow Suleika's writings on Instagram.

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Rachel.Rencher
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I picked up a new book at Target (buy 2 get 1 free sale going on now!) solely because I loved that the cover was a pastiche of Into the Wild. 😍📚

marleed I loved Between Two Kingdoms. I was not aware of the author before reading the book but now I follow her journey on Instagram. 2y
79 likes1 comment
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MallenNC
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#AlphabetGame #LetterB @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

I recommend Between Two Kingdoms, a memoir of the author‘s cancer diagnosis and treatment. She had a unique take, and didn‘t sugar coat what it was like for her and her family. I‘ve continued to follow her since reading this.

For something lighter, I‘d recommend Book Lovers. It‘s the only Emily Henry I‘ve read so far, but I really liked it.

Thanks @DebbieGrillo for the tag!

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I wanted to love Book Lovers, but I didn‘t. I know I‘m in the minors! I have her others, so I‘ll try again! 2y
MallenNC @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Not every book works for every reader! I haven‘t read her other ones so I can‘t say if they are better/different. I liked Book Lovers bc of the twist on the Hallmark formula (which I love) and bc of the North Carolina setting. 2y
25 likes2 comments
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Erynecki
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Pickpick

At 22, Suleika Jaouad learns she has leukemia. Told in two parts - her story is parts medical battle, mourning, and gratitude as she learn to survive and forge a new life. Her writing invites us to understand the pain, struggles, love, and kinship she comes to rely on while navigating illness, loss, and hope.

Suet624 I keep meaning to find this book. Thanks for the reminder. 2y
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Nikki_E
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Singout On my #NYWD list! 3y
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tara_ashley
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I loved this book! It is heartbreaking, and beautiful, and incredibly inspiring.

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Cinfhen
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Thanks to @britt_brooke for putting this book back on my #ReadersRadar 💚At 22, fresh from graduation ( Princeton) Sulieka Jaouad is diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia. This book traces her two journeys, living through cancer, living beyond cancer. While I thought this book might be ultimately hopeful, it was much sadder throughout than I was expecting. Suleika never holds back or sugarcoats any of her feelings or experiences.

Cinfhen #ReadingAfrica22 I‘m counting this for #Tunisia as author‘s father is from there and small parts of the story take place there @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB (edited) 3y
Librarybelle Very nice! This sounds like a book that should have tissues at the ready. 3y
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Cinfhen Yes, very much so @Librarybelle 💔 3y
marleed I‘m follow her journey on Instagram, and I‘m so sad that her cancer has returned. Even in her current struggle she makes her hospital room a space of creativity. 3y
Cinfhen Ugh @marleed I was SO AFRAID her cancer was going to return 😪I was going to check on her progress. I will follow her on IG too!! 3y
britt_brooke @Cinfhen I‘m so happy you picked this up. It‘s heartbreaking to know her cancer has returned. 3y
78 likes7 comments
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Cinfhen
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Alternating between these two memoirs. Both wonderfully written but one so sad, the other so screwy (?), madcap!?? Both are certainly reflective and honest. It‘s a good balance of light & heavy.

LeahBergen I‘ve been meaning to try Priestdaddy for AGES. 3y
Magpiegem I love Priestdaddy! It was great on audio too xx 3y
Cinfhen I think you‘d love this one @LeahBergen - it‘s soooo crazy @Magpiegem 3y
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monalyisha It‘s happenstance that I found this post while you‘re reading Priestdaddy (I came by way of Between Two Kingdoms) — but Priestdaddy is probably one of my favorite books. 😍 I love it so, so much. 3y
monalyisha Longer story: a friend shared a post in their Instagram story by Suleika Jaouad. I ended up joining her newsletter — but while Between Two Kingdoms has been on my TBR forever, I haven‘t read it yet! Here‘s the link, if you‘re curious: https://theisolationjournals.substack.com/p/from-inside-the-monastery?utm_source... 3y
Cinfhen @monalyisha I think you‘ll appreciate Jaouad‘s writing and introspection but it‘s a really sad book. As for PriestDaddy I can‘t stop laughing out loud. She‘s a terrific storyteller and really great at shifting perspective on small everyday interactions or details. It‘s a good balance these two together. 3y
90 likes6 comments
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Cinfhen
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Well this just catapulted to MUST LISTEN 🎧 Im HOOKED @britt_brooke @BarbaraBB

Crazeedi Are you feeling better Cindy? Haven't been on to check in, hoping you are back to good health❤️ 3y
kspenmoll Just loved this book 💜💚❤️ 3y
Cinfhen I am @Crazeedi Thanks so much for checking in 💗Hope you‘re well 3y
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Cinfhen She‘s such a great writer @kspenmoll what a champion 3y
britt_brooke Her writing really impressed me! So happy you‘re enjoying. 💚 3y
Cinfhen Some parts are really difficult to read through and I feel squeamish at times @britt_brooke I‘m also praying Will doesn‘t bail 😕 3y
britt_brooke @Cinfhen It made me cry. ❤️‍🩹 3y
squirrelbrain I‘ve heard so many good reviews of this book…. 3y
Cinfhen It‘s VERY SAD @squirrelbrain But so well written. 3y
MallenNC I loved this one! 3y
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britt_brooke
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Before reading this memoir, I‘d never considered PTSD as result of extreme illness, but it makes complete sense. Suleika takes us through life before, during, and after Leukemia. There‘s much to ponder and discuss, so good call by my #bookclub. And no, I did NOT get “Eat, Pray, Love” vibes, so don‘t worry about that. A little road trip to visit a few folks who helped her through her cancer journey was actually quite a nice touch.

marleed I loved this book! It breaks my heart her cancer journey has returned. But if you did get EPL vibes I think it would be ok - Suleika posted Elizabeth Gilbert dancing with lights in the shape of hearts and singing up to her hospital room yesterday. It made me smile about the happiness of friendships. 3y
britt_brooke @marleed I didn‘t know it had returned. 😔 I‘m so happy you liked the book, too! I‘d read a few nasty reviews on GR (imagine that), that made it sound like a bad thing if they had similarities. I know EPL gets a lot of grief from some readers, but I didn‘t personally have an issue with it. I appreciate your comment. 💚 3y
Crazeedi Now that you say this, I can see that one could get PTSD from serious illness or even serious surgery, as I had many years ago. It was had to get through . 3y
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Chrissyreadit I think PTSD is more common than people realize after medical situations with pain and fear. 3y
britt_brooke @Crazeedi It makes total sense in hindsight, and is such an interesting thing to consider. I‘m grateful for this book. 3y
britt_brooke @Chrissyreadit I think you‘re absolutely right. 3y
Cinfhen I bought this last year on a friend‘s recommendation/ need to add it into my #WeeklyForecast 💗Thanks for the reminder 3y
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thevagabondlawyer
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Pickpick

How is it that as early as January I may have read one of the best non-fiction books this year! Outstanding! BETWEEN TWO KINGDOMS by Suleika Jaouad is one of those books that will stay with me for quiet a long time. Poignant, beautifully written, and a searing narrative, Suleika is born a storyteller. She has this unbelievable command of words. Whe she strikes, she meant it, her words and thoughts so propulsive I can't help but be wowed. 👇

thevagabondlawyer At 22, her life turned upside down when she was diagnosed of acute myeloid leukemia. From then on, her journey began in the kingdom of unwell. How she dealt and crossed it to the other side, you have to read this book, now! A superb story about the horrifying truth of illness both physically and emotionally and the triumph of the human body. All is well Suleika and say hi to Oscar! 🙌👊 3y
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ncsufoxes
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@shortsarahrose thank you so much for the #littlechristmasswap package. I‘m so excited that you picked this book because I have had a hard time trying to find it recently. I can definitely use the chocolate as I am finishing my last semester of grad school. Thank you @bookish_wookish for hosting.

shortsarahrose I‘m glad you like everything! Good luck on grad school! 3y
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kspenmoll
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#12booksof2021
Two utterly compelling books,one a personal memoir,one an exhaustive investigation of a prominent family.
BTK is the journey of a 23 year old woman as the life she dreamed of shatters with a leukemia diagnosis.Not self pitying or maudlin,but a lyrical account of her unexpected journey as she navigates between two worlds,” the kingdom of the sick”during treatment,& afterwards, her trip (literally) to the “kingdom of the well.”⬇️

kspenmoll 🔼EOP is a book of impeccable,exhaustive, investigative research into the extraordinarily weathly Sackler family, and their moral and legal culpability in the current national opiod crisis. https://www.npr.org/2021/12/07/1062178463/books-we-love-ailsa-chang-picks-empire... (edited) 3y
kspenmoll Suleika Jaouad‘s cancer has returned & she is undergoing more treatment right now. https://www.suleikajaouad.com/ (edited) 3y
Andrew65 Both sound great. 3y
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MallenNC
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Pickpick

I was drawn to this cover and started without reading the description or even the subtitle, so I didn‘t know what it was about. It follows Suleika through her cancer diagnosis and treatment and then her road trip after. She‘s a good writer who has a compelling story that she tell in an honest way. Its interesting without trying to be inspirational. I hope she writes more.

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kspenmoll
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#booksandjournals
Suleika Jaouad‘s”Isolation Journal”was in my mailbox today.It is beautiful.The middle journal I bought at the Hartford Atheneum‘s exhibit,”By Her Hand”featuring Artemisia Gentileschi and Women Artists in Italy 1500-1800.The moon & star notebook:🌙⭐️
Both books pictured are mesmerizing.Between Two Kingdom‘s for its raw beauty as it chronicles SJ‘sjourney, & By My Hand for its details & photos regarding these women & their art.

marleed Beautiful! 3y
Readergrrl Hey, I‘m going to see this exhibit in early December. Artemisia Gentileschi‘s story is sooo interesting. I‘m going to see the exhibit as a field trip with some fellow students from the Cheney Homestead Arts studio in Manchester, CT. So cool to see someone else interested in the fine arts here on Litsy. I love the mixture of literature and art come alive! 3y
kspenmoll @Readergrrl The exhibit is lovely-rich colors. So much I did not know… I am sure you will enjoy it! 3y
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MallenNC
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1. I‘m in the middle of several books but I started the tagged one yesterday and can‘t put it down.
2. This is silly, but today a friend send me a TikTok of someone putting a tiara on their cat and the cat‘s face made me LOL. It looked like, of course, I am a queen.
3. My biggest pet peeve is when a book says something like “she let out a breath she didn‘t know she was holding” or “someone was screaming, turns out it was me.”

#ThankfulThursday

MallenNC Thanks for the tag, @SamanthaMarie 3y
Texreader I finished a book last night that had that very line about the breath she didn‘t know she was holding. And I laughed how overused it is. That just needs to be excised from all books. 3y
SamanthaMarie I loooove cats 🤣🤣 and those are absolutely annoying 😒 3y
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MallenNC @Texreader It is overused! And I don‘t think it happens all that much in real life. I had it in one of my most recently read books too. 3y
MallenNC @SamanthaMarie My cats KNOW they are queens. My mom calls them the Royals. 3y
Susanita That “someone was screaming” thing drives me crazy! 3y
MoonWitch94 Thanks for playing 🍂📖✨ 3y
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j9brown
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Pickpick

A really well-written memoir, very engrossing, very heartbreaking.
Not something I'd normally pick up, but I'm glad I did. It's for a book club at work, we're having a zoom event today and she's going to speak 😄

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Bibliophile004
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Pickpick

Quick summary- this book is about a young woman‘s life who was just figuring out adulthood when she came down with cancer. Although I have never had a prolonged illness like the author, this book still spoke to me. I found myself relating in many ways to the author, and asking myself some deeper questions. If life has ever not turned out the way you thought- read this book.

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rmaclean4
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Pickpick

Highly recommend. Insightful and engrossing memoir about what it means to be alive. 4.5 🌟

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actualdisneyprincess
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What a journey this book is so far; #SuleikaJaouad and I are the same age, and she has fought a harder battle than I can even begin to imagine, more bravely and with more grace than I ever could. I also lost a friend in April who had been fighting breast cancer like hell for a year, so this is an even tougher read. But from Suleika and my beloved Jen, how can I learn any lesson but to be brave in all things, when I am so lucky? #betweentwokingdoms

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mcctrish
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Pickpick

Once upon a time I read/heard about this book and I was intrigued so I put it on hold on Libby and when it finally came in I could no longer remember why. It‘s a bit like Brain on Fire, with a very young woman having failing health but not such a mystery. I cried a lot during this book and a lot of SJ‘s observations about isolation apply to a pandemic quite well. When this gong show is over I want to go on a road trip too

null000 I have this on hold in Libby right now! Glad to hear you enjoyed 4y
mcctrish @laurenashley I hope you get it soon 🙏🏻 4y
48 likes2 comments
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Coleen
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Pickpick

Well-written memoir. Though I‘m quite a bit older than the author and fortunately haven‘t had to go through anything remotely close to what she has, her writing style was easy to relate to. And I‘d love to drive across the country like she did, though probably wouldn‘t be brave enough to do it alone.

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mcctrish
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My latest on audio

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Amiable
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Pickpick

Compelling memoir by a woman who was diagnosed with leukemia at 23. After spending 4 years battling cancer in the “kingdom of the sick,” she embarked alone on a cross-country road trip to discover how she can find her way back again into the “kingdom of the well.” Well written and thought-provoking without being excessively schmaltzy.

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BlueStockingReviews
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Pickpick

Between Two Kingdoms is a beautiful and lyrical portrait of a woman struggling to survive when the odds are against her. #Bluestockingreviews #FindingGreatReads #ReadItLoveIt #Books #Netgalley #ReadingIsFun #Bookreviews #readmoreknowmore