This book developed from a journal of my thoughts and feelings recorded in response to the shock of my wife’s diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer in December 2015. Initially, I kept it as a personal diary of things that I believed were important at the time, including the poems and prose I wrote which sprang organically from the events as they unfolded. Whilst these few short months were extremely … challenging, at times shocking and ultimately tragic, they were also a time of great love. Hopefully, I have captured some of those few moments of pure happiness, humour and joy which I believe will not only help other people touched by cancer but will show sufferers and their families that there is no right or wrong way to behave, just as long as you continue to show how much you care and as much as possible, be there for each other.
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More Than Love, A Husband’s Tale
by Peter B. Forster
I received a complimentary copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Peter B. Forster is a retired senior counselling psychologist and writer. He composed this book as a journal when his lovely wife, Kay, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Putting pen to paper, or in his case on a laptop in random spare moments to help sustain his focus during the trying times he and Kay experienced and “a comfort to those who read them.”
The author writes from day to day, indeed frequently each day, openly concerning the discomfort and emotionally raw passion on every page, in every word concern clear for his loving spouse, even down to his perception of his inadequacy and overwhelming heartache.
It is a remarkably intimate, tragically beautifully written emotional record of their history together before and after the diagnosis, an authentic record of his upset and anguish, concerned for Kay’s suffering.
“Can it be happening, is it true? Will there be peace in a world without me and you?“
As we follow the author’s phrases, interspersed by meaningful prose, the grief is complete, bringing tears to my eyes. The concerns and worries noted down, even random thoughts, hit like a brick when his desperation seeps through. All combined with the confusion and unfairness of the situation in trying to imagine what his life would be like without her… obviously unimaginable.
What I found painfully true is a reference to comments by people enquiring as to the wellbeing of his partner by acquaintances, and do they want to know? Genuinely? Is it out of kindness; are they expecting an actual truthful response or only a “yes she’s fine “ throwaway remark? I have encountered this attitude and the inquiry as they continue walking, indifferent. I concluded that many people either don’t know how to express their concerns or fear facing their mortality.
Peter states repeatedly in the journal that he is exhausted, has lost weight and is also in physical pain, but clearly describes that he does not call for sympathy, that the narrative is wholly for Kay. This is so very humbling, and on arrival at the end, I did expect a few lines representing his way of life after the passing of Kay. He keeps to his word, the journal in complete reverence to his fantastically brave wife apart from one simple sentence, “I still miss her so much.”
This is everything and smashed my heart.
I definitely recommend, a superb narrative in honour of a courageous lady and the author, Peter B. Forster, who cared, loved and dedicated himself to the love of his life until the end and beyond.
I rate More Than Love, A Husband’s Tale 5 out of 5 stars.
It just takes one day and one visit to the doctor to change a normal life from the same O same old, To find yourself staring into an abyss of unknown predictions. This happened to Peter and KNN this book it is peters journal of the good days and bad days with his wife and her journey with pancreatic cancer. They have some very sad entries in this book and other times you can see Peter trying to scraping glances of goodness to make for a good day. He is honest and very authentic. I think if you are going through a similar situation with the spouse or a loved one you should read this book it certainly helps. I highly recommend this book if not for the help just to get a glimpse into something hopefully most of us won’t experience. I want to thank Peter for his book and for sharing it with all of us.
In this book, the author kindly shares with us a very painful and complicated part of his life: the terminal illness and subsequent death of his wife Kay, and the general and particular experience that the couple and their family went through.
The narrative style in which Peter B Forster decided to share his memories of such a peculiar and complicated period is very interesting (in addition, of course, to the shared experience of living closely the terminal illness of the loved one): a perfect combination between the entries from his personal diary —which recounts the admissions and discharges from the hospital, the treatments, the personal talks and the most significant day-to-day events with his beloved wife after the beginning of the illness, as well as part of their previous history and relationship as a couple and as members of a family— and a series of poems that beautifully translate the turmoil and depth of the emotions that arose and grew along the way.
This book is beautiful, direct, real and above all very human. Its narrative is direct, polite but open, and its poetry transparent, authentic and beautiful. If you want to read how the true love of a couple can be lived and shared when the days of the most loved one are numbered, this book should absolutely be among your first options.
More Than Love is a journal type book written by the husband of a terminally ill cancer sufferer. Peter states that he started the journal as a way to process and manage his own feelings in order to be strong for his wife, Kay, during her time of need. The book is obviously very emotional and also contains a number of poems written by Peter but the book also serves as a guide to what is happening and why with lots of medical references and explanations of the side effects. A deeply touching book and also a helpful guide for anyone that may, unfortunately, find themselves in a similar situation.
This is a book about Peter Forster’s account of his wife Kay’s battle with cancer. A daily journal as a way to process his emotions in order to remain as strong as possible for kay. This is obviously an emotional and heartbreaking book whether you have experienced anything similar or not. It also provides a host of information around the stages of treatment, side effects etc. The poetry by Peter is very touching and wonderfully written.
I loved it! This book is almost as a diary, the personal thoughts and suffer of a husband willing to share every emotion he had during the fight of her wife with pancreatic cancer, every thought, every feeling, every emotion that he is willing to share so that others can understand and don’t feel alone in the great struggle that is the disease Cancer, just the word is frightening, the path that he had to witness is heartbreaking and so eye opening.
Peter Forster is sharing every step of the way, from the diagnosis to the truly heartbreaking end. The memories of his wife, the confusion of the emotions he had; as a psychologist he helps to understand with his own experience and that is something that not many people dare to share to the world, this book is amazing!!