Rating: 
Summary: Thank you for this book.
Review: As a clinical social worker and cancer survivor, I've read many books for my own interest and to screen prior to recommending them to my clients. This book found its way to me through a client, via her physician. It resonated with heart and all the pain, joy and multitude of emotions in-between that real heart-experienced life encounters. It is very personal while also accessible to anyone who likes good literature, is interested in the subject, or has a personal experience with cancer. I am not a writer but I l love to read. This book bursts with humor and self-deprecation yet in my mind, Ms. Rodgers stands strong and steadfast. Thank you.
Rating:
Summary: Thank you for this book.
Review: As a clinical social worker and cancer survivor, I've read many books for my own interest and to screen prior to recommending them to my clients. This book found its way to me through a client, via her physician. It resonated with heart and all the pain, joy and multitude of emotions in-between that real heart-experienced life encounters. It is very personal while also accessible to anyone who likes good literature, is interested in the subject, or has a personal experience with cancer. I am not a writer but I l love to read. This book bursts with humor and self-deprecation yet in my mind, Ms. Rodgers stands strong and steadfast. Thank you.
Rating:
Summary: I couldn't put it down!
Review: As a recently diagnosed person with leukemia, this book caught my eye. Joni tells it like it is, with some humor. It made me laugh and cry and very encouraging! Thanks Joni!!!
Rating:
Summary: Bald In The Land Of Big Hair
Review: Bald In The Land Of Big HairThis Book is a real life story by Joni Rodgers. Joni had been living a life with hardly any cares in the world. She had two wonderful children and a loving husband. She had a great life! Then suddenly everything changed. She discovered she had cancer. Her world was turned upside down. She lost her hair, the one thing she truly liked about herself, her children did not understand what she was going through, and her sexual life diminished. This book was worthwhile. After cancer hit Joni, her strength weakened She was not able to take care of herself or her children properly. She was constantly in the bathroom throwing up and she had trouble eating. Her daughter was constantly yelling her to stop and act like a grown up. Also she was emotionally drained too. She was constantly having arguments with her family. In one incident with her son he accused her of being lazy because she was to sick to get up and help make sandwiches. She then slapped him across the face. She constantly did not know how to react to the people around her. Another thing that women tend to pay a lot of attention is their physical appearance. Joni experienced chemotherapy and in turn lost her hair. This is said to be the beauty of all women. She went through the pain of people staring at her and she saw people commenting about her. This hurt her but she tried to act like it meant nothing to her. But even though cancer had many negative effects on Joni in some ways her life was also affected possibly. It taught her to got through hard trials in her life. It also taught her to live her life to the fullest. To act like every minute will be her last. She might go ahead with plans instead of waiting till its to late. This is an excellent book. It shows you how difficult it might be for people in certain circumstances. It tells you that even if your life is great bad things can happen to you. After you read this maybe you will be more understanding to the people around you.
Rating:
Summary: A REALLY GREAT BOOK
Review: Elizabeth Berg gives this book such an awesome quote on the back jacket that I had to buy and read it--she was right. She says this is "a very important book. It's not only a book about cancer but also a book about how to ground yourself in the life you're living. About how to let go of false concepts of beauty and of self and start living a far richer, truer life than you might ever have imagined. Reading this book is like being given the extraordinary insight that comes with catastrophic illness without having to endure the dieseaase itself. Read it." I couldn't say it better, now that I've read it. This is a really wonderful memoir about life, love, family, and overcoming the bad things life tends to throw your way. I did laugh and I did cry and I will read it again and again.
Rating:
Summary: A REALLY GREAT BOOK
Review: Elizabeth Berg gives this book such an awesome quote on the back jacket that I had to buy and read it--she was right. She says this is "a very important book. It's not only a book about cancer but also a book about how to ground yourself in the life you're living. About how to let go of false concepts of beauty and of self and start living a far richer, truer life than you might ever have imagined. Reading this book is like being given the extraordinary insight that comes with catastrophic illness without having to endure the dieseaase itself. Read it." I couldn't say it better, now that I've read it. This is a really wonderful memoir about life, love, family, and overcoming the bad things life tends to throw your way. I did laugh and I did cry and I will read it again and again.
Rating:
Summary: Funny and REAL
Review: I have never had cancer or even known someone with the disease, so I wasn't sure if I would enjoy this book -- but I did! What made me appreciate Rodgers' novel was that it wasn't a collection of survivor bromides and platitudes, inspirational quotes, or overused Bible passages. In fact, the author did a fine job explaining her true feelings about all those "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger"-like messages. I also liked the fact that Rodgers doesn't hide the less-than-appealing parts of the disease - vomiting, mouth sores, disappearing toenails - and also addresses more personal matters like her sexuality during the disease's course and relationship with her young children. It was real and uncensored, which gave the book a complete human quality.
And, of course, this book was also very funny! Rodgers has a way with words that will have you laughing in spurts throughout the novel.
I was never bored reading this book and finished it in less than two days. Aside from being a good read, it also introduced me to the pitfalls of cancer that I never knew about before.
Rating:
Summary: The Hair Grows Back
Review: I laughed and I cried. Although Joni Rodgers cancer experience is the reason for the story, it is not the whole story. This is a book about how one woman and one family dealt with a terrible illness. How they pulled apart and pulled together. How a Mom & Dad lived through one of the scariest of modern America's illnesses. The cancer is there, lurking in the background through the entire book, but the real story is how Joni & Gary brought Malachi and Jerusha into the circle of the illness and made them a part of the healing process. You'll hear the cries of a little girl sitting on the floor outside the bathroom door as her Mother goes through the agony of chemo-aftermath, and you can picture her as she comforts her Mom by holding a wet wash cloth to her burning forehead and becomes part of the healing experience. You can see cancer from a small boys viewpoint as Malachi tells the story of a Prince who goes forth to slay the dragon and find the magic moss which will save the Queen from her terrible sickness. From the initial diagnosis to her fight with God in the shower stall, Joni Rodgers will pull the reader inside the family circle. Your heart will ache with sadness and with joy as she shares the most intimate details of a terrible time. This is a great story. I cried. I laughed. I read it again.
Rating:
Summary: An Absolute Gem of a Book
Review: I ordered this book without a clue of what I was getting into. I thought the subject was hair loss, not cancer--the latter being a subject about which I had already read too much. But I thank the goddess that this book made it's way into my hands because it was a page-turner like no other. Joni Rodgers writes with a unique combination of heart, humor, clarity, wisdom, and intelligence. There is not one false note in this book, and the author uplifts us, while avoiding the usual cancer cliche's. How she tells her gut-wrenching story and keeps the reader close by her side--laughing along the way--is a small miracle. Yes, yes, read this book!
Rating: 
Summary: Made me laugh out loud
Review: I really appreciate the author's humor in this book. I am dealing with big health issues and relate on many many levels to much of what she talks about. Her wit and self-deprecating humor, combined with her honesty about the stuff that isn't funny makes this book really ring true for me.
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