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I Had Brain Surgery, What's Your Excuse?
by
Suzy Becker
For years Suzy Becker, author of "The New York Times" bestseller "All I Need to Know I Learned from My Cat," literally lived by her wits--her imagination, intelligence, ideas, passion. During much of that time she was also suffering seizures. But they came secretly in the middle of the night, and were probably stress-related, or so one doctor said. Then a seizure (and a se...more
Hardcover, 282 pages
Published
December 1st 2003
by Workman Publishing
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I'm tossed in the big ocean waves on this book. I related to the "freaking out" "whiny" stuff as I also had a brain tumor and hence surgery. The recovery is so very HARD to explain to others. You lose yourself as Suzy said and have to find who you are again. Everyone has a different recovery some lose whole parts of themselves others not as much. For me, I was like this author and loss "communication" as well as other things. If you have never had to truly rediscover yourself, I can see how some...more
I found the earlier parts of the book somewhat irksome and it took me a little while to identify with the author, who I initially viewed as a bit melodramatic. However, it is likely that each of us experience health concerns in our own unique ways, and I am one who prefers to remain positive instead of thinking that I’m going to drop down dead at any instant, despite the severity of a disorder.
Another irritation was her lack of knowledge of pituitary disease, which resulted in her flippant reje...more
Another irritation was her lack of knowledge of pituitary disease, which resulted in her flippant reje...more
Okay, perhaps to truly love this book, you might want to be amidst that lucky crowd of people who are facing or have had brain surgery - or to know and love someone in that situation. A good friend of mine gave me this book a week or two before I went under the knife for a five-hour brain surgery, so I found it *very* relevant. What made it even better than just reading someone else's story, from diagnosis to post-surgery fallout, was that the author is a humorist, so it's a *funny* book, as wel...more
I was curious to read this because Suzy and I were friends in junior high school. We didn't keep in touch after I moved away. So what's the next best way to learn about a friend's life? Read her published autobiography! What makes this book so unique is the drawings, cartoons, handwritten notes, graphs, and other clever items that embellish each page. All are witty--some are laugh-out-loud funny. Suzy is well-known for her cartoons and I actually think this book would make a great graphic novel...more
you know those happy books about surviving cancer you give people to cheer them up i.e. "cancer vixen" this ain't one of them. Suzy Becker writes about losing a piece of her mind and creativity to surgery, her dealings w/her parter and her family while she tries to figure out who she is now. and her new job starts a couple months after the surgery and she continues to organize a 500 mile charity bike ride.
i knoe i wouldn't give a copy of this to someone about to have brain surgery, i also know i...more
i knoe i wouldn't give a copy of this to someone about to have brain surgery, i also know i...more
Meh - interesting premise but I found the author a little off-putting.
Becker starts having seizures and is eventually diagnosed with what's essentially a cyst on her brain. She has it removed and then has issues with her speech. Her handwriting and drawing skills also take a nosedive (temporarily). She'd written several other books pre-brain surgery and this particular memoir is illustrated with doodles throughout. Becker also won a fellowship at Harvard that she decides not to postpone. Natura...more
Becker starts having seizures and is eventually diagnosed with what's essentially a cyst on her brain. She has it removed and then has issues with her speech. Her handwriting and drawing skills also take a nosedive (temporarily). She'd written several other books pre-brain surgery and this particular memoir is illustrated with doodles throughout. Becker also won a fellowship at Harvard that she decides not to postpone. Natura...more
Jan 14, 2008
Karen Hatch
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
brain-tumor patients, brain doctors, everyone!
Recommended to Karen by:
EW
Anyone facing treatment for a brain tumor should read this charming memoir. Ms. Becker, a comedy writer/illustrator best known for "All I Need To Know I Learned From My Cat," holds back no detail of her ordeal with a "mass" in her brain (it took a while for her doctor to use the word "tumor.") She not only shares the fear and confusion she felt, but the varied reactions of her friends, parents, doctors, and her life partner.
The memoir is illustrated with great humor by the author, which makes wh...more
The memoir is illustrated with great humor by the author, which makes wh...more
While the title alone was enough to grab my attention, I also read a review in A Common Reader's Spring 2004 catalog.
Suzy Becker, a cartoonist/writer living a busy life (organizing a bike-a-thon for AIDS research, receiving a Harvard fellowship) discovers that she has a "mass" in her brain that needs to be surgically removed. This book covers that discovery, the surgery itself, the support she received from her family and friends and the therapy she needed due to the speech and writing difficul...more
Suzy Becker, a cartoonist/writer living a busy life (organizing a bike-a-thon for AIDS research, receiving a Harvard fellowship) discovers that she has a "mass" in her brain that needs to be surgically removed. This book covers that discovery, the surgery itself, the support she received from her family and friends and the therapy she needed due to the speech and writing difficul...more
#2 of my summer reading list about communication disorders. Just 2 pages into this book, I was wishing it was on the allowed books for my assignment. This book conveyed expressive aphasia so well, at times when I took a break from reading I thought I had expressive aphasia. Suzy does a great job of conveying the frustrations with speech/reading/writing after her brain surgery. I only wished she'd had a more positive experience with her SLP!
While I didn't find her all that compelling as a subject, I checked it out on the promise of "illustrated memoir" and was duly impressed by all the cartoons, splashes of color, lists, imaginary interviews, margin notes, and other creative embellishments.
This is a fascinating book. If you liked My Stroke of Insight, you will appreciate this book. It is just amazing to me how the brain works. I'll be looking for more on this subject.
A trigicomedy in its finest! Becker shows readers it's ok to heal and grow in your own way, and that no matter what happens, a laugh will get you through!
Helpful to anyone who's dealing with brain trauma of any kind... and funny, too!
Another funny brain injury book. Could that be its own category?
Clever, witty and rang true to my own experience.
A witty yet candid and insightful look into one woman's struggle with a serious ailment.
Brownell Winter book sale - Jan. 2012
Good. One of those books you don't find hysterically funny, but if it were, you'd probably look around and see if anyone saw you laughing at it.
One thing I liked was the mix of drawings / cartoons and memoir material. Since Suzy's a cartoonist, it makes sense, and the cartoons compliment and add to the memoir. (That was in the reader's discussion guide, I hope you're happy.)
--Brian
One thing I liked was the mix of drawings / cartoons and memoir material. Since Suzy's a cartoonist, it makes sense, and the cartoons compliment and add to the memoir. (That was in the reader's discussion guide, I hope you're happy.)
--Brian
Quick read, enjoyable memoir.
Enjoyable, funny read - with tears.
Funny.
I picked up this book for 3% Liked the cover and title--didn't know anything else. I like the writing style. An account of the author's experience with life changing event and the various stages she went through.
I've been amused by Suzy Becker for some time. This is a particularly good illness and recovery memoir, because A) Becker has a marvelous sense of humor and B) she's okay with making other people uncomfortable. She's not the model patient, which makes her a more realistic example of actual patients. Plus isn't that title brilliant?
4 1/2 stars for: originality and relevance to my life as I try to learn how best to support my sister who recently had brain surgery and has been dealing with language challenges ever since. Much respect to Becker for the humor she brings to this subject, and I especially liked her illustrations!
Nov 19, 2010
Debrarian
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
didn-t-finish,
adult-nf
It was too disturbing—I couldn’t finish it.
Suzy Becker is best known for her book, All I Need to Know I Learned from my Cat. Her humor continues in this memoir of her "episode" of a seizure which led to brain surgery. She writes with such honesty, wit, and self-effacing humor that it is a hard one to put down. A great read.
OMG, it's not just me! I recommend this book to every person I meet who has had brain surgery. After surgery I couldn't dial a phone to save my life. Suzy shares her experience in a fun and humorous way that helps us understand we are not alone.
Suzy's humor kept me smiling through tears as she chronicles her diagnosis through amazing recovery. It was difficult to read at times because if a brain tumor can happen to a brilliant, athletic young woman we know there are no rules.
I had brain surgery -- so of course I had to read this book! Becker does a great job of breaking down a long illness, discussing how it changes your life in ways you never expected, and showing the "lighter side" of life.
Apr 24, 2008
Liz Gass-Boshoven
added it
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Liz by:
my sister Catherine
This book made me laugh out loud. The combination of illustrations and text makes the author really come to life. This is a serious subject but as with most things in life becomes wonderfully absurd.
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