We All Want Impossible Things: The uplifting and moving Richard and Judy Book Club pick

Present for friend.

One of my favourite reads of the year. The writing was unaffected, felt very real, the characters easy to get to know. From the author's acknowlegements it sounds as though much conversation was lifted from life. There was some suspension of disbelief required, for me anyway, regarding the intimate encounters between the main character and a selection of partners, but that was peripheral in a way and served a purpose. The main takeaway was the absolute importance of love and friendship and human connection. It's all we have. If I was able to fill a room with as many people as Edi near the end of my life, I would consider it well lived. The way the main character helped us get to know Edi, with Edi not taking part in much of the action, was skillfully done. It was poignant but not mawkish, when in another writer's hands it might have been. I really enjoyed the tone of this book.

A beautiful story of friendship, love and togetherness.

Ash and Edi have been the best of friends for most of their lives. When Edi is diagnosed with terminal Cancer, Ash's life revolves around Edi's care for the remainder of her life.I've had a good think about this review before writing it, as I finished it feeling quite conflicted. On the one hand it is well written, with a matter of fact maturity and raw wit I appreciate in adult fiction - and on the other hand I found the MFC a little infuriating and the content a little lacking. This is a contemporary fiction about friendship and love, life and death, so of course there is going to be the usual dramas and conflicts. I enjoyed the very realistic descriptions of every day life and multiple conversations between family and strangers, and I chuckled at moments which felt a little too authentic. But it felt a little too indulgent, focusing too much on Ash and her self sabotaging behaviour, when I wanted more detail on Edi, and their friendship.I get that books like this are more about the character development than the story or plot, and of course I know that humans are flawed, complicated, and generally a hot mess - and there are oceans of readers out there who live for this kind of book. I do like the way you can relate and connect with the characters in this accessible way, but sometimes I find them a little too real. Enjoyed the writing though - both written and when listening to audio - and definitely cried towards the end.

A moving and life affirming read. Highly recommended.

Tough topic but at its heart an uplifting story of friendship. I didnt love the main character. She had some horrible traits and at times behaved questionably but I tried to see past it. Relatively quick read. Well written. I have recommended to others.

This book made me laugh and cry.The author must have lost someone.for.Her to be so knowledgeable about and slow dying process.I used to think that I would like to go suddenly without fuss but Edi had time to say goodbye to everyone who she loved.

This is a very well written book, both moving and sad. But it has taken me to page 84 before I could sort out all the characters whose name begins with J. At first I thought they were all males - Jude, Jonah and Jules.As of this moment I can tell you I believe Jude is Edi's husband, Jonah is her brother, and Jules is Ash's daughter - but no doubt I'll have to stop and think the next time I come across one of them.

This book so perfectly shares the grim but achingly sweet, and frequently funny, story of losing someone you love to a long battle with terminal illness. I want to start again at the beginning.

Ein Buch über das gute Leben im Hospiz. Ich bin über einen Podcast zu Freundschaften auf dieses Buch aufmerksam geworden.Beim Lesen musste ich innerhalb einer U-Bahnfahrt sowohl laut lachen als auch anfangen zu weinen. Das Wechselbad der Gefühle zieht sich durch das gaänze Buch, aber es ist letzlich ein sehr lebensfreudiges Buch über die Bedeutung von Freundschaft auch beim Sterben

The book came in a pretty good condition except a few negligibly torn areas.

This book feels like a lived experience. It was challenging and engaging. The characters feel like real people ( that you want to meet) i laughed and cried and thought of the people I have loved , still love but aren’t here anymore.

Ms. Newman has crafted a great novel about life, love loss and rediscovery of yourself in the journey. At times funny, at times achingly raw this is not a story about perfect Saints but rather the perfectly imperfect people who love their dying friend and each other. Loved this because truly, we all want at least one impossible thing.