Left on Tenth: A Second Chance at Life: A Memoir

I bought this book thinking it was written by Nora Ephron because I was skimming ming through titles in that Kindle store. I almost didn’t read it when I realized my mistake but I thought, why not give it a go?I’m so glad I did. What a wonderful story! The many lucky things that happened in this journey as Delia battled leukemia- it was inspiring, tragic, heartwarming, so many emotions rolled into this one story.I’ll remember this for a long time. How serendipitous that I misread the author’s name - just another lucky thing.

My only regret was that I finished the memoir but I know I will read it again and again. A harrowing experience to live through Delia has so much grace and dignity in her words, in her insights and patience, in her sharing and caring about the people around her it is a remarkable work of art.

I chose this book because I enjoyed Delia Ephron's previous non-fiction book, "Sister Mother Husband Dog," I liked her movies and play, and I liked Nora Ephron's books beginning with Heartburn. This memoir was not what I expected after reading the blurbs. While the book starts out with the loss of her husband and unexpectedly finding a new love, most of the book is a detailed description of Delia's long grueling horrific battle with leukemia. I read it cover to cover, but I imagine many readers would not be prepared for this. That said, if I was going to read this subject matter, I would want to read Delia Ephron's version. I would rate it 4+.

So much of what we read centers young people in their prime. I enjoyed Ephron’s straightforward writing about falling in love after losing her first husband and at age 72. She writes about healing from leukemia with such honesty and gratitude. Her book makes me want to visit all her favorite spots in NYC and Mill Valley, and makes me excited for what’s ahead in life. A lovely, positive read.

Delia Ephron's attention to detail during unfathomable suffering is quirky and funny. If you've had to deal with illness and the loss of loved ones and know what it means to walk in that warped and fragile universe, this book is for you. I laughed aloud so many times. One reviewer (And hey, Amazon, why does it say 8 reviews when there are only 2? Fix this, please) stated that "the author's voice too often tries to make light of situations that just aren't easy." That's a coping mechanism. Not everybody deals with life's (and death's) challenges in the same way. I found the book very uplifting, even though the subjects are tough. Thoroughly charming and told with an eye for all the details--happy, sad, even absurd. I may reread it today!

Delia’s story of loss and second chances is a must read. I loved it. It’s equal parts humorous & heartbreaking, all laced through with hope & courage. I was constantly amazed by her doctors & friends & husband who walked beside her through her journey from near death back to life. They inspired me, & kept Delia alive, I believe. I found her story to be uplifting & deeply inspirational.

Quick read. moving and motivational. brave cancer warrior

A beautiful true story, well-written.

It's not often that I read a book where I'm laughing on one page and crying on the next. This well-written book grabs the reader from the outset. It begins with loss and then recapturing life through something unexpected, and then moves onto real human crisis. The book is written in a very conversational style, in a way which humanizes the author, Delia Ephron. I loved it and have recommended it to a few people.

I absolutely devoured this. I was drawn to the title and bought it on my kindle. At the time I didn’t realise that she was Nora’s sister. This became strictly personal to me when she spoke of her journey with AML and the transplant procedure. I too was diagnosed with AML at the end of 2010. After the initial shock and terror I traversed my way through the process. Like Delia I have an Ashkenazi heritage and a donor was not available. Consequently I had a third course of danarbicin and cytalibrin. Eventually a donor was found in Austria but not before I’d booked a trip to a raw food institution in Florida. Upon my return to my home in the U K I was admitted for the SCT which progressed extremely well,and I was discharged home to recover. Within 6 months I’d visited New York and family in the UK. My life continued to progress well until May 2017 after nearly 6 years of perfect health the leukaemia came back. By now I was 62 but still in good health. Once more a donor couldn’t be found and worse still, the chemo didn’t work. The leukaemia was refractory. It seemed there was little hope. Then my haematologist took a chance on a half match (haplo) from my son and even though I was not in remission we went ahead with a very harsh myeloblative regime which basically wiped out my own marrow. Amazingly it was successful but there were many obstacles along the way, or nuisances as my haematologist termed them. I developed Graft versus host disease and this affected my lungs. I was in and out of hospital with respiratory failure and AF amongst other things. I related so much to Delias experience with ICU, depression and failure to thrive. My eyes were also affected and I felt like I’d aged 20 years. We were starting to get back to some normality when COVID arrived. This is another story! I’m coming up to 6 years now post transplant and am starting to feel stronger and return to life - not as I knew it but as an older, maybe wiser woman. Thank you Delia

Delia Ephron takes us into her home, in the delicate moments of her recent life. And we readers are honored to enter with discretion.A true, delicate, funny and true New York story, for us reader who love Manhattan and Greenwich Village.

This book is an honest account of what the author went through. I found it to be such a heartfelt story of her journey that can relate to so many readers. Thank you Delia for being courageous and honest in your writing. I have recommended it to many friends.

An amazing book about hope, life and love. I read it in two sessions and will read it again. Delia is an inspiration.