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The Spare Room

By Helen Garner
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3.88 goodreads logo

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Check link for latest rating. ( 8,392 ratings, 1,049 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Spare Room by Helen Garner delves into the dynamics of friendship and caregiving. When Helen's friend Nicola comes to stay with her for cancer treatment, the visit challenges their relationship as they grapple with the realities of illness, hope, and human resilience. The novel provides a compelling exploration of emotional complexities and the boundaries between caring and coping.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might like this book if you appreciate vivid storytelling that explores deep themes of friendship, mortality, and the challenges of caregiving. It's a poignant and deeply personal narrative that delves into the intricacies of human relationships and the emotional complexities involved in end-of-life care.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Helen prepares her spare room for her friend Nicola, who is flying down from Sydney for a visit. But this is no ordinary visit - Nicola has advanced cancer. She is coming to Melbourne to receive treatment. A story of compassion and rage as two women - one sceptical, one stubbornly serene - negotiate their way through Nicola's gruelling treatments.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Helen prepares her spare room for her friend Nicola, who is flying down from Sydney for a three-week visit. But this is no ordinary visit—Nicola has advanced cancer. She is coming to Melbourne to receive treatment she believes will cure her.

From the moment Nicola steps off the plane, Helen becomes her nurse, her protector, her guardian angel, and her stony judge. The Spare Room tells a story of compassion and rage as the two women—one sceptical, one stubbornly serene—negotiate their way through Nicola's gruelling treatments.

Garner's dialogue is pitch-perfect, her sense of pacing flawless as this novel draws to its terrible and transcendent finale.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

James Wood's review in the New Yorker praises The Spare Room for its emotional depth and Garner's ability to convey complex truths. The book is noted for its impactful ending, highlighting themes of personal limits and acceptance, delivering a powerful blend of failure and success.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781921520280

Publisher: Text Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 28 September 2009

Country: Australia

Imprint: The Text Publishing Company

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 14.0mm

Width: 131.0mm

Height: 200.0mm

Weight: 172g

Pages: 208

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About the Author

Helen Garner was born in Geelong in 1942, and has been writing and publishing since her first book, Monkey Grip, came out in 1977.

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