We’re now half-way through the year and time to have a look back at some of the great books I’ve read this year. I’ve been very lucky – so far the lowest rating I’ve given a book is 3/5 so it’s definitely been a success. About half of the books I’ve read have been 2015 releases…
The Fault in our Stars
17 June 2015 by 2 Comments
I’m a crier. I cry at films and TV shows all the time, I’ve even been known to cry at TV commercials (and not just the annual John Lewis advert designed to tug at the heartstrings and send you to the High Street). When I sat down to watch The Fault in Our Stars, a film about teenagers with cancer…
50/50
28 January 2013 by Leave a Comment
One of the films I was most sorry to miss at the cinema in the past year or so was 50/50. I was intrigued to see how the film-makers would manage to make a comedy about a young man diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and how this affects his relationships, particularly with his best friend…
“Biography” of cancer wins award
1 December 2011 by Leave a Comment
The Emperor of All Maladies, a biography of cancer by oncologist Siddhartha Mukherjee, has won The Guardian First Book award and the £10,000 prize. Mukherjee’s book beat four novels on the shortlist including Booker nominated Pigeon English. Started as a small journal attempting to answer patients’ questions about their illness, the book grew…
Can Cancer Be Funny?
14 September 2011 by 2 Comments
It’s a thorny subject which can polarise opinions. Is it appropriate to create comic responses to tragic events? Should we really look for the funny side of something that isn’t in any way amusing? Where do we draw the line between edgy humour and being offensive…