RECONSTRUCTING NATALIE by Laura Jensen Walker

RECONSTRUCTING NATALIE by Laura Jensen Walker

From the back cover:

"You think you're self-conscious about YOUR lack of cleavage?!"

You wouldn't think the words "breast cancer" and "hilarity" belonged in the same book, much less the same sentence, but chick lit author and breast cancer survivor Laura Jensen Walker knows how to address painful topics with a wink and a smile.

Reconstructing Natalie is the story of a woman whose breast cancer is the catalyst for some serious changes—not the least of which is her cup size! Holding tight to her old friends while reaching out to new ones, Natalie must redefine herself and her faith on new terms.

Excerpt of chapter one on Amazon.

Camy here:

It is not a good idea to read this book while suffering allergies, because hooting and snorting in laughter through a runny nose is quite difficult. Then crying tears only adds to the fluids leaking out of my face. But I can honestly say it was entirely worth it.

This is a powerful book. I totally understand why this was chosen as the Women of Faith Novel of the Year. The humor lifts it above the pain and suffering of cancer patients to the hope of survival, the joy of living, and the victory of a new life.

This book has given me insight into breast cancer patients that I’ve never experienced in just a non-fiction book. I was deep in Natalie’s head, fighting with her to not be overwhelmed by depression and bitterness. Her smart mouth and quirky outlook on life is sharp and brilliant, while her moments of sadness are poignant and strong. The small moments of human drama spoke volumes about the kinds of things she faced.

Natalie’s friends and family are supportive without being cheesy or goody-goody. It’s not just about Natalie and her cancer—it’s also about how it affects the people around her, both the ones close to her and her acquaintances.

At times, Natalie’s banter with her girlfriends get a little corny, but their unflagging encouragement shows how much Natalie needs them in order to get through her ordeal. As a reader, I’m given a glimpse into both stalwart friends and also unsupportive friends, and the effect on a struggling patient.

The subplots involving Natalie’s fellow support group friends are vibrant and touching. They truly complete Natalie’s story, by adding social nuances and different threads of emotions. The storylines are all tied up at the end, but rather than seeming cheesy or over-the-top, it’s immensely satisfying because as a reader, I’ve suffered with each of these women through the course of the book, and darn it, they deserve their happy endings!

The most powerful scene is the gallery show, and the artwork pieces on display. It runs the gamut of feelings in both a patient and the people around her, from pain to victory.

The energetic humor makes this novel so rich and bright. It focuses on the gift of life, the joy of God’s Spirit, His shining love. It doesn’t paint a rose-colored world—pain and betrayal is there in all its ugliness—but it shows people rising above with the strength of Christ, the brilliance of His love.

I don’t know if a teen would catch all the emotional nuances, but it’s an eye-opening look into a cancer patient. Young and older women alike, from all walks of life, will be truly blessed by this book. Great job, Laura!

Comments

PatriciaW said…

Sounds like I might enjoy this one. Adding it to the list.

BTW, you have something against "goody-goody" people? :) I know, I know...they CAN be irritating at times but they don't mean to be. There really are people like that out there.

Wed Aug 30, 11:02:00 AM 2006

Anonymous said…

I'm 15 and I read this book in a week, wich is really fast for a girl like me, I couldn't put it down! my own grandmother passed away from Breast cancer & she recommended it to me before she passed... It's a must read

Thu Jul 30, 01:46:00 PM 2009

No Cold Bums toilet seat cover

Captain's Log, Stardate 08.22.2008 I actually wrote out my pattern! I was getting a lot of hits on my infamous toilet seat cover , and I wanted to make a new one with “improvements,” so I paid attention and wrote things down as I made the new one. This was originally based off the Potty Mouth toilet cover , but I altered it to fit over the seat instead of the lid. Yarn: any worsted weight yarn, about 120 yards (this is a really tight number, I used exactly 118 yards. My suggestion is to make sure you have about 130 yards.) I suggest using acrylic yarn because you’re going to be washing this often. Needle: I used US 8, but you can use whatever needle size is recommended by the yarn you’re using. Gauge: Not that important. Mine was 4 sts/1 inch in garter stitch. 6 buttons (I used some leftover shell buttons I had in my stash) tapestry needle Crochet hook (optional) Cover: Using a provisional cast on, cast on 12 stitches. Work in garter st until liner measures...

Toilet seat cover

Captain’s Log, Supplemental Update August 2008: I wrote up the pattern for this with "improvements"! Here's the link to my No Cold Bums toilet seat cover ! Okay, remember a few days ago I was complaining about the cold toilet seat in my bathroom? Well, I decided to knit a seat cover. Not a lid cover, but a seat cover. I went online and couldn’t find anything for the seat, just one pattern for the lid by Feminitz.com . However, I took her pattern for the inside edge of the lid cover and modified it to make a seat cover. Here it is! It’s really ugly stitch-wise because originally I made it too small and had to extend it a couple inches on each side. I figured I’d be the one staring at it, so who cared if the extension wasn’t perfectly invisible? I used acrylic yarn since, well, that’s what I had, and also because it’s easy to wash. I’ll probably have to wash this cover every week or so, but it’s easy to take off—I made ties which you can see near the back of the seat. And...

Tabi socks, part deux

Captain's Log, Stardate 07.25.2008 (If you're on Ravelry, friend me! I'm camytang.) I made tabi socks again! (At the bottom of the pattern is the calculation for the toe split if you're not using the same weight yarn that I did for this pattern (fingering). I also give an example from when I used worsted weight yarn with this pattern.) I used Opal yarn, Petticoat colorway. It’s a finer yarn than my last pair of tabi socks, so I altered the pattern a bit. Okay, so here’s my first foray into giving a knitting pattern. Camy’s top-down Tabi Socks I’m assuming you already know the basics of knitting socks. If you’re a beginner, here are some great tutorials: Socks 101 How to Knit Socks The Sock Knitter’s Companion A video of turning the heel Sock Knitting Tips Yarn: I have used both fingering weight and worsted weight yarn with this pattern. You just change the number of cast on stitches according to your gauge and the circumference of your ankle. Th...

What Is a Brutus Cut? A Regency Hair Trend Inspired by Ancient Rome

Regency Haircuts and Disguises in Lady Wynwood’s Spies In this excerpt from Lady Wynwood’s Spies, Volume 8: Traitor , Phoebe prepares for a dangerous mission—one that requires her to disguise herself as a young man. The hairstyle she receives, called a Brutus cut, was actually quite fashionable during the Regency. Read on to find out more about this curious trend and why it suited her new identity so well. Excerpt from Lady Wynwood’s Spies, Volume 8: Traitor : By far, the absolute worst part of Uncle Sol’s plan was that Phoebe had to cut her hair. Of the four agents, Phoebe and Mr. Coulton-Jones would be the least likely to be recognized when they entered the Ramparts building—Mr. Coulton-Jones, because of his skill in altering his facial features and his posture, and Phoebe, because she could play a convincing young man, which no one would expect. A disreputable hat would hide her long hair to an extent, but it would not fool anyone who looked closely. Also, because she would lo...

Free Christian Romantic Suspense Novels by Camy Tang / Camille Elliot

Curious about what my writing is like? Here’s a list of all my free books and the free short stories, novellas, and novels that you can read here on my blog. I’ll update this post as I add more free reads. Christian Romantic Suspense: Necessary Proof (Sonoma series #4.1, novella) Click here to buy the FREE ebook on all retailers Alex Villa became a Christian in prison, and because of his efforts to help stop a gang producing meth in Sonoma, he has been set up for the death of a cop. Can computer expert Jane Lawton find the evidence that will prove his innocence before the gang eliminates them both? Fantasy short stories: Pixies in a Garden in Kyoto There were pixies in the garden. Since she was in Kyoto, she was certain they were not called pixies, but she didn't know what they would be called in Japanese, and they certainly looked like what she imagined pixies would look like. The King’s Daughter The trees in the King's garden were full of colored pixie lights. The...

Search This Blog