The Crucible of Adversity: Memoir of a Brain Cancer Survivor

by Aaron Warnock

A truthfully candid, riveting, and inspirational memoir about navigating through life and the ups and downs of the proverbial rollercoaster we are often unwillingly strapped to. This is the story of one man’s struggle to grab life by the horns when it would have been easier to just give up. Follow Aaron on his journey as he battles through brain cancer, love, loss, depression, and derailment, until ultimately he discovers what it means to truly LIVE!

344 pages, Paperback

Published June 19, 2016

Reviews

[Tranylle]

This was an emotional account of the author's life dealing with cancer. It was very real and raw, and gives hope to others who find themselves in similar situations, that life can be wonderful again.

[Lynne]

I feel I should justify my low rating for this book, as I believe the author to be sincere in what he is attempting. This journey of a young man suffering from brain cancer is raw and honest. Painfully so, in fact there's so much teenage angst that I almost stopped reading a number of times. The style is jerky but this is explained later on when he reveals his diagnosis of ADD. Incidentally, his description of having this condition clarifies it beautifully. There's too much repetition. It's fine to include the unedited reflections of his mum, but to repeat them again in his own words is unnecessary. I found it a bit rich that he apologised for her lack of grammar while committing similar errors of his own. When it comes to dealing with strong emotions, either tell the reader or show us, preferably the latter, but to do both in the same paragraph is overkill. On the upside, I did gain some fascinating insights into Mormon belief, practice and culture, and there was evidence at the end of growth towards a more mature understanding, especially in his acceptance that there's no such thing as a happy ending in this life. On the whole, though, I felt this work required the help of a good copy editor.

[Dee Miller]

Time waster

This guy should have written an article, not a book. Sounds like his already messed up religious upbringing was the greatest obstacle in recovery from brain cancer If he ever found mental recovery, he certainly failed to show it. Not sure what the real points of this saga were intended to be even.