It's Always Something
by Gilda Radner
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Book Summary Information
Author: Gilda RadnerEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2000-07-01
ISBN: 038081322X
Number of pages: 256
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
Book Reviews of It's Always Something
Book Review: "I Knew I didn't Want to be the second one to Go...'
Summary: 4 Stars
Gilda Radner died at age 42- and she didn't have to. That's
what kept going through my head as I read this book, for the
first time,and the sixth time..... Knowing how this story ends casts
a shadow over this bright and articulate memoir somewhat, if
only because you know that Gilda's optimism and wishing didn't
do her any good. You see, all of her life, she had such a fear of
cancer, she would cross the street if the word was on a
sign or a building. She even hated her astrological sign,
which amazingly enough, was "CANCER", because she thought it was
an unhappy omen. When she's finally diagnosed with the disease,
you can feel her terror and frustration leaping off the pages,
partly because she documents going from doctor to doctor, when she first
has symptoms, confiding her fears ( ironically, Gilda began penning this tome many months
BEFORE she was diagnosed, or even had symptoms; it was meant to be a light, newlywed movie
star/housewife's handbook, full of vignettes and witty observations; until, that is,
her diagnosis: Gilda Radner wrote that she now faced with a foe "mightier even than the
Interior Decorator"!) Before her definitive diagnosis, most of the physicians-- and
there were many-- gave
Gilda the medical equivilent of a "pat on the head", as you would a dis-
illusioned child, and sent her home. They wouldn't even TEST
for it when she asked them to do so, which was outrageous. When it was discovered too
late, they tried their best to cure her, but.... well, sadly, we all
know the outcome.
This book was not written by an "angel", who had a perfect life
and a perfect marriage. Gene Wilder, her husband and support
system, loses his patience at times; but these are two human
beings, not trying to live up to anybody's expectations of
what a cancer patient or their significant other is like.
Gene Wilder handled himself admirably, partly because he held
his wife's belief that, some day, Gilda would get well.
I liked this book, and still do, but it's not for the
squeamish, as Gilda gives graphic accounts of nearly all the
procedures that were performed on her, including chemotherapy.
And it's not for people who believe that "good people" don't
suffer, because she's a good person, and suffer she does.
This is an excellent book for people who think that their
bad day at the office, the "F" on their child's report card, etc., are
the end of the world.... if this book doesn't put the small stuff
into perspective for you, nothing will.
There's an African proverb that says if you call the name of a
deceased person once a day, they live on. And, I suppose, THAT'S why I read
this book often, because that wonderful, sparkling spirit that
was Gilda, should never be allowed to die.
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