Life Interrupted: It’s Not All About Me
Chris M. Tatevosian

Tate Publishing & Enterprises, 2008
ISBN: 9781606045633
Reviewed by Dawn Janine Mitchell for ReviewYourBook.com, 01/2009

 5 stars

A quote from the book…”If the writing of this book helps just one couple save their relationship, it will have been time well spent.”

Life Interrupted: It’s Not All About Me, by Chris Tatevosian, is an autobiographical account of the author’s life with Multiple Sclerosis; it is written from the heart. The author shares how he was diagnosed at a time in his life when he had dreams and expectations for his future, how his life was affected by MS, and his struggles to remain a healthy and active individual. That’s just the beginning of the book. The second part of the book focuses on how MS affected not only him but his relationship with his wife at the time.

Mr. Tatevosian shares the mistakes he made and describes his “poor me attitude”. The author does not gloss over his mistakes but is brutally honest with his emotions, thoughts and behaviors. This is a book not only for those with a chronic illness or disability but for anyone who needs to gain a better understanding of how words and actions can destroy relationships. Mr. Tatevosian makes a great impact on addressing the “poor me attitude” in a book of only 147 pages. It seems like a short read, but there is so much insight from the author that it is a must have.

Thank you, Chris Tatevosian, for sharing your life story with us.

Life Interrupted , a truthful, insightful, story everyone should read, September 12, 2007

 

Chris' journey through illness is helpful to others, March 17, 2008 By  Kari D. Semik      "I thank the author for his transparency and humbleness in relaying his experiences with chronic illness and relationships. This is a book of hope for that time when people get stuck in the cycle of pain and frustration because of the presence of illness and it's effects on the lives of everyone involved! Thanks for the book! Kari Semik"

It is an easy read, and can be easily shared with others. It is quite refreshing to read the author's point of view, along with his desires to helping the needs of others. "   Reviewed by LizOP MSWorld Book Reviewer Toward the end of this book, the author writes: "Bitterness, like a cancer, left alone to grow only destroys one's life no matter what the cause."

The way to review a book is to start at the end. Chris talks about his anger and his "poor me" attitude he took on because of his diagnosis of MS at a young age. He boldly talks of his marriage that went on the rocks as a result of his negative choices.

He says he wrote the book to give the readers "the awareness, knowledge and understanding they need to deal more positively with the emotional and physical stresses put on a relationship interrupted by chronic illness or disability."

His book is about relationships and living with MS from his male point of view. The frankness is refreshing and not offensive. His writing is simple and direct - not one for winning prizes but easy to read. He talks of his journey and you may find you are reading about your similar journey.

We each have our own experiences and personalities where we react and think differently. It is good to read different life perspectives to help us focus on our own and where we could look to improve our attitude or circumstances.

If you like reading about other people's lives with MS, this will appeal to you. Maybe it will encourage you to write your own story and share it with others.

Chris has produced a seemingly honest portrayal of his life and lessons he has learned. He wrote about what he knows, which is always a plus in my book."

Life Interrupted Addresses Relationship Issues and MS

Submitted by Chris Ratliff Editor MSfocus.org

"While a freshman attending Johnson state College in himVermont, Chris Tatevosian was diagnosed with MS. He graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science in Ecology and a minor in Chemistry. For seven years, he was an analytical chemical technician before becoming an occupational safety coordinator/consultant.

“My disease was relapsing remitting up until 1990,” Chris says. “That was the year I began dating the woman who would eventually become my wife. Everything was tremendous until I suffered a major exacerbation in May 1993, at which time I became disabled and unable to work. After several difficult years, we were divorced. It was one of the darkest times of my life.”

In his recently published book, Life Interrupted, It's Not All About Me, Chris shares the details of his life with MS before, during, and after his first marriage. This candid memoir examines the ways in which the author’s destructive attitude and inability to cope cost him his marriage. Chris hopes his story might help others make more of an effort to communicate effectively with their loved ones and not allow disability and low self-worth to destroy their relationships. Chris also writes about his faith in God, his experiences with bee venom therapy, and his fiancée, Jane, to whom he is now married.

 Life Interrupted: It's Not All About Me, is published by Tate Publishing Enterprises and is available from http://www.tatepublishing.com/ and available at all outlets after the October 14,2008 release date."

 Sincerely Yours,
Christine Ratliff
Editor, MSFocus
The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation

Chris sincerely shares himself, August 10, 2008 By  Jeremy Rodriguez (Huntington Beach,CA) - See all my reviews    Life Interrupted is a touching truthful account of one man's journey through youthful health and its expectations, as well as a revealing path through the painful trials and personal losses caused by his MS, and the overcoming faith that triumphs in the face of it. Chris, by selflessly allowing the us to see the mistakes made in personal life while facing the incredible challenge of illness, gives invaluable insight to a situation that we all may face eventually.