The Beast in My Head

by Sonia Bitca, Martin Côté (Illustrator), Bob Morouney (Illustrator)

The Beast in My Head is author Sonia Bitca's memoir about her harrowing battle with a brain tumor-which she dubs "the beast"-and her journey from diagnosis, to surgery, hospitalization, and recovery. But it is also much more than that! It is a stream of consciousness treatise on the author's dramatic childhood; an account of her adventures as a cook with the Royal Canadian Navy; and an ode to an assortment of horses and other creatures, as well as to the family, friends and healthcare workers who supported her at the lowest and most frightening time in her life. Consistently candid and contemplative, mesmerizing and moving, this memoir will inspire and awe readers, and likely help them discover their own reserves of courage and strength if or when their own realities suddenly change.

132 pages, Hardcover

First published October 12, 2022

About the author

Sonia Bitca moved to Canada in 2005. She has a master's degree in multimedia design. After working a dozen years in the field of IT, she chooses to do something different and joins the Royal Canadian Navy as a cook.
She always had a pen and paper close, at the beginning for sketching, later for doing lists and taking notes of the thoughts assaulting her. That’s how she managed to put together a handful of pages. Bitca is a reader, she never learned to write more than taking dictation. In this first book, she chronicles her perception of an episode her body imposes on her.
She currently lives in beautiful Quebec City, Canada.

Reviews

[Marshall]

I met Sonia Bitca when she walked into my shop. She immediately struck me as someone with an interesting story to tell. After reading The Beast in My Head, I feel like I’ve heard a bit of that story and I feel lucky to have heard it. Her narrative style is unique. I’m still not sure if she was speaking to me, to her current self, to her future self, or just leaving a record of her calm almost wistful musings about her brain tumor for anyone lucky enough to stumble upon them. Thank you Sonia for sharing a bit of yourself.

[Sașa-Liviu]

This book contains lots of emotion in a condensed form. The sometimes clinical observations are doubled with a constant sense of humour - a very personal one. Sometimes it made me think of the way Carver wrote his stories.
Not easy to read, at times, due to the subject it is based on, but still fluid, The Beast in My Head makes you stop for a moment and think better of your own life. Think of all the months, weeks, days, hours, minutes, seconds that have gone by without us being aware of it.
So, read it and take some time to reflect on life.

[Mihail]

I have just finished reading “The Beast in My Head” and I certify that this is not just another story… a sensational opportunity to have a glimpse at the head of a remarkable woman who — with spirit, uplifting humour and authentic guts — won a face-off with a beast. Who knows what is happening behind the scenes? Whatever life throws to your head, get ready and… enjoy the reading!