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A review by marinaschulz
Cancer Vixen by Marisa Acocella Marchetto
3.0
I enjoyed this book.
Marisa Marchetto is a fun-loving, fashion crazy cartoonist, who got the earth-shaterring news that she has cancer, while being uninsured. This book is her writing and illustrating her story, often tugging at the heartstrings (what women can't empathize with the fear of having or loosing someone to breast cancer?), completely immersing the reader in Marchetto's journey. I particullarly liked how the author also details how her experience affected her family and friends around her, and, throughout, acknowledges her gratitude for their support.
In addition to being an emotional book, I would also say that it is really very very funny - as funny as a book about cancer can be - filled with fashion tips and trowbacks, references to pop-culture, and methaphores. I really felt that the humour and the fashion references really added to the book, because it really gave the idea that even if Marisa had cancer, it's not like she completely changed personality, and her entire life turned gray and somber - she's a person, not just a "victim", and she'll do the best she can to laugh in cancer's face.
That being said, the pop-culture can be a little tiresome after a while, and it's really dated by 2018. Furthermore, the book really is very fashion/pop oriented, so if you don't like these things, definetly avoid it - the writing style makes me think of something along the likes of Princess Diaries meets Sex and the City. I would nonetheless for sure recommend this book if you have a relative/friend (with a sense of humour) with breast cancer, or if you want to educate a young (10+) year old girl on breast cancer (presumably because someone else in the family has it). I really feel that young girls can benefit from this book as it really does explain cancer in a light hearted and fun way, without in any way minimizing that it is a very serious illness.
Marisa Marchetto is a fun-loving, fashion crazy cartoonist, who got the earth-shaterring news that she has cancer, while being uninsured. This book is her writing and illustrating her story, often tugging at the heartstrings (what women can't empathize with the fear of having or loosing someone to breast cancer?), completely immersing the reader in Marchetto's journey. I particullarly liked how the author also details how her experience affected her family and friends around her, and, throughout, acknowledges her gratitude for their support.
In addition to being an emotional book, I would also say that it is really very very funny - as funny as a book about cancer can be - filled with fashion tips and trowbacks, references to pop-culture, and methaphores. I really felt that the humour and the fashion references really added to the book, because it really gave the idea that even if Marisa had cancer, it's not like she completely changed personality, and her entire life turned gray and somber - she's a person, not just a "victim", and she'll do the best she can to laugh in cancer's face.
That being said, the pop-culture can be a little tiresome after a while, and it's really dated by 2018. Furthermore, the book really is very fashion/pop oriented, so if you don't like these things, definetly avoid it - the writing style makes me think of something along the likes of Princess Diaries meets Sex and the City. I would nonetheless for sure recommend this book if you have a relative/friend (with a sense of humour) with breast cancer, or if you want to educate a young (10+) year old girl on breast cancer (presumably because someone else in the family has it). I really feel that young girls can benefit from this book as it really does explain cancer in a light hearted and fun way, without in any way minimizing that it is a very serious illness.