SCIENCES

Memoir of a Debulked Woman

Enduring Ovarian Cancer
by Susan Gubar
Memoir of a Debulked Woman: Enduring Ovarian Cancer. Norton. Apr. 2012. c.288p. ISBN 9780393073256. $24.95. HEALTH
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Prominent feminist and literary scholar Gubar (coauthor, The Madwoman in the Attic) here recounts an ordeal that began with organ-removal (debulking) surgery intended to save her life. The story of her battle is every bit as gritty as Gilda Radner's It's Always Something, and Gubar masters the honest, from-the-gut sharing that is the basis of any good memoir. Equal parts emotional examination and graphic descriptions of medical procedures, Gubar's account will leave readers wondering whether the surgery she underwent is worth it as its results are still generally low (though higher) survival rates. Particularly disturbing are the unflinching discussions of her ostomy and its attendant misery and humiliation.
VERDICT Beautifully written, this book is replete with literary references and poetic imagery. Gubar's compassion for cancer patients and for women in particular makes it a must-read for both groups. (NB: Though Gubar expresses qualms about "infecting the spirits" of fellow cancer patients, her wrenching and fear-inducing story may do just that.) [See Prepub Alert, 10/21/11.]
Reviewed by Linda F. Petty, Wimberley, TX , Apr 15, 2012
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