Love, Greg & Lauren

Rating:
Summary: Touching story of a woman's journey to hell and back.
Review: "Love, Greg and Lauren," by Greg Manning, is the true story of a woman's miraculous escape from death. Lauren Manning, a senior vice president at Cantor Fitzgerald, stepped into the lobby of the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11th, 2001, just as a fireball emerged and engulfed her. Lauren was burned over eighty percent of her body.

Lauren's doctors at the Burn Center of New York-Presbyterian Hospital did not expect Lauren to survive her grave injuries. However, Lauren Manning was no ordinary patient. First, she had an enormous will to survive, in order to resume her life with her husband, Greg, and with her ten-month-old son, Tyler. In addition, the staff at the Burn Center was incredibly skilled, and fiercely determined to save as many victims of September 11th as they possibly could. Finally, the prayers and good wishes of people from all over the world were with Lauren and her family.

The book is Greg's e-mail diary of Lauren's remarkable recovery. It is a tribute to Lauren's courage, to the skill and dedication of the marvelous doctors and nurses who cared for her, and to the love and support of her friends and family.

"Love, Greg and Lauren" is not elegantly written, but it nonetheless has great impact. We feel the emotional duress, the pain, and the uncertainty that this couple and their family suffered as Lauren battled back, step-by-step, until she was finally pronounced "out of the woods." I recommend that you read this poignant account. It is a testament to the tremendous power of the human spirit.

Rating:
Summary: Something rubbed me the wrong way...
Review: ...about this book. While I cannot begin to imagine the horrors Lauren has experienced and I wish her and her family the best,I was left a little cold by the contents of some of Greg's missives. There are frequent references throughout the book to Lauren's beauty, and the reader is left with the feeling that it's Greg who is more dissappointed with Lauren's swollen face and missing hair than she is. Also -- Greg spent quite a few nights playing bass with his band at local bars while his wife lay in her hospital bed. Who was home with baby Tyler each and every night? Lauren's parents, who receive little in the book in the way of thanks. They're the true heroes of this story.

Rating:
Summary: Something rubbed me the wrong way...
Review: ...about this book. While I cannot begin to imagine the horrors Lauren has experienced and I wish her and her family the best,I was left a little cold by the contents of some of Greg's missives. There are frequent references throughout the book to Lauren's beauty, and the reader is left with the feeling that it's Greg who is more dissappointed with Lauren's swollen face and missing hair than she is. Also -- Greg spent quite a few nights playing bass with his band at local bars while his wife lay in her hospital bed. Who was home with baby Tyler each and every night? Lauren's parents, who receive little in the book in the way of thanks. They're the true heroes of this story.

Rating:
Summary: It pains me to say it, but this book is DULL
Review: A true testiment of love. Greg Manning stood by his wife Lauren's side as she was an innocent victim of September 11th. Lauren was entering the WTC as a fireball of jet fuel engulfed her, pushing her out of the building, thereby saving her life, but not before it burned her 82.5%. Usually the survival rate is very low the higher percentage of the burn. Greg Manning, continued to raise their child Tyler and never let a day (90 total) go by the he was not at the hospital. This is a book of e mails Greg sent to his friends and family from almost start to finish about the tragedy and Laurens progress. He hardly misses a day from September 19th until December 18, 2001. Laurens strength is inspiring. Gregs love is heartfelt. He never lost faith, signing every e mail no matter what Laurens condition was at the time, Love, Greg and Lauren. A good read.

Rating:
Summary: Very touching
Review: A true testiment of love. Greg Manning stood by his wife Lauren's side as she was an innocent victim of September 11th. Lauren was entering the WTC as a fireball of jet fuel engulfed her, pushing her out of the building, thereby saving her life, but not before it burned her 82.5%. Usually the survival rate is very low the higher percentage of the burn. Greg Manning, continued to raise their child Tyler and never let a day (90 total) go by the he was not at the hospital. This is a book of e mails Greg sent to his friends and family from almost start to finish about the tragedy and Laurens progress. He hardly misses a day from September 19th until December 18, 2001. Laurens strength is inspiring. Gregs love is heartfelt. He never lost faith, signing every e mail no matter what Laurens condition was at the time, Love, Greg and Lauren. A good read.

Rating:
Summary: a story of courage and love
Review: I read this book shortly after it was published, and I was moved to tears by Lauren Manning's sheer gutsiness in dealing with her horrific injuries and also by her husband's unwavering devotion to his wife. This is not only a book about courage, grit and determination, but also about a wonderful love between two people. I saw Lauren recently on television and was thrilled to see that her recovery is progressing as well as it is. I love, love, love this book, although I regret the circumstances that caused Lauren's injuries.

Rating:
Summary: A true love story
Review: Lauren was entering the WTC just as the fireball came down the elevator. She was burned over 82.5% of her body. The survival rate for a burn victim is 100 minus the percentage of burn; therefore, Lauren had less than 17.5 percent chance of survival. Greg sent emails to friends and family everyday regarding Lauren's condition, their 1-year old son Tyler's latest achievements, Greg's daily activites (which included some stories of other WTC burn victims whose families he got to know rather well). The emails were published into this book. It's a true love story with personal insights of the tragedy of 9/11 that I never saw on tv or read in the papers. I rate it five stars and four hankies.

Rating:
Summary: Inspiring and Insightful!
Review: Love, Greg & Lauren is a touching story of a woman who remarkably heals after being burned on over 82% of her body on 9/11. Through her healing process Greg, her husband, talks about her day to day recovery and how all those around Lauren were counting on her to help heal those who lost loved ones.

It's a slow starting book, but in the end you'll be glad you finished it.

Rating:
Summary: Hero!
Review: The book is very good but there are slow moments.
I would not want to go through the pain she did. I give
her a high 5 for wanting to survive. I think the love
around her made her survive. Greg is also a hero. What
a wonderful man he is.
Read the book, but with the understanding it can be slow
but worth it.

Rating:
Summary: amazing story of inner strength and the true meaning of love
Review: wow! he loved his wife dearly and the vows/meaning of marriage too often put aside were adhered to without question and without regret.. but, more gripping was her strength, her perseverance and her will to overcome almost certain death .. couldn't put it down, she "chose" to live for her son rather than give in to the peace of death .. her husband was a liferaft, but, she was the true hero ... actually, read this about 2 years ago and thought i'd put in a review at this time .. a bit sad and depressing but a very worthwhile read that will stay with you for a long while and make you appreciate what you have