Rewriting Illness

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By Elizabeth Benedict

Publisher Description

By turns somber and funny but above all provocative, Elizabeth Benedict’s Rewriting Illness: A View of My Own is a most unconventional memoir. With wisdom, self-effacing wit, and the story-telling skills of a seasoned novelist, she brings to life her cancer diagnosis and committed hypochondria. As she discovers multiplying lumps in her armpit, she describes her initial terror, interspersed with moments of self-mocking levity as she indulges in “natural remedies,” among them chanting Tibetan mantras, drinking shots of wheat grass, and finding medicinal properties in chocolate babka. She tracks the progression of her illness from muddled diagnosis to debilitating treatment as she gathers sustenance from her family and an assortment of urbane, ironic friends, including her fearless “cancer guru.”

In brief, explosive chapters with startling titles – “Was it the Krazy Glue?” and “Not Everything Scares the Shit out of Me” – Benedict investigates existential questions: Is there a cancer personality? Can trauma be passed on generationally? Can cancer be stripped of its warlike metaphors? How do doctors’ own fears influence their comments to patients? Is there a gendered response to illness? Why isn’t illness one of literature’s great subjects? And delving into her own history, she wonders if having had children would have changed her life as a writer and hypochondriac. Post diagnosis, Benedict asks, “Which fear is worse: the fear of knowing or the reality of knowing? (164)”

Throughout, Benedict’s humor, wisdom, and warmth jacket her fears, which are personal, political, and ultimately global, when the world is pitched into a pandemic. Amid weighty concerns and her all-consuming obsession with illness, her story is filled with suspense, secrets, and even the unexpected solace of silence.

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4 Reviews

4.5

Dusty_Book_Sniffers

Created 4 months ago

“3.75 stars Rewriting Illness is a profoundly moving and heartfelt memoir chronicling Elizabeth Benedict’s personal journey with Illness. Cancer is a challenging topic to read, as it touches so many lives, but Benedict approaches it with remarkable honesty and courage. Through her audiobook, she takes listeners from the first suspicion to diagnosis and all the emotional and physical struggles in between. One of the aspects that resonated with me most was Benedict’s exploration of the gaslighting women often experience in the medical field. Her honest recounting of the frustration and pain of having her concerns dismissed by medical professionals was both upsetting and eye-opening. By sharing these experiences, Benedict sheds light on the importance of self-advocacy in healthcare—a critical message that will inspire and empower many listeners. Benedict’s narration adds another layer of authenticity and intimacy to her story. Her voice is engaging, making connecting with her experiences and emotions easy. I appreciated her vulnerability and the strength it must have taken to share such a personal journey. While this memoir may not be for everyone, it is a poignant, brave, and important story that deserves to be heard. Thank you to NetGalley and Post Hypnotic Press for providing me with an audio-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.”

Nat | Book Reviewer

Created about 1 year ago

“Review of “Rewriting Illness: A Story of My Own” by Elizabeth Benedict Disclaimer: Please note that I received an ARC audiobook copy of this book from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Rewriting Illness: A Story of My Own” by Elizabeth Benedict is a touching memoir that takes listeners on a personal journey through illness, fear, and the complexities of the healthcare system. With warmth and honesty, Benedict shares her own experience with cancer, offering relatable anecdotes and heartfelt reflections along the way. Narrated by the author herself, the audiobook is filled with moments of humor, vulnerability, and resilience. Benedict’s storytelling is engaging and down-to-earth, making it easy for listeners to connect with her experiences. Through her story, she shines a light on the universal fears and frustrations that come with navigating healthcare, particularly as a woman facing a serious diagnosis. One of the most fascinating aspects of the memoir is Benedict’s exploration of broader issues surrounding women’s health and healthcare disparities. She tackles these topics with courage and candor, highlighting the need for greater understanding and support within the medical community. Her story serves as a reminder of the importance of advocating for oneself and seeking solidarity during challenging times. “Rewriting Illness: A Story of My Own” is a heartfelt and thought-provoking audiobook that offers insight, inspiration, and hope. Whether you’re facing your own health struggles or simply looking for a relatable story of resilience, Benedict’s memoir will leave a lasting impression.”

Erin Lee

Created about 1 year ago

Miss W Book Reviews

Created over 1 year ago

“Rewriting Illness by Elizabeth Benedict is an interesting memoir. The author talks about her journey to a cancer diagnosis and her rather passive attitude towards it. As a cancer survivor, parts of this story were hard for me to read. I think everyone that is diagnosed with cancer handles it differently. However, I think her doctors letting Elizabeth choose what tests and treatments to get and choose at her own leisure could of had deadly consequences. I have always had to advocate for my own health care. This memoir is a quick read with very short chapters. I appreciate the author's honesty and humor as she navigated through her diagnosis.”

About Elizabeth Benedict

Elizabeth Benedict is a best-selling novelist, journalist, teacher of creative writing, editor and writing coach. She has published five acclaimed novels including the national bestseller, Almost, and the National Book Award finalist, Slow Dancing, authored the classic book on writing about sex in fiction, The Joy of Writing Sex, in print for 25 years. Her personal essays have been selected as “Notable” in four editions of Best American Essays. She has written reviews and articles for The New York Times, Boston Globe, Esquire, Real Simple, and Daedalus, and been a regular contributor to Japanese Playboy, Huffington Post and Salmagundi, writing on sexual politics, money, and literature, and on figures from Monica Lewinsky to British psychoanalyst Adam Phillips.

She conceived of and edited three prominent anthologies, including the New York Times Bestseller, What My Mother Gave Me: 31 Women on the Gifts That Mattered Most (2013); Mentors, Muses & Monsters: 30 Writers on the People Who Changed Their Lives; and Me, My Hair, and I: 27 Women Untangle an Obsession(2015). Her books are featured regularly in reviews and interviews on All Things Considered, Fresh Air, and many other public radio shows, including the BBC's "Women's Hour," and Australia Public Radio. She has taught creative writing at Princeton, the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and Columbia, and is on the Fiction Faculty at the New York State Summer Writers Institute.