Spam according to me

[harker]

These are memoirs and other books I've read in the last three years or so. Any favourites? Pet hates? What's missing? Illness Memoirs Illness: The cry of the flesh Havi Carel Time of my life Joel Nathan Bad Hair Days Pamela Bone Inga Clendinnen Tiger's Eye John Diamond C: Because cowards get cancer too Jean-Dominique Bauby The Diving Bell and the Butterfly Joan Didion The year of magical thinking Simone de Beauvoir A very easy death Lauren Slater Lying Stephen Schneider The Patient from Hell Assorted Others Joseph Campbell The Hero with a Thousand Faces Carl Elliott Better than well James Pennebaker Opening up Christina Baldwin One to One Elizabeth Maynard Schaefer Writing through the darkness H

[Braveb]

I loved Anti-Cancer by David Servan-Schreiber. David found his own brain tumour while playing on a new MRI (he's a medical scientist) and then had a relapse several years later. The book is empowering because it is based on the latest research into foods, spices, plastics, mobile phones, etc, and how we can minimise our risks and maximise our immune systems. This book changed my life. Ben

[harker]

Hey Ben Thanks for posting that response. I have just been onto his web site and played the short film documentary and interview with him. I am keen to read his book, based on your recommendation and his own comments. The best thing is this will be new territory for me. As you would notice from my list I have mostly been reading about the emotional and narrative aspects of illness, not so much the biological aspects. Now I can enter the fray helped by someone whom I can see is very credible. When I posted my list I thought about how self indulgent I was being. Now I am glad that I have further evidence of the value of continuing to be so self-indulgent! H

[craftyone]

Hi H, How about "The Two of Us" by Sheila Hancock. It is about her life and the life of John Thaw, and goes beyond his death and how it affected her. She had been married to another actor before John, and he died of the same cancer - strange at times isn't it? If you enjoy reading memoirs, then this is a must, touched with lots of humour as well as showing the deep emotions of living with someone who has cancer and doesn't survive it. Loved it from start to finish. craftyone

[harker]

Sounds good. Thanks Craftyone

[samex]

Thanks for the list Harker. I have been meaning to ask you for a list of the books that you often mention in passing and now you have provided them. One that struck a chord with me was: Two years to Normal, Karen Leibovitch. A bit of a girly take but interesting. S

[harker]

'a bit of a girly take' come on samex, keep writing...I'm listening H

[samex]

harker, I am actually brain dead from the process of marking 100 exam essays for yr 12. A mind numbingly boring task.35 down - ? to do - no good at Maths. I hope to have it done this week so that I can actually do some reading next week. Which one is at the top of your list?

[samex]

harker, I am actually brain dead from the process of marking 100 exam essays for yr 12. A mind numbingly boring task.35 down - ? to do - no good at Maths. I hope to have it done this week so that I can actually do some reading next week. Which one is at the top of your list?

[harker]

John Diamond is very funny and a good writer. His book is very readable and I am sure you would be able to relate to it very well. It is a serious work but it won't club you over the head.

[samex]

I like the title Harker. As you know I don't see any of us as partcularly brave - just dealing with what we are handed. Thanks. I will hunt it out. S