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Book Jacket

 While My Sister Sleeps
by Barbara Delinsky

Publisher: Doubleday
Publication date: 02/17/2009.
Novels, 336 pp.

Number of reader reviews: 18
Readers' Consensus: 4.0
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First Impressions: Page 2 of 3
Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Karen (Princeton MN)

Beautifully written
While My Sister Sleeps was a true pleasure to read. As a sibling of one sister, I was drawn immediately to the topic of sibling rivalry and it's limits. The characters were genuine and their journey believable. Barbara Delinsky has created a terrific story, one that would be enjoyed by reading groups, as there could be no shortage of lively discussion after reading this book. This is the first book I have read by Delinsky and I am looking forward to reading more.

Rated 4 of 5 of 5 by Barb, Simpson Public Library, Mechanicsburg PA (Mechanicsburg PA)

Great read
Another good book from Barbara Delinsky, filled with the questions, both medical and personal, faced by any family dealing with a critical illness. The Snows learn as much about themselves and their relationships with one another as they learn about Robin. I plan to leave my copy of the book in our lounge for others on the library staff to read!

Rated 4 of 5 of 5 by Christine (Royal Oak MI)

Thought Provoking
I read for two reasons. One for entertainment, to escape reality and be transported to a different time and place. I also enjoy reading books that provoke thought. "While My Sister Sleeps" was such a book. My first thought I had while reading was I that I need to tell my family what to do in case I can not speak for myself. My second thought was how would I react if I had a family member in Robin's situation.

Rated 4 of 5 of 5 by Joan (Owego NY)

While My Sister SleepsI
I enjoyed this book and even with a busy Christmas schedule I couldn't put it down.The problems faced by the Snow family are universal.We all contend with aging parents and the change in our relationship with them.As parents we have to balance the needs of our children. Does the talented child monopolize the attention and resources of the family to the detriment of the siblings? Hopefully we won't have to end the life of a brain dead child but the author shows us the many stages in the decision and the way a family finally comes to decide.Even the pitfalls of being a good Samaritan is brought out.

As I was reading this book I kept thinking how it would keep my book club discussing for hours.

Rated 4 of 5 of 5 by Margot (Denver CO)

Delinsky consistently delivers
While My Sister Sleeps is another of Barbara Delinsky's consistent novels. She always seems to find a good voice for her characters and deliver emotional nuances that strike you as real.

In this novel, a sister and her family grapple with learning the secret life of their oldest daughter while she lies in a coma. It strikes home in that we never can fully know the interior thoughts and motivations of even our closest family.

It's a great read for a cold winter weekend with hot chocolate, a warm fire and a box of tissues. Enjoy.

Rated 3 of 5 of 5 by Doris (Angora MN)

While My Sister Sleeps
The first few chapters of this book are so depressing I almost didn't finish reading it. Because I don't like to give up on a book, I continued and am glad I did. There are many surprising twists in the plot as the reader gets to know more of each family member.

This book is a good, quick read which you won't soon forget.

Rated 3 of 5 of 5 by Lori (Nutter Fort WV)

How can she sleep with so much talking?
During what could potentially be a fascinating story about a nightmare-scenario crisis in the Snow family, the author repeatedly throws an attention-deficit plagued dialogue at the reader. Although the plot was compelling and I had no trouble sticking with the book until the end - with few exceptions, the characters never felt complete. It is an easy and forgettable read which I would recommend only if you are seeking shallow treatment of a very compelling situation.

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