Shortly before his 44th birthday, John Diamond received a call from the doctor who had removed a lump from his neck. Having been assured for the previous 2 years that this was a benign cyst, Diamond was told that it was, in fact, cancerous. Suddenly, this man who'd until this point been one of the world's greatest hypochondriacs, was genuinely faced with mortality. And what he saw scared the wits out of him. Out of necessity, he wrote about his feelings in his TIMES column and the response was staggering. Mailbag followed Diamond's story of life with, and without, a lump - the humiliations, the ridiculous bits, the funny bits, the tearful bits. It's compelling, profound, witty, in the mould of THE DIVING BELL & THE BUTTERFLY. (19980914)
C
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Once upon a time, being "unwell" meant a columnist was, how shall we put it, indisposed. Now, being truly unwell is no excuse for not filing your copy, and the resulting column is in danger of becoming something of a genre. If so, then here is its best exponent. John Diamond was just a common-or-garden Times columnist, a "sometime smoking, unexercised and overweight man of fortyish", and, being an expert hypochondriac, expectantly waiting for his first heart attack. Until 27 March 1997. Then he was diagnosed as having cancer. C is his "attempt to write the book I was looking for the night I got the bad news." C is a blow-by-blow account of the progress of his cancer and its various treatments, interlaced with forays into the daunting medical literature, autobiographical reminiscences, and meditative reflections on what this all means. As a guide to cancer, Diamond is usefully knowledgeable, able to cut through the medical profession's defensive euphemisms and tell us what's really going on. As a guide to himself, Diamond is unstintingly honest, so we get the whole man with all his personal strengths and foibles, and it's actually difficult to read the prognosis with which he leaves us. And to produce that degree of engagement is an achievement for any writer. --Alan Stewart
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The witty but compelling story of one man's view of his cancer and its treatment which became an instant bestseller on its publication. (19980914)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I am not renowned as a great reader, but was looking for a book that would look at cancer from another angle. My father was recently diagnosed with Lung Cancer, and I thought who better to tell me what he may be feeling than someone who had been throught it all. The book was truely inspirational to me, and I found that I was able to smile at things I thought I would not smile at again. John Diamond's style of writing is such that I found it difficult to put the book down. I would whole heartedly recommend this book to anyone - You don't need to read it to find out about cancer(there are many books on that subject!) You do however need to read it to find out about life and that amazing thing called Human Spirit!
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This should be required reading for all medical students and nurses.I re read it when I was in hospital being treated for cancer and I found it a great companion.
39 of 40 people found the following review helpful
By A. B. Pearl
Format:Paperback
Being a reasonably squeamish individual, I am not in the habbit of picking up books devoted to any kind of illness - let alone cancer. But then I was drawn to the strangely chirpy cover of this book not by its title but by the name John Diamond. I was familiar with his writing long before his cancer columns in The Times. And it is testament to his terrific prose and probing insights that I managed to read this book in no more than a few days. His definition of cancer at the begining of the book is memorable for both its clarity and wit. But if there's one thing that strikes the reader throughout, it is the overwhelming passion for life. Even when things get tough - and they get pretty damn tough - Diamond manages to find something worth living for - whether it's the simple pleasures of being in one's own home and experiencing the smells of domestic life, or simply going to buy new clothes.
Don't be put off by the 'c' word. This is a minor masterpiece. A celebration of life - not the dwelling on death.
God bless you, John Diamond.
Don't be put off by the 'c' word. This is a minor masterpiece. A celebration of life - not the dwelling on death.
God bless you, John Diamond.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A magnificent epitaph.
Two things I may honestly say: I have never been able to start this book and put it down before finishing it ; and it is quite the scariest book I have ever read. Read more
Published 1 day ago by Gary Morgan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent read
Grim but not. No sentimental slush or pondering God's will in this book... it is such an honest account of John's experience of cancer treatment and his feelings and thoughts about... Read more
Published 6 months ago by jules
5.0 out of 5 stars
Emotional witty and touching
I thought that I was mad reading a book about someone suffering with cancer, however this book is so well written and so real that I found myself hooked. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Flarn76
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing book
Originally I bought this book for my father who had cancer but it changed my life. Having smoked a lot, for many years, I gave up over night after reading John's compelling story... Read more
Published on 29 July 2010 by Ella78
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good,but...
I liked this, I really did.
Ultimately a sad ending.
But for me personally, the journalistic style of writing grated. Read more
Ultimately a sad ending.
But for me personally, the journalistic style of writing grated. Read more
Published on 20 July 2010 by P. Casimir-mrowczynski
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely fantastic but heartbreaking
This is one of the best books I have read. I have been diagnosed with an ovarian tumour and am undergoing chemotherapy. I read a lot of the reviews and agree with all of them. Read more
Published on 24 Jun 2010 by Mrs. K. M. Merriman
4.0 out of 5 stars
Harrowing but uplifting
This is a frank, emotional but never overindulgent account of one man's battle with cancer. As a journalist, Diamond has a concise, non-nonsense way of writing which makes this a... Read more
Published on 20 April 2010 by Hayles
5.0 out of 5 stars
So insightful
This is a very powerful and brutally honest account of one man's cancer. It doesn't really *do* anything, it's not there to tell you how to deal with a diagnosis, to recommend... Read more
Published on 15 April 2010 by Mrs. D. Guest
4.0 out of 5 stars
Powerful and painful
This is a very powerful and brutally honest account of one man's cancer. It doesn't really *do* anything, it's not there to tell you how to deal with a diagnosis, to recommend... Read more
Published on 8 Nov 2009 by Sulkyblue
5.0 out of 5 stars
So insightful
I found this book so helpful & comforting. Having received a terminal cancer diagnosis 10 months ago I found reading John Diamond's account of his experience so real & honest. Read more
Published on 30 Sep 2009 by Nicola Hastings
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