Customer Reviews

My One-Night Stand With Cancer: A Memoir

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is Tania Katan's own story and she tells it with a wonderful balance of frankness, humor, and tenderness. Katan comes off as a "whole" person in her writings, which isn't something we often see with lesbian 'characters.' She's not just a lesbian or a cancer patient, but also a daughter, sister, lover, friend, coworker, student, etc. A great, fast read.

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I saw a short article announcing the book's release in a magazine and thought it would be an interesting read, because you seldom see a humorous look at something we deem as "not a joking matter". WOW! Let me say, this book is more than just about someone getting cancer. It's about family and friendships and no matter how quirky your family is and how toxic some relationships are, you can still come out on top even when you've been hit not once, but twice with a life threatening disease. Tania is my hero. Very inspiring story. You'll find yourself scolding her in some parts and emphatically cheering her on in others. I definitely recommend this book. You will not regret it.

This book is awesome! As a cancer surviour myself I could relate to what Ms. Katan has gone through. Although this book is written with humor, it did stir up feelings that I thought I had all ready dealt with. It is extremely well written and an easy read. Even if you have not had to battle cancer, I think you will enjoy this book, especially if someone you care for has gone through this terrible illness. Tania, I hope you continue writing and I will be your number one fan!

This is a heartfelt, funny, REAL, not-at-all-sappy, insightful, moving book. I have, thankfully, never had cancer, but I felt what it was like to live through something like that, and to come out on the other end. It is as much about life and living as it is about illness and the fear of dying.

Author Tania Katan was 21 when she was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer: 10 years later and one breast less she again faced the same diagnosis. Don't expect the usual story of pain and courage: Katan's raw, blasting memoir is playful and angry alike, covering everything from self-image and post-mastectomy sex to shopping for a mastectomy bra. My One-Night Stand With Cancer is a hard-hitting, honest account which doesn't pull punches or disguise its humanness.

I can't say enough about this book. Tania made me laugh, made me cry, and most of all, made me feel her journey. She seems like such a badass, cool chick, after reading this book there is something wrong with you if you don't want to go and share a bottle of wine with her and pick her brain! Even though I'm straight and a lymphoma survivor vs. breast cancer, I found her story so relatable, and like I said hilarious! Plus, it's nice to read a book by someone who didn't act like her cancer diagnosis was a death sentence-IT is possible to stay positive and use humor to get yourself through it! Do yourself a favor and read this book!!!

As a fanatic reader, I've been looking for stories that are more than just one letter after the other on pages in a book. I have to say that while reading this book, even with the seriousness of the subject matter, I felt as though I was a close friend and confidante of the author. She allowed me to remember with her, while sharing some laughs. As I read it, I wasn't thinking, "this shouldn't have happened - you're too young" as she constantly hears from people when they find out she is a breast cancer survivor. I just kept thinking she has amazing strength - she has some of the craziest ex-horror stories I've ever heard!

I couldn't put the book down - and wish she had another book for me to read - even about her experiences at work, her last lunch - it made me just want to continue what felt like an ongoing conversation with her.

Great job, Tania. I'll be sending you a whole bunch more +ve (or should it be -ve) thoughts (!!?!) as you continue to live your lively and love-filled life!

Katan's story is not a typical breast cancer survivor success story - in part because she got hit twice, once at 21, and again ten years later, just when she thought all was well. Katan deftly shifts between flashback and present-day in comparing and contrasting her experience with each cancer and its removal. This is a easy read that will nevertheless leave an indelible impression.

This book provided much needed comic relief while recuperating from mastectomy. Too have such a very positive attitude when facing breast cancer not once, but twice, makes one realize how lucky they are during a difficult time. This book portrays the unique stress she faced by her family and the medical profession not prepared for someone so young and a lesbian.

Although this memoir book is written from the perspective of a 2-time survivor of breast cancer, it's nothing like you might expect. Nobody expects to hear the phrase "laugh out loud funny" applied to a book about cancer, but that's exactly what goes on in this book. There are some moments so funny that you laugh in that almost crying kind of way. There are serious moments too, of course, and it's also just a great story - you will love it even if you're not looking for a book about breast cancer.

Tania Katan's writing is just fantastic. She's soooo funny, but she's also precise and elegant, sometimes infusing just a few sentences with meaning without being heavy-handed about it. She doesn't "tell" you, she "shows" you - like a good song, many of the emotions and meanings are sort of hidden between the lines. She's also one of the most likeable characters of any book that I've read in recent history.

Overall, this is one of the the best and funniest books I've read in quite a while.