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 enlarge | Author: Evan Handler
Publisher: Riverhead Hardcover
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
Buy New: $6.90
You Save: $18.05 (72%)
New (32) Used (12) from $6.90
Avg. Customer Rating:  19 reviews
Sales Rank: 27405
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 240
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 5.9 x 0.8
ISBN: 1594489955
Dewey Decimal Number: 362.196994190092
EAN: 9781594489952
ASIN: 1594489955
Publication Date: May 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 It's Only Temporary...The Good News and the Bad News of Being Alive July 22, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
It's Only Temporary: The Good News and the Bad News of Being Alive
I could not put this book down:) Thank you Evan, After not being able to read for almost 8 years after going through Lung Cancer. I picked up A Time On Fire by Evan Handler. I just could not put this book down. When "IT'S ONLY TEMPORARY" CAME OUT HAD TO RUN OUT AND PICK UP MY COPY:)
Absolutely awesome reading. I have never read a more honest telling on ones self in my life. I laughed till I cried. HYSTERICAL, HONEST, FUNNY TO A FAULT, SAD, WITTY, EMOTIONS RUN HIGH. With a happy ever after ending:) Now waiting for the next......And how about a movie combining both books? Shirley Rhodes
Read "Time on Fire" First.... June 22, 2008
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
....to gain an understanding of what Evan went through. I wrote an extensive review of his first book on Amazon in 1998, and received a lovely email from Mr. Handler thanking him for my kind words. The review was later deleted (not sure why) but I wrote another short one back in 2000 to make up for it. And here is why: it's a phenomenal story about what it is like to be young and on the cusp of success before it is snatched away from you. Make no mistake - this man should be dead. The survival rates for his type of leukemia in the 1980's were dismal at best. His navigation through treatment and all it's emotions is striking, and made this nurse think twice about how healthcare is delivered.
So what happens when you beat the odds and have to live? You press on. And so he has, and has gained success again in the process - although not nearly what he should have. It should be noted that Evan was on his way to a major acting career when he was young. Matthew Broderick and a host of other young 1980's actors have basically had better careers because he had to drop out of the business for treatment. He should have won his Tony by now...if not his Oscar.
So - the new book. Of course, it's not about his time on Sex and the City. That's only a small portion of what he's been doing since his recovery. So those looking for some insight into that character should read something else. It's about trying to gain self-identity as something other that a patient. Living a life you weren't expecting to have. It's anecdotal (most good writing is) and funny. The story of selling his engagement ring back to Sotheby's made me cry, because beating cancer doesn't preclude you from failed relationships.
As a new mom, I love that he has embraced fatherhood - he's lucky he could have kids after all his treatment. And it was nice to catch up with his progress after all these years. I loved it.
I Highly Recommend This Honest and Heartfelt Book June 19, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Getting a catastrophic illness at a young adult age is like an earthquake: its most dramatic and obvious effects are felt during it, but the more subtle, and largely psychological, aftershocks that follow can be just as far-reaching and dramatic. And they often persist for a lifetime.
As a fellow leukemia and bone marrow transplant survivor, I understand the life-questions and dilemmas that confront this author. We surface from the rubble not knowing how to approach falling in love, our professions, our family, marriage, and having kids, among other things. Issues that aren't a big deal to most of our peers become huge, profound, moral, or spiritual as we grapple with our considerably more uncertain futures.
This theme nuances every story, and in instances where it is more obvious, Mr. Handler plays it out with impressive honesty and grace. You won't find behind-the-scenes "Sex and the City' anecdotes here. What you will find -- elegant reflections on finding love, connecting with other people, and investing in one's life in spite of its uncertainties -- is so much better.
Truly remarkable book. June 15, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I read Evan Handler's new book the week it came out (MySpace was abuzz with it's empending release for a while). It was wonderful. I was expecting a self important, "this is me after cancer, pity me!" type of book, but was pleasently surprised. It is full of humorously self depricating, truly hysterical essays that draw you in to the book. They are not presented in a "first this happened and then this happened" progression. Like the author explains in the intro, he wants it to be like getting to know someone, you find out things about them randomly and out of order. My favorite moment in the book was, after describing some truly terrible behavior, Mr Handler reminds the reader that he had had cancer. Sounds odd? You have to read it to fully appreciate why I had to set the book down for a few moments to laugh myself silly. I also had my eyes opened to the fact that Americans have dirty butts. We do, and the authors wife knows this. I haven't been the same since! Mr Handler is a remarkable writer and this book shows off his talents beautifully. I was drawn into his mind and was pleased with what was presented to me there. Honest, raw emotions and dark humor. Each essay brings you further to what I see as his point: Life is not easy, even if you're supposed to appreciate it a little more than others. I firmly suggest anyone read this book. It is like talking to a really good friend you haven't seen in years. Catching up on all you've missed. Being entertained by his self expression. This book is worth the price and then some. Read it!! You'll thank me!
 this one is not "on fire" June 14, 2008
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
I read Time on Fire when a colleague was dying of lymphoma. I found the book extraordinary, and it hit me hard--and the situation, and especially his anger, though frightening, were riveting.. Sadly, this new book is anything but on fire--it's boring as he goes from relationship to relationship. I liked him better when he was angry--he had more interesting things to say. Yet I'm glad he has survived, thrived, and is finally happy.
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