Press release
Cancer book reader moved to poetry
When throat cancer survivor Keith Hern called his biography Bangers and Mash the title was supposed to intrigue, but the effect on US readers was not quite as predicted.
“Why would I buy a book titled Bangers and Mash?
I'm American ... I didn't even know what Bangers and Mash meant!” said one reviewer on the book’s Amazon page.
Clearly he did buy the book, however – intrigued by the story of how photographer and bon viveur Keith battled through throat cancer to the point where eating again was the ultimate luxury (the first meal being Bangers and Mash – see?)
In fact, she was so intrigued that to review the book she turned to poetry. It might not be Shakespeare, but it does express the range of emotions experienced by readers of this honest and touchingly told story:
And so.....
I got brave
and bought the book with the funny name
and started reading Keith's sometimes terrifying
sometimes humorous words
formulating all kinds of questions
inside my head
and taking in the visuals of the book
which the author was so kind to include
And so....
the night went by fast
thanks to this riveting read
and then, when it was all finished,
I hugged the book and had a glass of wine
in celebration
You see......this author has learned one of the most important lessons in life.
The lesson of how to share.