Review of Living in Color

[MAUREEN WAMBUI NJUKI]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Living in Color" by Mike Murphy.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Living in Color is a powerful, enlightening homage by the author Mike Murphy to his late wife, Margot. It is the true definition of the vow "in sickness and in health." The book starts when their oncologist gives Mike and his wife a prognosis: Margot has only six weeks to live without treatment or six months with treatment. They immediately decide to take the six months option, and they travel across the country in search of the best doctors to help extend Margot's life. The author then gives the reader perspective on how he and Margot met. He takes us down a raw and vulnerable memory lane of the events before they could finally be together. They were both married to different people at the point of their meeting. He describes how they had to overcome the barriers of indecision of breaking families apart, hatred from Mike's kids, and the inevitable hurt they caused their respective spouses at the time. After divorcing their respective partners, they finally got married and shared a powerful bond.

Unfortunately, Margot was diagnosed with breast cancer less than a year into being together. From then on, they started a journey of finding the best healthcare that could help Margot recover or extend her life. Through their fight with cancer, their bond grew closer. They both delved into spirituality and finding the meaning of life. Margot is described as strong, and not even cancer could dim her passion for life. She is described as having irresistible energy such that even her stepkids finally accepted and loved her. The author describes their many doctor visits, how disheartening it was to see his wife in pain, and how he even started a website to have people praying for her round the clock. Unfortunately, after six months, as had been foreseen in the prognosis, Margot's body begins to give in. They had both talked about death and invited a specialist who helps people transition into the afterlife when it's time. She passes on after nine years of braving cancer.

The author then narrates his life after losing his beloved, from having depression, having mystic experiences, and starting a foundation in which he dedicates his life to supporting women who have breast cancer.

This was one of the best love stories I have read. It is not your ordinary kind of love. I loved how deep and vulnerable the author was throughout the book. He did not hold back from letting us into their shortcomings and strengths. I loved how he documented the experiences in a day-to-day format such that I felt like I was living the experiences with them. The book also brought me so much clarity to some of life's questions that I have always had. Ideas such as focusing positive thoughts and love on someone to help relieve their pain and the possibility of having mystic experiences. I also loved the concept of conscious dying expressed in the book. I think that after reading this book, I no longer fear death.

There was nothing I disliked in this book. It was exceptionally well edited and page-turning.

I rate the book a resounding 4 out of 4 stars and plan on reading more of the author's books.

I would recommend the book to anyone who has an interest in learning more about cancer and the effects it has not only on the patient but their loved ones. There are a lot of things that I think they would find beneficial. Equally, anyone who enjoys reading real-life love stories and love stories that go above and beyond would be enthralled.

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Living in Color
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