Book Review: Sisterhood of the Infamous
Book cover image from Book Shop
Sue Cook
Sisterhood of the Infamous is a study in the love of sisters for each other. Although Barbara and her sister have been estranged, the sister (who remains nameless) returns to take care of Barbara in her last days. Barbara is dying from breast cancer. She is bedridden with round-the-clock nursing assistants. Barbara is a wealthy, mathematical genius with a secret. Her disease has progressed to the point of morphine, oxygen, and the inability to move without assistance.
Not only is Barbara’s sister there to take care of her but she is also the one to break the news of a famous friend’s death. The household then must deal with the impact this news will have on Barbara’s impending death. This story takes place in Hollywood and is based on a true story. The novel is told from a two-person point of view, with alternating chapters for Barbara and her sister.
Sisterhood of the Infamous dealt with many different body issues, including breast cancer, anorexia, multiple fractures due to ballet, identity issues and body modification. It’s written with such passion, and truth that you can feel what each character is going through. And as a result, I found that it took an emotional toll on me and was hard to read at times. Hard or not, I had to find out what happened next.
I had a friend that passed from breast cancer, and my heart bled for her all the time. You may become irritated with the person that is gravely ill, but not angry. I had to deal with anger in this book. That is an interesting feeling for me. I normally don’t feel angry at a gravely ill person. Sisterhood of the Infamous had me facing this emotion and pushing through to continue reading. I am so glad I did.
I found my feelings towards Barbara, the sister that is dealing with breast cancer, moving from sympathy to anger. To write anything further would give away a great deal of the story. It is an understatement to say I felt sorry for the sister, and staff, who took care of Barbara. This book had my feelings in an uproar. I didn’t like how I was feeling, but I couldn’t put the book down. It was that good! This book plays with your emotions like a concert violinist, and you will not want it to end.
I am dying to know who this book is written about. The sisters are mentioned at the end of the book. Do they love each other? I believe so. Families can be loving, but intricate. I am interested in who the other characters are referencing. If you are interested in true crime, this book is for you. If you are interested in crime novels, this book is for you. If you like stories with a twist, this book is definitely for you. What a delightful emotional rollercoaster ride. Climb on and enjoy.
Sue Cook lives in Freeport, Illinois with her husband Randy and two dogs. Her passions include assistance dogs, rescue dogs, music, acting, theater, poetry, and Doctor Who. She’s been in both film and theater and is a regular cast member of the podcast Doctor Who’s Line is it….Anyway? Sue is an advocate for the use of Service Dogs to assist their disabled handlers to maintain their independence. Quigley’s Quest, her first children’s book, addresses how a dog becomes a Service Dog.
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