Letters from the Land of Cancer (Walter Wangerin Jr.)I was hoping for more from this title. A memoir of his journey through cancer treatments, the book is a series of letters to friends and family, with a few reflections interspersed. I think that I was hoping for a more intimate account of the day to day struggles, and this isn't what was provided. That said, towards the end of the book, I was moved to tears as I sat on the bus and read the closing of his account. It's not the easiest read, not particularly flowing, and perhaps even a bit dense - like reading the correspondence of a stranger, without any emotional attachment. So, not a stellar recommendation, but definitely not a wasted read.
In the Land of Invisible Women: A Female Doctor's Journey in the Saudi Kingdom (Qanta A. Ahmed, MD)
This was an absolutely fascinating read, and one which I will likely re-read at some point in the months to come. It is the personal account of a single female British Muslim doctor, who, after training in the United States, suddenly found herself without a visa, and accepted a position in Saudi Arabia. It explores medicine, her experiences as a woman, and as a Muslim. I was particularly captured by her description of her experience of hajj, and of encounters with the religious police. As I read I found myself making a list of questions, to be answered with further reading and research. A book that captures me with narrative and leaves me with challenging questions for further reading and study is pretty much my definition of a great read. For those interested in Islam, the middle east, memoir, culture, or even women's issues, this is definitely worth the time spent reading, and as I said, I expect to re-read it later in the year.
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