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Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Choice Award for Memoir & Autobiography (2016)


When Breath Becomes Air � Paul Kalanithi
Digital audiobook narrated by Sunil Malhotra and Cassandra Campbell
4****

Paul Kalanithi was in his mid-thirties, about to finish his training as a neurosurgeon when he was diagnosed with an aggressive lung cancer. This is his memoir.

Kalanithi certainly writes eloquently about his experiences, both as a physician, dealing with some heart-breaking cases, and as a patient facing his own devastating diagnosis. The forward by Abraham Verghesse gives some additional insight, and an afterward by Paul’s wife finishes the story of how this came to be published. I was interested and moved by his story.

It’s a good book� perhaps even a great book. I’m glad he and his wife shared this story with the world, but perhaps my expectations were too high, given all the accolades and the number of people telling me I MUST read this book. It just didn’t rise to the 5-star level for me.

The audiobook is narrated primarily by Sunil Malhotra (for the forward and the memoir written by Kalanithi himself), and Cassandra Campbell (reading Lily’s afterward). Very well done audio.

LINK to my review

Something More - I probably would have voted for this award. It was also a nominee for a Pulitzer in the autobiography/memoir category.