What readers think of The Spare Room, plus links to write your own review.

Few books that I have read cause me as much ambivalence   as this one did. On the positive side, it is very well written without excessive verbosity or hysteria. The characters are very believable, but not always likable. The message…I am not sure that there is “one”. This is the kind of book that will probably resonate uniquely for each reader. All of that probably makes this book at least a four star, if not five.

On the other hand, the circumstances and situations described are often heart rendering and painfully sad. Ms. Garner has created two very genuine women; people I wish I might have known before this experience. I suspect that Ms. Garner, herself, lived through a similar even. If she did not, she is a genius in her imagination and creation of the emotions that are presented.

Set in Melbourne, Australia, this short novel explores the relationship of two friends, Helen and Nikola. Nikola spends three weeks as Helen's guest while undergoing treatments for her terminal cancer. The plot moves along quickly and the reading is easy. The characters are not very well developed, however, so that the reader actually doesn't care too much about the outcome. What should have been a very moving tale is ultimately a let-down.

The Spare Room focuses on Helen who decides to take on the role of caretaker for her friend Nicola who has terminal cancer but refuses to consider the possibility of death. My impression was Helen truly cared for Nicola but did not envision the care required due to Nicola's continuing pursuit of alternative treatments.

I was struck by Helen's continual whining and I was saddened and embarrassed by her response to Nicola's desire to seek life even when the treatment was so harsh. I did not feel the bond between the two women and I was struck by how lonely Nicola must have felt towards the end.

I did not find Helen's treatment of her friend and her condition enlightening. The story was a tragedy of a friendship during very adverse times.

I found the story depressing. I admired Helen for being able to offer her friend a place to come and be while undergoing treatment, even as unorthodox as it was, and trying to be compassionate all the while growing more and more tired and frustrated. The book was not an enjoyable read to me.