AGAIN: Surviving Cancer Twice with Love and Lists by Christine Shields-Corrigan
Book Details:
Book Title: Again: Surviving Cancer Twice with Love and Lists
Author: Christine Shields Corrigan
Category: Adult Non-Fiction (18+), 256 pages
Genre: Memoir
Publisher: Koehler Books
Release date: Oct 2020
Content Rating: PG-13. My book has some profanity and one non-explicit sex scene with my husband.
Book Description:
A breast cancer diagnosis at forty-nine forces Christine Shields Corrigan, a wife, mom, and meticulous list-maker, to confront her deepest fears of illness, death, and loss of control as she struggles to face cancer again. From the discovery of a “junky” cyst, to chemotherapy and surgery, sleepless nights filled with rosaries and “what ifs,” and shifting family dynamics, her adult experience mirrors her teen bout with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, with one exception—she no longer has parents keeping her in the dark.
With the ghosts of cancer past hovering around her, Chris falls into the same overprotective traps her taciturn Irish-Catholic parents created, striving to keep her family’s life “normal,” when it is anything but, and soldiering through on her own, until a neighbor’s unexpected advice and gift move her to accept others’ help. With fierce honesty, poignant
reflection, and good humor, Chris shares a journey filled with sorrow, grace, forgiveness, and resilience, as she winds her way through cancer for the second time. Again offers practical guidance and hope to individuals that they have the strength to forge a path beyond a diagnosis.
Beautiful is not a word associated with cancer stories.
Beautiful is not a word I have ever used to describe anything written by a lawyer.
I may have to adjust that because this book, and the honest story within, are truly Beautiful.
Written in easy flowing, conversational tone, this is a true story and one that will benefit not only cancer survivors, or warriors, but also anyone touched by cancer and other life altering diseases.
(That includes all of us.)
Chris tells of two times in her life.
She was diagnosed as a teen with cancer. At that time she did not understand much of what was happening and just went along with what the authority figures (parents and doctors) told her.
As an adult, she is terrified when, once again, she gets notified that cancer has invaded her body and is trying to take over her life.
This is not just a story about her disease and all she goes through, this book is an inspiration to others that you are not alone. Others are willing to help you, but you must advocate for yourself and find them. Included is an amazing collection of resources.
This book also has some amazing inspiration for persons wishing to follow their writing dreams.
I sat down to read just a portion of the book while waiting for something else and continued reading for hours. I felt a connection to her story, and was pulling for her to have a happy ending.
The lesson I heard loud and clear is to appreciate today and don't put off the journey to your dreams.
Christine Shields Corrigan is a two-time cancer survivor, wife, mom, and author of Again: Surviving Cancer Twice with Love and Lists. In addition to Again , Chris has published a number of lyrical and practical essays where she gives voice to the beautiful ordinary. Her work about family, illness, writing, and resilient survivorship has appeared in anthologies, magazines, and other publications including, The Brevity Blog, Grown & Flown, Horn Pond Review, The Potato Soup Journal and Anthology, Purple Clover, Ravishly.com, Wildfire Magazine, and the Writer’s Circle 2 Anthology.
Chris’ essay, “Not Back to But Forward,” about how her cancer experiences helped her cope with COVID-19 is included in (Her)oics: Women’s Lived Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic (edited by Joanell Serra and Amy Roost), an anthology that draws together the stories of 52 women across the US during the Covid-19 pandemic (March 2021). A graduate of Manhattan College and Fordham University School of Law, Chris built a successful career as a labor and employment law attorney and as a legal writer and editor. After surviving cancer in midlife, Chris became a freelance writer. She also teaches creative nonfiction writing for an adult education program, provides writing workshops for cancer support groups, and is the chair of the programming committee of the Morristown Festival of Books. She lives in New Jersey with her family.
Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ instagram
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Enter the Giveaway:
AGAIN: Surviving Cancer Twice with Love and Lists Book Tour Giveaway
Thank you, Laura, for your kind words and for sharing Again with your readers.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good read
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