Review of Take Me or Heal Me

Laura Britos · Post by **Laura Britos** » 25 Apr 2022, 13:07

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Take Me or Heal Me" by Rinad Bsharat.]

4 out of 4 stars

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How do you think most people would react to knowing they only have three months to live? Even better, how would you react to knowing that you only had three months of life left? I am wholeheartedly sure that most of us, if not all of us, would never have reacted the way Rinad Basharat did. A woman who is truly the embodiment of strength was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 22 and told she would die in only a few months. Nonetheless, after her diagnosis in 2005, 16 years passed and she lived. Take Me or Heal Me by Rinad Basharat is about her journey through her disease, her passage through college, her chemotherapy, her treatments, her faith, and her identity.

My favorite aspect of the book is the symbolism behind her nickname Bisseh, which is what her father called her. And this means a cat, as in the animal. This is such a subtle symbolism that it seems intentional. After almost 20 years of enduring her condition and surviving almost 10 different treatments, she seems to have overcome every challenge life puts in her way. Her sorrow became her strength and she learned how to learn everything she needed to be her strength and best version. She managed to be reborn nine different times and to create a new Bisseh after each treatment.

I would recommend this book to anyone who can get their hands on it. The feeling we readers are left with after this book is the closest definition of being alive that I can conceive. The emotional level and maturity that the author had after being told she was close to dying, is heart-shaking. I could not put the book down; it is just like those movies that have you on the edge of your seats, not taking your eyes away.

Another favorite aspect worth mentioning is the courage the author has. Not many would be comfortable or brave enough to put themselves in such a vulnerable position after living through such hard times. There is a level of not only exposure but also the remembrance that not many people would dare to confront. I felt this book was a guide for navigating through such dark waters, and I cannot help but think that Rinad is the closest thing to a hero that most of us will ever read about.

All in all, her book is such a personal piece, a story that will surely help people. And not only people facing cancer, but people who no longer feel like appreciating life or even the little things. Her story is one of the most wonderful ones that I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I truly hope most people can read this book and feel a deeper appreciation of life. In addition, I found no grammatical mistakes; no errors whatsoever. This book deserves 4 out of 4 stars.

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Take Me or Heal Me
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Aisha Yakub · Post by **Aisha Yakub** » 26 Apr 2022, 07:22

That's a very sad news to have heard. I wonder how she acted. I'd like to read about story; I'm sure it would be inspiring. Great review.

stephanie___ · Post by **stephanie___** » 26 Apr 2022, 08:00

Seems like a very inspiring and educative story, would definitely read this!

Itz Savaga · Post by **Itz Savaga** » 26 Apr 2022, 13:55

The title of this book is captivating, your review is interesting. The book sounds inspiring to people going through hard times in life, they would learn not to give up no matter how hard it gets as Rinad did in the book.

Christopherio · Post by **Christopherio** » 27 Apr 2022, 17:28

Sometimes challenges and difficult times make you realize how strong you are. and makes you stronger and helps in self-development. though it's not advisable to go seeking challenges like the saying goes "every disappointment is a blessing".