On My Own at 107: Reflections on Life Without Bessie

On My Own at 107ÿ is Sarah "Sadie" Delaney's tribute to Bessie, her beloved younger sister and century-long companion, who died on September 25, 1995, at age 104.Just four years earlier, Bessie and Sadie, along with former New York Timesÿ reporter Amy Hill Hearth, co-wrote the bestselling Having Our Say,ÿ which told the story of the sisters' remarkable lives as witnesses to a century. Here, Sadie reflects on the first year following Bessie's death. Kirkus Reviewsÿ called the book "a bracing reminder that life, a rare gift, must be savored in the living."

Customer Reviews:

an amazingly postitive look at life

By Howard E. Aldrich - June 15, 2000

i think this book would be a wonderful source of comfort for ANYONE who has lost a partner or loved one...it is so 'upbeat' and positive that it would help the survivor cope with loss. it is delightfully written and offers a perspective from 107 years of life that most of us will not achieve! i am giving this book to friends who need comfort and a new perspective on continuing with their lives.

I am so grateful for this little book

By Sally Turtlepage - September 10, 2004

I read the first two books about these two remarkable sisters ("Having Our Say," and "The Delaney Sisters' Book of Everyday Wisdom") and they also deserve five stars each, absolutely. In fact, the best book, in terms of literary merit, is the first one, and I loved looking at the photos in the book of the whole family, going back a few generations.

But this book here really helped me in the first year of my husband's death. I read it at least once a week, usually more. I found strength in the fact that if Sadie could make it on her own after being practically attached at the hip for over 100 years to Bessie, and loving each other so much and so well, then I would somehow find the strength to go on too.

Sometimes I was so cried out, but I was still so sad and wanted to cry more, but the tears wouldn't come. The way the "as-told-to" author Hearth expressed Sadie's feelings always helped bring back those cathartic tears.

I read many books of comfort for... read more

Queen Bessie!

By A Customer - July 14, 1998

Bessie was my favorite sister. She had so much fire and flare. I'll miss her. This book really allows people that have lost someone to understand that a relationships still exists even though a person isn't physically here. Sadie has pictures of Bessie's favorite flowers from her garden on every other page. It is the best tribute to a person's life that I have ever read or seen. This book proves that it is the simple moments of compassion that make a life so great!