World Famous Comics: Somewhere in Heaven: The Remarkable Love Story of Dana and Christopher Reeve
Somewhere in Heaven: The Remarkable Love Story of Dana and Christopher Reeve
By: Christopher Andersen Publisher: Hyperion Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Label: Hyperion Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 256 Publication Date: July 08, 2008 Release Date: July 08, 2008
"A terrible thing happened. I wish it hadn't. But would I change who I married? Never."
--Dana Reeve
He was a hero in every sense of the word--the chiseled-from-granite star of four blockbuster Superman films and the romantic classic Somewhere in Time who, after being paralyzed in a freak horseback riding accident, became a symbol of hope for millions. Dana Reeve was no less heroic, standing steadfastly by her husband's side until his surprisingly sudden and unexpected death at age fifty-two. When Dana, a non-smoker, passed away from lung cancer just seventeen months after Chris's death, she left behind their thirteen-year-old son, Will, to be raised by friends and family. Dana was only forty-four years old.
That fate could have dealt such a cruel hand to this golden couple seemed unfathomable. That they could endure it all with grace, courage, and humor defied belief.
Yet for all the millions of words that have been written about their public causes and private struggles following Chris's accident, little is known about the lives they led as passionate young lovers. Now, in the manner of his poignant-yet-stirring bestsellers Jack and Jackie, Jackie After Jack, An Affair to Remember, The Day Diana Died, After Diana, and The Day John Died, No. l New York Times bestselling author Christopher Andersen draws on those who knew them best to examine in touching detail the Reeves' unique partnership and the romance, faith, and fortitude that defined it.
Sometimes heartbreaking, often uplifting, always compelling, Somewhere in Heaven is more than just a portrait of a marriage. It is the profoundly human story of two souls whose brief lives made a difference, a bittersweet saga of tragedy, triumph, and loss, and--above all else--a love story for the ages.
sad story but lots of love This book leaves the reader with a warm feeling despite the tragedies it is about. Chris and Dana Reeve thrived despite terrible obstacles because they had so much love, both within themselves and from others. I would not say it is a "remarkable" love story because I think most spouses would hang in there and try to help their loved one in such a situation, though few would have anywhere near the financial resources or love and support of so many around the world like the Reeves did. Chris Reeve became a spokesman for the disabled, an icon in their court. The disabled in this country are often viewed in negative ways, people don't understand how much they suffer nor do they see how much they can love and how valuable they are as people, whether they can work and contribute to the GNP or not. Chris and Dana Reeve helped change that, and that is something that needs to change. Everyone has a right to be valued for who they are and what they can give to others. But some things in this book are disconcerting. I would have liked to see more exploration into why Chris Reeve could not accept not being able to walk. One of the things the book fails to tell is that a lot of quadraplegics really were not happy with his refusal to accept it. I think, from what little the book said about such things, that he just had an issue with not being able to fail, and so he was driven. The sad thing is that when he had some feeling come back, he was disappointed because he still couldn't walk. I think the little victories would have meant more if he could have accepted it. The other thing is the enormous cost of all the therapies to prepare him to walk again. His insurance company paid for a lot of it. Is this the best way to spend limited funds when there are people in this country who have no health care at all- pursuing fantasies? The book also fails to mention that his friend Robin Williams also paid for a lot of it for him. A few references were made to Chris saying he had to keep working to pay the bills. This can give the wrong impression - that we should expect quadraplegics to keep working somehow to pay for their own health care. In this way he did a disservice to the disabled population. I also was disappointed that Dana's tragic battle with lung cancer and death was told in comparatively few pages, almost like an afterthought. I also think the book failed to show the dark side more. A brief reference was made to Chris sometimes being "depressed and moody" but the reader for the most part gets to see only the bright side. I would have liked a more well-rounded picture of Dana and Chris. I think they both held a lot in to put on a good show, as one might have expected from actors, because the whole world was watching. In that way, having to tuck in their feelings and carry on, I think they suffered a lot too, but none of that was in the book. Their was a brief reference to Dana saying they both should see therapists. So they must have had a lot going on that they couldn't show the world. It was a disservice to the reader - and to them - not to show the whole picture. I also wonder what happened to the horse, Buck, that stopped short on him? They said he was going to be sold but nothing about whether anyone ever bought him. Maybe the horse was just doing what he had to do in a cosmic sense - set Chris Reeve on the journey that would do the world so much good. After all that is what Superman is all about - selflessly doing good for others.
Somewhere in Heaven - Somewhere in Heaven: The Remarkable Love Story of Dana and Christopher Reeve
arrived on time in good condition
This was one of the best biographies I ever read... This is a biography of love.If you are a romantic girl or guy you will appreciate this.Chris Andersen is a really good writer, if not the best there is.He captured very intelligent and true Chris and Dana Reeve love story and struggles with a bad luck horse ride accident.They gone through hell after the accident but they did the best they can.You cannot help admiring them and feeling for them a deep empathy(such a rare feeling these days).I read the book in a heart beat, in a couple of days, because it was very well written, captivating and emotional.Superman is in heaven now.I bet he is in a very good place...even he did not believe in God..
Tammy Del This was the best non fiction book I've read in a while. Really sad, but much more inspirational. I didn't realize the severity of the challenges just to keep Christopher alive and well during the nine or so years he lived after the accident. Dana is the person I would want to be. It's so sad for the son they left behind.
"Real love, and the ability to love somebody as damaged as I was, that is a rare and precious thing" XXXXX
Why do bad things happen to good people?
This is the first question I asked myself after I had read this extraordinary and revealing book by Christopher Andersen, best-selling author, former contributing editor of "Time" magazine, and senior editor of "People" magazine.
Despite the book's subtitle, "The Remarkable Love Story of Dana and Christopher Reeve," it is much more than just a portrait of a marriage. The book delves into their lives before they were married (he was perhaps best known for becoming "The Man of Steel" on the movie screen while she was an aspiring singer-actress), details their marriage before Reeve's horse-back riding accident (they had a son, Will, together), and details their marriage after his accident (he was paralysed from the shoulders down and was unable to breathe on his own; yes, the money needed for his constant care did become an issue).
The fact that they, as a couple, were able rise above worrying about their own problems, and even thrive and help others is what makes this story so incredibly remarkable. This book is thus appropriately dedicated:
"For those who never give up."
For me, the book provided details and stories about the Reeves that I did not know. (I especially liked the story about Robin Williams disguised as a "chief" proctologist.) In particular, it answered two questions that I had always wondered about:
(1) Why was Christopher Reeve so afraid of marriage (even after he had fathered two children from a previous relationship)?
(2) Why did Dana Reeve (nee Morosini) die from lung cancer even though she had not smoked a cigarette in her life?
Before each chapter, there are interesting quotations by not only Christopher and Dana Reeve but by others who the Reeves knew (such as Robin Williams, Christopher Reeve's surgeon, the chairman of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, etc.). By the way, the quotation that titles this review came from one of these sections and was said by Christopher Reeve.
Finally, in the middle of the book are 35 black and white photographs. My favourite: a paralysed Christopher Reeve getting a kiss on the forehead from then three-year-old son, Will.
In conclusion, Katherine Hepburn (who knew Christopher Reeve since 1976 and eventually got to know Dana as well) said:
"It's heartbreaking what's happened, but now we know they are just two damn extraordinary people, plain and simple."
You have to read this well-written book to witness for yourself just how extraordinary Dana and Christopher Reeve were!!
(first published 2008; preface; 7 untitled chapters; main narrative 215 pages; acknowledgments; notes; index)
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