I’ve seen Elizabeth Berg’s name on bestseller lists for years, but just never felt the call to pick up one of her books and read it. Then, on a recent trip to the too-trendy-for-me used bookstore, the work I was in search of was not available (Catching Fire, you have proven illusive, but I will get you! I will!). So I browsed the shelves and landed on Talk Before Sleep. (It didn’t take long, as I enjoy browsing the fiction shelves from Austen to Wilde, in that order. Just a little OCD bent of mine that tends to annoy the ganja-smelling attendant pushing the reusable bags at the cash register. But I digress.)
Talk Before Sleep captured me with lyrical, relatable prose and rich characterization. The story is focused on the relationship between Ruth, a wild, brazen woman who is struck with breast cancer, and Ann, her quiet, domesticated friend. The book opens with Ann making a casserole for her daughter and husband, whom she will abandon as she spends yet another night on Ruth’s sofa, near enough to hear her breathe and attend to her needs.
And by needs I mean running out to get Ruth French fries at four a.m. Which I love. Because Ruth is dying. And if I were dying, I would want someone to get up at four a.m. and get me French fries. Or a copy of the Gilmore Girls pilot. Or whatever.
Berg is very good at displaying the truth in her characters – they are all blemished and beautiful in their own way. Ruth, for example, is crazy and fun, but a little annoying at times. As most crazy, fun people are. And as you meet the other women in Ruth’s life – a mélange of friends who join forces to ease Ruth’s fears (all the while attempting to hide their own), you fall in love with them (and are irked by them) each in turn.
And after you complete this book, I highly recommend signing up for the next 5k for breast cancer research in your area. You can even take a flyer to the ganja lovin’ kid at the bookstore – who will promptly recycle it.
MamaScribe 
