Ok, prepare yourself; this is a heart-wrenching read. Not this review (hopefully!) but this book: Alice & Oliver by Charles Bock. I must have been feeling particularly masochistic when I read the blurb in the publisher’s catalogue and requested it anyway. Alice and Oliver are happily in love and overjoyed at their new baby daughter Doe’s arrival, but only months after giving birth, Alice is diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. And because they live in America, they have to pay out of pocket for medical expenses, which are obviously high when dealing with a significant issue such as this. So while in the midst of dealing with Alice’s dangerous treatments and her quickly deteriorating body and spirit, her husband Oliver is also saddled with managing a dwindling insurance policy to help pay for everything. And don’t forget they are brand-new parents…
The perspectives switch between Alice and Oliver, which will become more meaningful to the reader as the book continues because a few things occur that rock their marriage (I’m being vague to avoid spoilers here). About half the book gives readers an understanding of what it’s like to inhabit the body of a cancer patient struggling to live, which is a grueling thing to read and digest. But these sections are well-balanced by Oliver’s parts, which force us out of the hospital and back into a day-to-day struggle with the mundane but necessary aspects of life, including bill paying, talking with coworkers and arranging babysitters. The author’s note at the back explains that these horrible circumstances were experienced by the author himself-Bock’s wife was diagnosed with leukemia when their child was 6 months old. Once you get past how horrific and unfair everything seems, this book is also a surprisingly in-depth and honest look at marriage and how fragile it can be.
This writing is incredibly visceral; there are specific and detailed explanations of medical treatments and its side effect, but also the awe of a new father holding his ten-minute old baby. Bock is clearly aware of how difficult it is to read this book so he throws us lifelines when things get too dark, and we’re treated to glimpses of the couple’s past as young, adventurous New Yorkers living life loudly. Alice also enjoys an enviable group of supportive friends who give her strength when it’s most needed. Although it sounds cliche, this story will truly make you grateful for the positive things in life, because as we all know, it can get worse, much worse.
The strongest part of this book, aside from the writing, is the characterization. Although I’ve never had cancer or been seriously ill (thank god!) I do know many people who have gotten cancer, some of them lost to it, and the range of emotions and reactions that Alice and Oliver have to their new life rang entirely true to me. Even the varied reactions of their friends seemed entirely realistic-some buckled down and helped wherever they could, some attempted to help but flaked out, while others dropped away out of fear or awkwardness.
So many of you are probably asking-why should I read this? Why should I subject myself to such a sad book? At the risk of sounding cliche, this book is more about life than it is about death, plus I believe it’s valuable to read books that deal with such a taboo but common occurrence. We don’t want to talk about the nitty gritty of a cancer diagnosis, but chances are cancer will affect almost every single person on the earth, so wouldn’t you like to help prepare yourself for that inevitable challenge? Even if it’s a distant friend or relative of yours that gets sick, being able to put yourself into their shoes for even a short visit is invaluable for that patient, and if fiction can do that for us, it’s well worth your time.
Not convinced I have enough emotional stamina to tackle this
Yes I understand your hesitance-and lots of other peoples!
I do get what you mean, but i’m afraid cancer has played too big a role too often in my life for me to want to read about it. I already know far more about how it affects people physically and emotionally than I ever wanted to… not me personally, I hasten to add, but through close relatives.
Yes I know what you mean FF, it’s definitely a personal decision. Somedays it seems like I’m surrounded by cancer, but alas, I know many people feel like this so sometimes reading about other people’s experiences gives me comfort, even though that seems quite backward…
Yeah, absolutely not one I could read. PASS!
It’s definitely not for everyone haha
Anne, I love when you write a sentence that doesn’t quite say what it needs to, and then you point that out (“Ok, prepare yourself; this is a heart-wrenching read. Not this review (hopefully!) but this book”). That style of writing is so funny to me, and one of the reasons I love reading you’re reviews. I’m going to get sappy (maybe because I read your review of a sad book) and tell you that you are a treasure.
Also, this book description reminds me in a way of a book I read a couple of summers ago called Watchfires by Hilary Plum. She’s suffering from something they cannot diagnose, her husband gets cancer, and then there is the Boston Marathon Bombing. It all collides in her memoir. Pretty intense.
Aw you are so sweet, thank you for your kind words! I think my reviews are terrible, so I really appreciate you saying what you do. Also-that book does sound intense, but I think it’s good to read these kind of intense books sometimes, they make us human 🙂
I think your reviews are a hoot and I AM sad that you’re not doing the Christmas story videos. However, asking you to do videos for me alone would be toeing the line on creepy, lol. “It makes the videos of the stories or else it gets the hose again.”
haha I really do need to do more booktube videos though, they are so fun!
Unlike most of the others, this actually sounds like a book that I *would* want to read. I can’t even explain why – maybe for the reasons you’ve already pointed out. And I can also see how it might give one person comfort while being too painful for another.
I really really hope it turned out okay in the end for the author in his real life!
I didn’t-his wife died 🙁 But I think he’s remarried since?
🙁
I loved this book (and your reviews, for the record!). I read it a few years ago when my dad had terminal cancer, and part of the draw was reading about how people deal with cancer, both as a patient and as someone who loves the patient. I loved that the book had flawed protagonists who both behaved badly and who didn’t always suffer nobly, to say the least! It is a beautiful, heartbreaking book without a traditional happy ending…just like real life sometimes. Have you read The Unwinding of the Miracle? Similarly gut-wrenching (maybe even more so as it’s a memoir) but so, so striking and ultimately affirming.
Hmm I’ve never heard of that book no. But your point about ‘suffering nobly’ is such an important one-who actually suffers nobly? Probably no one! Being sick makes everyone cranky, so I liked how realistic this book was.