The Wig Diaries: An Irreverent Cancer Book

by Mary Ladd, Don Asmussen (Illustrator), Mary Ladd

The Wig Diaries is Mary Ladd's irreverent cancer book. Ladd is neither phased by existential gloom, nor delicate sympathy. Through no-nonsense revelations, Ladd's bold use of black humor makes her diagnosis refreshingly approachable. The Wig Diaries intimately addresses the gravity of cancer, inviting the reader to bear witness to both the horror, and the joke(s). A fresh modern take on cancer featured in W Magazine and Lithub Covers and pokes fun at everything from diagnosis to treatment to medical bills Illustrated by San Francisco Chronicle cartoonist Don Asmussen, who has cancer for the second time "I love this book."-Mary Roach, author of the books Grunt, Stiff, Spook, and Bonk "This looks like a hoot and a half. I want more."-Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket), author of A Series of Unfortunate Events "Clear-eyed, fun, and reassuring, it's the perfect guide!"-Vanessa Hua, author of A River of Stars and Deceit and Other Possibilities Fans of F*ck Cancer, Cancer is Funny and Healing Through Humor will love this book This book is perfect for * Anyone diagnosed with cancer or going through cancer treatment * Well-meaning friends and family * Medical professionals Mary Ladd's writing has appeared in Playboy , Time Magazine , Health , the San Francisco Chronicle , and in five anthologies, including Lit Writing Humor from Abrams and the best-selling 642 Things series. You may have seen her onstage at the Community of Writers at Squaw Valley, Breast Cancer Action, Bay Area Young Survivors (BAYS) and Litquake. She is a Writers Grotto member who collaborated with Anthony Bourdain on his Bay Area episodes of No Reservations . Don Asmussen is the creator of Bad Reporter, a twice-weekly political comic strip in the San Francisco Chronicle that is syndicated by Universal Press Syndicate and the author of Dog vs. A Nation Divide d and The San Francisco Comic Strip Book of Big-Ass Mocha.

92 pages, Paperback

Published October 10, 2019

About the author

Mary Ladd's writing has appeared in Playboy, Time Magazine, the San Francisco Chronicle and in five anthologies. She is a Writers Grotto member who collaborated with Anthony Bourdain on his Bay Area episodes of No Reservations.

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

BRAVO!

OMG a book that addresses breast cancer, wig purchases, health care inequities and political BS, sahara-desert-like body parts during (& after) treatment, the WTF questions asked by well-meaning friends, and so many other cancer-specific issues that require either crying, or laughing - and with Mary Ladd, we can do both.

Thank you Mary Ladd for this great entertainment - I had seen the glowing review in the SF Chronicle, and before I had a chance to buy it, a girlfriend gifted it to me mid-chemo. I now know what I'll be giving future warriors on this "journey". And thank you Don Asmussen for your always-spot-on illlustrative commentary.

Full disclosure - my copy will be gifted to the chemo team's library at Marin Cancer Care so others getting poison infusions (aka Chemo-therapy) can find some laughter out of our shared not-funny diagnosis. Thanks for making me smile and laugh, Mary, and F*Cancer.