Dan and Carmen have it all, it seems: They are young, rich, good-looking, satisfied in their work and love life, and are the parents of a beautiful three-year-old daughter. When Carmen is diagnosed with breast cancer, Dan is unable to cope with her illness and the changes this brings to their happy, yuppie family life. While the beautiful and optimistic Carmen submits to chemotherapy and eventually a mastectomy, hedonistic Dan tries to find solace with his buddies and in several flings before he finally stops running away and succeeds in supporting Carmen in her decision to end her life with dignity. Love Life is an account of a terminal illness that is devoid of glitz or fake sentiment. Distressing hospital situations and spot-on characterizations of doctors and therapists alternate with the many heart-wrenching moments through the course of Carmen's illness, as both she and Dan come to terms with what commitment really means. Love Life is completely unapologetic, extremely controversial, but ultimately uplifting and life-affirming.

Love Life: A Novel

Literature & Fiction

Kluun, Ray

United States

St. Martin's: Griffin

The Widower

Following his wife Carmen's funeral, chronicled so movingly in Love Life, Dan tries to pick up the pieces. He is now the sole parent of little Luna. But inevitably, in his grief, he goes right off the rails. His friends worry for him and for Luna. His hedonism becomes self-destructive, and deep down he knows it's better to have Luna stay with friends than for her to witness his decline. He sells his share of the business to his partner and goes on a drug-addled holiday to Ibiza, drowning himself in the party scene. Dan reaches rock bottom and realizes he can't go on like this. His friends advise him to go on a long trip, taking Luna with him, and to try and take stock of his life. He decides to take Luna to Australia, via Bali and Thailand. There, as they travel across the continent, they begin to tentatively establish a new relationship and Dan finally comes to realize what it is he wants and needs in his life.

Contemporary

Pan/Macmillan

Following his wife Carmen's funeral, chronicled so movingly in Love Life, Dan tries to pick up the pieces. He is now the sole parent of little Luna. But inevitably in his grief he goes right off the rails. His friends worry for him and for Luna. His hedonism becomes self-destructive and he deep down he knows it's better to have Luna stay with friends than for her to witness his decline. He sells his share of the business to his partner and goes on a drug-addled holiday to Ibiza, drowning himself in the party scene. Dan reaches rock bottom and realises he can't go on like this. His friends advise him to go on a long trip, taking Luna with him, and to try and take stock of his life. He decides to take Luna to Australia, via Bali and Thailand. There as they travel across the continent they begin to tentatively establish a relationship—a new relationship—and Dan finally comes to realize what it is he wants and needs in his life.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Kluun, Ray. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Kluun, Ray

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Kluun, Ray. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Love Life: A Novel

The Widower

The Widower