Curmudgeonly Cancer
Those of you who have read Promises to Keep (published as The Love Verb in the UK), will know that it is a novel with the heartbreaking theme of cancer.
Going through the cancer diagnosis, the treatment, and the eventual death of my lovely friend Heidi, what struck me most was her incredible bravery.
Recently I have been sent two blogs, both of which have moved me enormously, not just because of the bravery of these two women slowly giving in to their long battles with cancer, one at 71, one at the tender age of 15, but because of their extraordinary joie de vivre; their ability to still see the glass as half-full, and their willingness to share their grace, humor, strength and spirit with thousands of strangers they will never meet.
Marjorie Walker is an American living in London, a foodie, a beautiful writer, and a fighter, who has been in remission four times. This time she is not doing so well, but even in describing meetings with her funeral director, her humor comes through.
http://www.cancercurmudgeon.com
Alice Pyne lives in Cumbria. She is 15. Her cancer is terminal. Alice has written a bucket list, and writes a blog, and her beauty shines out of every word.
http://alicepyne.blogspot.com
Go and visit both blogs. Now. Quickly. Leave messages with words of encouragement. Then live today, and each day after with joy, because every moment truly is a gift.
Hi Jane... I loved Promises to Keep, it kept me well entertainined on our flight from Sydney to Wellington last week. I loved the recipes that were scattered through the book, and have already tried (and passed on!) the chickpea curry! It was really lovely, my seven year old ate all of hers, and given that she's been sick all week, I was wrapt to get some food in to her!
I have read almost all of your books and love them all. Keep it up.
Julie
Hi Jane. I love your books and can not wait for more! Currently I am reading Jemima J. I find a little piece of myself in each of your books. I recommend your books to my friends and my Mom, who all share the love of reading with me. I wish you and your dear friends the best of health, and look forward to the future where I can steal away more moments to finish reading your books!
Sonia
Hi Jane
I have just finished reading The Love Verb whilst on holiday last week, it didn't disappoint!!! I met you years and years ago at Paddington Station, you were doing a book signing in WHSmith there, I think it was Bookends (sadly I don't still have the copy). We chatted and you were lovely and I've been a fan ever since.
The recipes all sounded delicious and just what I needed to inspire me to start flexing my culinary muscles again (been stuck in a rut recently cooking for my two young daughters), I am planning to try the Morrocan chicken with Tomatoes and Saffron Honey Jam this week for me and my husband and am doing us all the chilli later today and also the almost flourless Orange cake.
One of my oldest and best friends is currently having to deal with her older sister's breast cancer that has spread and is incurable, I really hope your book raises awareness, you wrote about it with great sensitivity.
Anna x
Dear Jane
I have just finished 'Promises to Keep' and wanted to let you know that I thought you did a brilliant job! As a 40 year old woman who not only lost her own mother to breast cancer when she was 13 but then had to deal with cancer herself while looking after her 1 and 3 year old daughters, i thought you captured a lot of the emotions that i went through incredibly well. The one part that I particularly identified with was when Callie has been told that she could survive for another 5 years and she is calculating how old her children will be in 5 years time and thinks that by then her kids will be a lot more adequately equipped to live life without her. I actually wrote a short story a couple of years ago that got long-listed for The New Writer competition in the UK describing some of the emotions i had to deal with but i'm not sure that i captured them as well as you did. Finally i just wanted to tell you how sorry i am that you lost such a dear friend and that i'm sure she would have loved the story you told and dedicated to her memory.
Lynda
i was diagnosed with cancer early this year still dealing with it till now. im a doctor. but no on is exempted from the big C. iv started a blog just a few days ago. cancer can be life-wrecking to some, but awakening to others. id like to share my new blog to the world. . its http://www.whiteonblackbackground.blogspot.com . thanks
Jane
I just finished Promises to Keep. I know I'm a little behind but that's what happens when you have a toddler!! I think I cried through half of the book. It was amazing. Each book seems to be better than last, even though I'm not sure how that is possible.
I can't wait for the next one!
Much Love,
Meredith
Hi Jane,
I just finished reading 'Promises to Keep' and I thought it was an amazing book! This book moved me more than expected, in such a great way! I own all of your books and until this last book used to purchase them the first day they came out in paperback. Unfortunately, I was late on this one due to readings for grad school taking up all my free time! I just wanted to contact you and tell you how much I enjoy your style of writing. I was initially introduced to your books when I was 20 (five years ago!) by a friend who insured a good, trendy, 'can't put it down' book, but I have gotten so much more. I feel the themes of your books have increasingly gotten more serious/mature (in a good way) with each new release, and I feel my life has just happen to line up perfectly. Your writing is so relatable!
You books have taught me lessons, serve as motivators, and brought me happiness! Thank you!!
Megan
Hello Jane,
The Love Verb – what an amazing and poignant book... I've just finished reading it and felt a need to write and share my experience.
Your book describes how the important journey of terminal illness through dying, to death and the after-effects affects life. It beautifully shows through how your characters are and, how everyone does and doesn't deal with all of what happens.
There are times of hopes, times of grief, times of fear and times of joy. What many people do not understand is that there times are the times of spirit, times of truth and times of celebration, life and joy, too!
I would recommend your book be almost a compulsory read for so many who either don't or choose not to understand that dying and death happen, that people survive the pain and can still thrive after the experiences they have had.
My mum died through breast cancer, I closed her eyes and, with my other half, laid out her body after death. Your novel comes from your own experience of loss and pain and it has helped me to understand my own experiences and process, too. Thank you for what you have written.
One note: my work as an ambulance driver meant I would take patients to and from their radio- and chemotherapy treatments; almost without exception, there was a spirit and temper amongst them that I found both humbling and awe-inspiring. “We will get through this”, there was humour, there was bravery and there was a refreshing honesty of being, too.
Blessings,
Benn
I just finished Promises to Keep and wept at the end. I've read almost everything you've written (and own most of them too!) but this was by far your best book. It was powerful, beautiful and so real. By the end, I felt like I knew Callie. You developed characters from fiction into real people. Amazing. I love your work!
Oh and I can't wait to try the honey ricotta...yum!
Hilary
http://www.islingtontribune.com/news/2011/jul/death-dr-marjorie-walker-breast-cancer-pychologist-and-%E2%80%98cancer-curmudgen%E2%80%99-blogger-dies
Sadly, Dr Marjorie Walker, ‘cancer curmudgen’ blogger, passed away, peacefully, at home on July 8th, 2011, at the age of 72