Kelly Corrigan does an amazing job at recounting her experience of dealing with cancer with 2 very young children. During this traumatic experience, she learns her father who is her idol is diagnosed with cancer as well. The most remarkable aspect of this novel is how light-hearted Corrigan manages to keep her tale while alternating between stories of growing up as a Corrigan between her day-to-day experience fighting cancer. I was laughing most of the time while fighting back tears some of the time. I LOVED this book and strongly recomment it to everyone.

A treasure of a read, The Middle Place is as inspirational as it is real. Artfully weaving together the chapters of Kelly's life, The Middle Place is both a memoir and an opportunity to reflect on what ultimately matters most. Kelly explains that the "middle place" is the place between being a child and being a parent. It seems as if it is also the space between life and death, hope and despair, vulnerability and empowerment, connection and independence, what-could-be and what-is-now, and beginnings and endings. The Middle Place takes readers to dark places, light places, and all places in between.

Corrigan's ability to explain things that some of us know and others are yet to find out is astounding. She hones in on those crucial moments that make us who we are, but surrounds us with great memories that make up our lives.

So well written and funny that I read it straight through both times and plan to make sure everyone I grew up with reads it too.

If you have a child or have lost a parent, The Middle Place speaks to you, bringing to life the things deep in your heart.

Add me to the chorus of praise. I'm an over-scheduled mom of two young kids who works full-time but I stayed up all night (literally) reading The Middle Place. I so admire Kelly Corrigan's ability to put her family experience into words.

There's too much to say to capture how much I enjoyed it (and I am somewhat less than eloquent), but I tell all of my friends it's a "must read."

I absolutely adored the Middle Place. As the mother of two young daughters (3-1/2 and 18 months), I was incredibly moved and touched by Kelly's incredible story and the heartfelt, funny and authentic way she writes.

After hearing about this book from a friend, I picked it up at a local book store. From the moment I opened the first page, I couldn't put it down and was literally reading it in line at pre-school pick up, when I was stopped at stoplights, any free moment I could find.

The Middle Place is a story that every mother and daughter should read. It is a book that makes you think, makes you feel and alters the way you see the world.

Kelly is an incredible writer and I certainly hope she writes more.

This book reminded me why I love memoirs. Fantastic, resonant content written with wit, style and precision. The story is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time - which is quite a feat. You want to know her family and be a part of Ms Corrigan's life. And she writes about her own illness (breast cancer) and dealing with her father's (bladder cancer) with such honesty, clear eyed candor and clean prose, that you don't want to ever put it down. I was disappointed when it ended.
Hurray! Read this book!

As a 40-year old mother of a preschool-aged child, I didn't ever consider the possibility of being faced with cancer. During my horrible breast cancer "scare", I found Kelly Corrigan's website, Circus of Cancer (http://www.circusofcancer.org/) which lead me to her book THE MIDDLE PLACE. This is a must read for everyone and anyone who encounters cancer or the possibility of cancer. You will cry and laugh out loud!

I loved reading this book. I read it nearly straight through, as it is very accessible, like talking to the author. The main reason I think we should all read it is that it gives an up-close and candid look at the trauma of breast cancer in one woman's life, allowing us the language to face directly-- verbally -- what faces women with breast cancer.
The strength of the book is in its look at one honest woman's experience lived within a very close family and the strengths and weaknesses of individuals and the system as a whole in dealing with the onset of radically unexpected breast cancer. She does a fantastic job of getting at the implications for one's sense of security, one's inability to protect the people we love. I like the way she takes on the mundane banalities of worrying over looks and diet, how ordinary everyday shallow, thoughtless talk shared between friends becomes really hard to tolerate in the face of the hugeness of this assault on one's body and spirit,etc. And the lonely breakdowns, where really no one can enter.

This is a passionate book. I loved its intimacy, its directness, its vignettes where terror enters, and where love takes over.

i bought this book without knowing much about it. i had only read other amazon reviews and they were all positive. cancer is not something i love to read about--my mom had it recently, my best friend had it 7 years ago, and i had it also--but i figured i would give it a try. to my surprise, this book was so much more than a book about cancer. it was a great memoir with colorful, real characters who truly came to life in the author's stories about growing up a Corrigan. i read through this book in a few hours because i couldn't put it down. it's a great summer read.

My husband and I both were diagnosed with cancer this past holiday season in 2007. We, like Kelly and Greenie share a wonderful bond of love and understanding that only two know. There are several years between my husband and I, so I could relate to that bond between Kelly and her Father. Like the Corrigans were also survivors of that dreaded "C" word that plagues so many today. Her book touched me in ways that I cannot describe. I cried, I laughed and I wished that I was part of her family at times. I hope she finds the time to entertain us with more heartfelt stories. Please, Kelly keep writing your families stories. I love them. Thank for the therapy you gave us it was the best money I ever spent.

Do you love books about lovable Irish-American clans with larger-than-life father figures?
Would you enjoy reading about a larger-than-life lovable Irishman who calls himself "The Green Man" and refers to himself in the third person?
Are you interested in yet another account of battling breast cancer with chemo, radiation, hair loss etc etc?
If you answered yes to any of the above, this book is for you.
If not, don't bother.
I don't mean to minimize the author's experience but it didn't seem that much different from the other breast cancer experiences I've read about. As for the family, I have no doubt about the love the author feels for her father. I just don't see what makes it interesting for anyone else.

I loved this book and recommended it to a bunch of friends. I thought the angle of the years where you are sort of amazed you are an adult but have a full fledged family to prove it, was unique and sooo true. I loved her writing style and humor. Its hard to believe two people had cancer in this book becuase its not depressing to read.

Its a great book.

Kelly Corrigan tells the story of her and her father's struggles with cancer with no taint of professionalism or objectivity. If she had some major accomplishment in life prior to her illness (i.e. Nobel Prize for Medicine, a position on the Supreme Court, etc.) it would justify the redundant details. Now, I'm sure she and her family are really nice people and I'd probably enjoy meeting them. But as is there's nothing wrong with this book that cutting out a bare minimum of 100 pages wouldn't help.

Being a type-A workaholic I was more irritated with Kelly's younger self. Nepal? Get over yourself, already.

Worse yet, I don't think she resolved a lot of issues involving her father's mortality. Her dad seems like an awesomely great guy. I just wish we'd gotten a clearer view of him.

A friend ordered this book for me for my birthday and I read it on a long airplane trip from the east coast. It is a tender and sometimes funny story about love and family. While I did not relate to it personally, I was unable to put it down and highly recommend it to anyone.

In a sea of memoirs, Kelly Corrigan's stands out as refreshingly different and positive. Instead of inviting us into a tragic life story fraught with dysfunctional relationships, Kelly tells us about her loving family (specifically her dad) and how they helped her through a difficult bout with cancer. While the drama of her cancer is very real, her story is both delightful and humorous. Beautiful writing engages the reader from the very beginning and keeps the pages turning right through to the end.

Kelly Corrigan's book, "The Middle Place", takes us to a place that we all pass through. On our life journey, there is a distinct time when we realize that we are between childhood and adulthood. For many, this is the time when we are no longer just the children to our parents, but the parents of our children as well.

For Kelly Corrigan, this distinct time is also when she discovers that she has breast cancer. Her memoir is a heart warming story about family and love. Through her humor and keen observations, she tells of a very special relationship with her father, "Greenie."

"The Middle Place" reminds us of the importance of family and the rewards of laughing along the way.

A wonderful, heartwarming story, beautifully written. I couldn't put it down, and am hoping to be reading more from Kelly Corrigan in the future.

Kelly Corrigan seemed to have been living in her own little bubble her entire life and the moment adversity comes her way, she wants the ENTIRE PLANET to revolve around her. It was just silly to me that she would send an email to over a hundred people announcing she has cancer. It's like, let the pity fest begin. Before she even finds out she has cancer, she's hoping she has it just for the attention. That to me is incredible. Also, her husband must be a very patient man for him to put up with a lot of her silliness and selfishness. The most annoying point in the book for me was when she bumps into someone she hasn't seen in a while and this person is commenting on how short Kelly's hair is and that she could never cut her hair b/c her husband loves long hair. After their quick chat, Kelly mentions how stupid this lady will feel later on when she finds out through someone else that she had cancer. She makes it sound like it's a crime to not be informed about Kelly Corrigans cancer. Give me a break.

There are far more honorable people that go through far more adversity and actually learn something from it and don't need to announce it to the world through a book. Read the news lady. In the end, the book ends and she doesn't seem to have learned anything. She goes back to her selfish ways living in that bubble again.

Her dad "Greenie" sounds like a very likable guy and personally, I would have preferred she write a biography on him since he is much more interesting.

I'm giving it two stars because her writing did keep me enticed to the story and it made me feel some sort of emotion (even though it wasn't positive).

I recently read The Middle Place and found it funny, engaging and heartbreaking all at the same time. I haven't been able to stop thinking about the book. Kelly captures the essence of being a mother, child and friend all at once. It's a great read and I can't wait to read it again.

I really loved this book and connected to it immediately. I met Kelly earlier this year when a co-worker dragged me to her book signing in Maryland. Not only did I literally know nothing about Kelly or the book, I had never attended a book signing before! Kelly read some excerpts from the book and I immediately liked her. She was even more personable speaking with her one on one after the event and my friend and I commented that we both felt if we had grown up near Kelly, we could easily have been friends. Like other readers who have posted a review, I had a very hard time putting the book down. Reading some of the criticisms posted for this book was actually painful for me! I laughed out loud at many of the stories (loved the Rolling Stones concert story, guess jeans fight, Dodge Dart - which my sister and I had in highschool - to name a few), and also cried. I connected to so many of Kelly's stories growing up (I graduated high school in 1985) that I thought it might be hard for people in other generations to get "into" the book - but everyone I have spoken with from 25-65 who has read the book has enjoyed it (I just a met a woman today in her 60s who is going to recommend the book to her book club!). To top everything off, Kelly agreed to participate in our Book Club discussion via telephone and it was truly an amazing evening. Kelly entertained us with additional family stories. She is so honest, thoughtful, and a true inspiration! Thank you Kelly!! We can't wait for your next book!

My mother-in-law had breast cancer last year, so I kind of hoped this book would give me better insight as to what it's like to live through cancer treatments. But honestly, even though this story is told with many great details and loving anecdotes, I don't think Kelly Corrigan's cancer story is too much different from most people I know. Moreover, her loving biography to her dad is very sweet... but it would have perhaps been better served in a different narrative, rather than combining it with her own cancer story. It seems to me like Kelly's cancer story is important, but not really interesting enough to merit a whole book. And her dad sounds great, but not unique enough to warrant a book on his own. That's why she crammed to stories into one. But, it was still a nice story, and I hope Kelly and her father are both doing great!

Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (5/08)

While giving her two young girls a bath one night Kelly Corrigan discovers a lump in one of her breasts. Immediately a flash of panic sweeps over her and her suspicions are confirmed at the doctor's appointments that follow her discovery. It is cancer. As if this isn't bad enough news she discovers that her father, whom she calls Greenie, also has cancer. In fact he also had cancer in the past which Kelly just found out now.

"The Middle Place" follows both of their battles with cancer and alternates the present day events with flashbacks to growing up in the Corrigan household. Kelly has a very close relationship with her father and at times it seems that she focuses more on getting him the best treatment rather than focusing on her own malady. This book explores their tight-knit relationship in depth, back from when Kelly was young, all of the way up until today.

Kelly defines "The Middle Place" as "that sliver of time when parenthood and childhood overlap." It is that time of your life when you are still someone's daughter but you are also a mother to your own children. Close in age to Kelly and having young children that are in the same general age group as hers, I can completely relate to being in "The Middle Place" as this is the phase of life that I am in as well.

Kelly's story is a wonderful, touching memoir that is very hard to put down. The book is a fast read and although about illness is also about celebrating and living life to the fullest. Kelly is a very real person and she puts it all out there for us to read which makes for a very honest and compelling book. I enjoyed the alternating between current events and chapters about what it was like to grow up as a Corrigan. This format provided a lot of insight into how Kelly became the person that she is today. I recommend "The Middle Place" to anyone who is at that phase in their life, to anyone battling a disease, or to anyone who loves a well-written memoir.

Kelly Corrigan writes an honest and moving memoir that focuses on her evolving roles as daughter and mother. As she chronicled the joys and challenges of growing up I felt like I was re-living some of the highs and lows of my own life as well. My book club read The Middle Place for our April meeting and the members of our group unanimously loved Kelly's story. It seemed as if each of us found something that we could personally relate to in her memoir. This is a fabulous book that is almost impossible to put down.

I had the honor of meeting Kelly at a book reading. She is the type of person that you instantly want to be friends with. Hearing her speak about her family and listening to her read passages from the book made me want to go home, drop everything, and read. And that is exactly what I did, finishing the book in less than 12 hours. Kelly's writing style has a perfect balance and I loved the way she weaved in stories of the past with the present. I laughed and cried and, in the end, felt very fulfilled -- what more can you ask for in a book? I highly recommend this book to anyone, even if you do not have kids.

I found that I was really stretching it to finish this memoir. I really didn't like anything about it. The author, Kelly, jumped around so much from past to present I couldn't keep track of where we were in her time line. The chapters titles gave me a very rough idea when she was writing about--but the titles of the chapters confused me more. I would not suggest reading this memoir to anyone..it was a waste of my time..and energy. Saying that 'I hated it' would be too strong but the next better choice was the 2 stars.

I caught wind of this book in a review published in Oprah's magazine and I was intrigued by the idea that "I was not alone in feeling in-between once being a child and now growing into an adult." I read the book in 4 days! It was just so REAL and Kelly Corrigan makes you feel like you want to fall in love with Greenie, her father...he epitomizes what a father should be or atleast what my dad has been to me - everything. Not only does the author draw you into what her experience of having cancer was like but she helps make sense of that place, the one you just can't put your finger one, the middle place. It's the one that acts like a white elephant in the room. The place that your parents fail to acknowledge because in their eyes, you are and always will be their little child. Yet, it's the place that you, as an adult, are ready to step into. The take away message for me was that it is OK, and often necessary, to step into that place and assert yourself as an adult. This is a phenomenal read for women and men, and one you would definitely want to share with a friend.

I knew nothing about this book when I picked it up! Less than 48 hours later, I read the entire thing.... As a mom, daughter and 35 yr old cancer survivor.....I cried, I laughed, I read passages out loud to my husband! Since then, I have passed this one along to every girl I know. In the end, you fall in love with her family and most of all, you want to be Kelly's friend...seriously, I KNOW I would like her!!! I look forward to her next book....BUY IT...you will NOT be sorry !
Jac
Tega Cay , SC

I practically devoured this well written memoir by fellow cancer survivor Kelly Corrigan. If I could stay up past 10 these days, I'd have finished it sooner. Corrigan offers up a poignant, funny and touching look into life with cancer -- both as a patient and as a caregiver. If your family has been touched (okay, slammed) by cancer, read this outstanding memoir -- no matter how late you can stay up these days.

Very good book. You feel like you are part of the family the way she writes this book. This is a very moving book being she is going through Breast Cancer and I will be doing the 2 day walk again for the second time around.

A young woman unexpectedly finds herself faced with potentially catastrophic family and personal illnesses. Amazingly, this strong, inspiring young mother immediately begins using humor and love of family to creatively cope with a potentially tragic situation. She remains positive and funny throughout.

Memoir has been a new discovery for me over the last year or two. It's just about my favorite genre at this point. The Middle Place is a different type of memoir--it's more a journey to adulthood, yes with the typical memoir-esque obstacle (in this case, cancer--both hers and her father's). Most memoirists show you the pit of despair from which they came and bring you along the journey as they crawl out of it. I like those stories of hope as well, but Kelly Corrigan simply offers perspective, hope, wisdom, and a few laughs as she shares her journey.

I dare you to watch the video on the product information page and NOT buy this book.

OK, I hate reviews like the one I'm about to write. There's nothing worse than those few downers who bring down the score for fantastic books, but I was shocked at how bad this book was after the resoundingly positive reviews on Amazon, and feel compelled to protest the five star rating.

The reviews on Amazon are generally reliable, so I opened this book expecting something that would blow me away. I read the book, and I was sorely disappoinetd. Yes, Kelly Corrigan can write somewhat of a page turner with cute, but not all the funny or interesting, stories about her family. _The Middle Place_ is a sappy memoir in which she details her neverending complaints about her family and cancer troubles. She puts nothing new on the table and has nothing remotely interesting to say. This woman seeks self validation from everything...her husband, her cancer, her family, her daughters. I will give it some credit and say that if you have breast cancer, any upbeat memoir with cutesy stories and a positive ending is probably a good choice for reading. However, I expected another Glass Castle, and I got a self help book. If you are into good memoir, don't bother with this one. If you liked Eat Pray Love (which was dreadful) then you will adore this book.

I have read lots of memoirs and this is my favorite. Kelley is an amazing writer who makes her reader laugh and cry on the same page! I have 4 young children and no time to read, but a friend sent this to me and I found myself staying up until the wee hours to finish it - I literally couldn't put it down.
Don't hesitate - buy this book - you will not only not be disappointed, you will be delighted by her story and the wonderful way in which she tells it.

I have a broken wrist, but loved this book so much that I am compelled to type my first review one-handed! This book is beautiful, insightful, touching and laugh out loud funny. I felt ridiculous reading it in public because I would bust out laughing, which made me look incredibly bizarre; but Ms. Corrigan's writing is so real and so funny that there is no stopping yourself. Give yourself a real treat and read this marvelous book~

This story is written from the heart and that comes through page after page. It is honest and brave and I enjoyed it.

I read this book in less than 24 hours and it usually takes me months to finish a book. Her perspective and spirit are captivating and lovely. Her writing is witty and sentimental without being sappy. She is funny and winning, and her story is remarkably touching. I also know that we would be friends if we lived in the same town. She is familiar and magnetic, and obviously gifted.

I saw the author on the Today Show last month..while I was at the gym and could hear no sound on the tv, I read the author's words on the bottom of the screen and had to purchase this book. Read it on outbound and return flights this weekend and needed my kleenex! None of us has any idea how many days we have left, but this author goes through her life with love and dignity and is an inspiration not only to others who face similar life-altering struggles and challenges, but to those of us who want to live a richer, more full life and get the most out of it that we can. I loved this book from the first page to the last and could relate to so much of it. I seldom make time to read books that don't relate to my profession, but this one was worth every minute. It makes you think and feel, and look at life and your relationships with a lot more clarity. Kudos to this wonderful and gifted author for sharing her experiences and life with us..can't wait to hear and read more!

I love the way Kelly Corrigan tells her story. She has a magical way with words and I am hooked. Her words evoke intimacy and friendship along with a sheer admiration for her talent.

This is the best non fiction book I have read forever! I laughed, I cried, I have talked about it, and recommended it to family, friends, and book clubs. It is a book about breast cancer, cancer in parents, being a daughter, a mother, a wife, a sister and becoming an adult. Who can not relate to this wonderfully written story? Kelly addresses life's expectations and realities with humor and love. The book is a gift to all of us.

I LOVED this book! It was sad, funny, thought-provoking, educational, the list could go on. You feel like you've known the Corrigan family at some point in your life, they may even mirror your own. At first I was hesitant to read this because just a year and a half ago I lost my father unexpectedly. He too had prostate cancer, then bladder. Unfortunately he never got to fight the fight, but I'm glad Kelly's dad did. I thought I might resent them for it but I cheered them on the entire way! What a wonderful family, I hope they are all still healthy and happy. I would reccomend this book to anyone, a truly fabulous story!

This memoir is filled with love, humility, honesty, compassion and a great sense of humor. Well-written and highly readable, the structure pulls you from cover to cover so quickly, it's readable in one sitting. My one sitting happened to be on a long plane ride, however, the time I spent getting to know Kelly Corrigan and her father, "Greenie," along with the rest of Kelly's family, made the plane not only bearable, but also enjoyable. She moved me from tears to laughter to a place of profound contentment. In the Prologue Kelly tells her readers that the one thing we need to know about her is that she's "George Corrigan's daughter." Ultimately, the one thing I believe this survival story is about is how love of family will see you through anything. Even cancer.

The Middle Place, according to Kelly, is the place between childhood and adulthood. This takes place for her between August, 2004 and August, 2005, which is the essential duration of the story. By alternating chapters between present and past, this young mother moves the reader from the middle place, a place where she learns she has breast cancer, to her past with stories of her life as her parents' child and her brothers' sister. Because Kelly, aka "Lovey," shares the cancer experience with her high-spirited and utterly lovable father, it makes the middle place that much more complicated and rich. She holds back little and seems keenly aware of her reader. Writing outside herself, she keeps readers in the loop in spite of very personal revelations. She is indeed her father's daughter.

A big fan of memoirs, this is one of the best I've read in a long time and I give it my highest recommendation.

From the author of The Things I Wish I'd Said.

When I first started this book and saw it was about illness I nearly put it down because I didn't want another "downer" book. But her writing kept me going and it's a great story about family rather than cancer and I enjoyed it immensely! Her writing is so believable, so open--she has a great style. So, go for it! It's really worth your while.

I read this book in 3 days (which is rare and not easy to do with a 2 and 4 year old at my feet clamoring for attention)! I could relate to her story so well, the relationships we have as child, as parent, as wife, and the fears that we carry with aging parents and growing children, as well as the amount of joy and content they give us.
I recently discovered my mother has Alzheimer's and my father has had cancer and heart conditions in the past. Now, with children of my own, I could really relate to Kelly's story -- I too laughed and cried out loud and wanted her story to continue.

C. Peterson

Kelly Corrigan's THE MIDDLE PLACE is a book about family --- about calling home, being home, returning home and making a home.

In the midst of giving her two little girls a bath one evening, Corrigan discovered a large lump on her breast. Thereon hangs the tale of her own and her father's shared battle with cancer. Because, of course, her father is included in everything that happens to her. Greenie, as she calls him, and Lovey, as he calls her, are a team. He's a retired salesman, an active Lacrosse coach, and a Catholic, devout enough to pop into the church any old time, not just on Sundays. She's a wife, mother and writer, trying to find her position in "the middle place" --- that space between being a competent parent and still having parents of one's own to please and impress.

This book is not so much about cancer, though that is a central theme, as it is about the relationship between Corrigan and her remarkable father, and about exploring the realm of family in its farthest reaches. Greenie is a raconteur, and she obviously inherited his gift of gab.

THE MIDDLE PLACE jumps between the current issue of the lump with all that it implies, and absorbing, often amusing flashbacks to Corrigan's early encounters with boys, her travels overseas, her courtship and marriage, her struggles to make a go as a business person, her successes as a writer, childbirths, parties and a full life always punctuated by calls home. When she discovers that Greenie has a second recurrence of cancer, and then a third, she concentrates much of her dynamic energy on his treatment while continuing her own struggle against the disease: "pain and fear, fear and pain, alternating relentlessly...yesterday I took eighteen pills in twenty-four hours." So the "middle place" begins to alter, as the thirty-something daughter with so much to prove to her parents becomes the protector and caregiver for them; in short, the child becomes an adult.

One of the more poignant scenes in a book that is strongly permeated with emotional images comes when the author, guided by a counselor, forces herself to imagine Greenie's funeral. For her readers, as for Corrigan, the possibility of his passing is nearly insupportable. He is a force of life, a man anyone would want for a dad.

Greenie and Lovey have appeared on television as a father-daughter survivor team. THE MIDDLE PLACE is published by Voice, an imprint of Hyperion that focuses on women over 30 who balance career and family. Corrigan could be the poster woman for that balance. Between fighting her own disease and seeking optimal care for Greenie, and the occasional party with good friends and the daily grind and endless joy of childcare, she has maintained her writing career, completed this book and created CircusOfCancer.org, offering advice to friends of women with breast cancer.

There are few females whose lives are not affected by breast cancer. I have a friend who is battling it now, and my mother died of the disease years ago. It is inspiring to all of us to have accounts like THE MIDDLE PLACE, reminding us that even on bad days, good things can happen, and that the person is not the illness: your mother, sister, wife or friend is still in there waiting for your phone call, email or visit. Corrigan's own personal cheering section spurred her on, and she has passed that encouragement along.

--- Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott

Any daughter would love to have George Corrigan for a father. In The Middle Place, you'll find an amazing explanation of great fatherhood traits for a daughter.

If that isn't enough to pique your interest, how would you like to know what it's like to have aggressive breast cancer in your thirties in the middle of expanding your family? The Middle Place explains Kelly Corrigan's heart-stopping brush with a large cancerous lump in her breast.

When does our relationship begin to change relative to our parents? Is it when we move out? Is it when we marry? Is it when we start a family? Is it when we help them? Kelly Corrigan deftly and lovingly explains her perceptions of how this shift occurs during adulthood. I'm sure you'll find interesting echoes of issues you are facing as well.

All of those features are wonderful, but for me the book's greatest quality is a sense of fulfillment from being loved and loving. Kelly Corrigan is a role model in this regard. Her story will enrich your life.

Ms. Corrigan's story is so compelling that I found it hard to keep reading it. I was afraid she would tear my heart in two. But she didn't. Instead, she empowered me to be more loving. She loves her readers as well and takes good care of them through to the end.

This book is everywhere at the moment. And deservedly so, in my humble opinion. Kelly Corrigan is one of those writers who makes you feel like you are vastly under-using the English language. And she wrote about her battle with cancer in a way that was not remotely tired or expected. In fact, the book was not so much actually a memoir about her battle with cancer. The cancer served more like a symbol (although I am pretty sure it felt a heck of a lot more than symbolic to her and her family--I don't mean to minimize the experience) of whatever that thing is that boots you out of whatever comfortable place you inhabit and right on into full-fledged adulthood. It resonated.

I first met Kelly Corrigan in the pages of our local newspaper. I love her editorials so much that I literally cut them out and hang them from my refrigerator for anyone and everyone who comes to visit my home to read. I felt like we were already friends when I heard that she had a book coming out, and now I feel like a sister. Kelly lets you share in her life with honest thoughts and poignant emotion, and yet her writing never drains you..... it uplifts you. Let's not kid ourselves, we are talking about cancer and major life altering moments, yet the way in which she writes can only make you feel good and strong and comforted. The Middle Place should be required reading for anyone with a life threatening disease.....or anyone who is a parent.....or anyone who is/has been someone's child..... THAT MAKES EVERYONE!!!!! I still only know Kelly on paper, but if I can track her down at the local market, I will be sure to invite her for tea..... or a cocktail!

An advanced copy crossed my hands. I read most of it in the bathroom; our crazed dog-and-toddler duo wouldn't dare interrupt.("Yeah, I'm coming. I'll be right there.") In those imperfect moments of solitude, I nodded in recognition, laughed and unexpectedly shed a few tears ... the whole time, though, I thought of people I know who need this book. Not because they have cancer (some do), not because they recently lost a parent(she did), not because they're from a close family and would "get it" (lots are), or because they're dealing with issues that spark great anger and equal humor (nearly all) ... but because Corrigan is funny. And self-depricating. And honest and comforting. Like a good friend. Her story is also heartbreaking and tender. And private. That's why it's a fantastic read. It mirrors--and gives tribute to--the fears and thoughts and craziness that we all try to hide.

In a few days, I will be giving my advance copy to a friend. I'll have to buy the hardcover because I know I'll need to give another away again.

At the end of the day, you can either laugh or cry, staring at the hand you're dealt. The latter is often not an option. But humor is a cure. And sometimes it all works out. Even with cancer.

Kelly's book is so funny and from her heart. A touching story not to be missed.I am not a reader, in fact I never read, but this one I could not put down!! I read late at night, between carpools and every break. You can't put it down until you finish! Buy the book, you will not be dissapointed. She is an amazing writer, mother and daughter. Can't wait for the next one!!

An advanced copy crossed my hands. I read most of it in the bathroom because our crazed dog-and-toddler duo couldn't interrupt me behind closed doors. ("Yeah, I'm coming. I'll be right there.") And in those imperfect moments of solitude, I laughed and cried. The whole time, though, I thought of people I know who need this book. Not because they have cancer (some do), not because they recently lost a loved one (she did), not because they're closer than close to their family and would "get it" (lots are), or because they're dealing with issues that spark great anger and equal humor (nearly all) ... but because Corrigan is funny. And self-depricating. And, above all, honest and comforting. Like a good friend. Her story is also heartbreaking and tender. And private. And that's why it's a fantastic read. It mirrors--and gives tribute to--the fears and thoughts and craziness that we all try to hide.

In a few days, I will be giving my advance copy to a friend. And I guess I'll have to buy several hardcovers because I know I'll need to give a few away again.

When dealing with craziness, crisis and parenting, you can either choose to laugh or cry. And the latter's not always an option. Coorigan reminds that life is for the living. And sometimes it all works out. Even with cancer.