Memoir / Autobiography
Swimming Upstream: My Struggle and Triumph Over Cancer and the Medical Establishment: New Hope in Cancer Treatment
by Sajjad IqbalRating: 6.25
Plot: Iqbal’s memoir is well plotted, and (for the most part) he skillfully guides readers through the various stages and complications of his cancer while avoiding diversions or irrelevant details. There aren’t any major surprise events in the book, but the details regarding the evolution of Iqbal’s physical symptoms and the treatments he undergoes are themselves gut wrenching and surprising enough to hold interest.
Prose: Iqbal’s writing is clear, controlled, and readable, but his attempts at wit and humor are hit or miss. He is at his best when he draws on his expertise to elegantly simplify medical terminology and biological processes for the lay reader.
Originality: The cancer survivor memoir has been attempted by other capable writers (some of them mentioned in this book), but Iqbal stands out for his thoughtful approach to the subject matter. As a doctor and writer, Iqbal is uniquely suited to tell this story, and he does it well by conveying a genuine interest in medicine and combining it with the high stakes narrative of his life and the immigration story.
Character Development: Most of the characters in Iqbal’s memoir are sketched briefly, and sometimes thinly, but they effectively advance the survival story that he is trying to tell. Readers get a rich sense of the narrator’s family and culture, as well as his sensibility and the nature of his professional and personal relationships.
Plot: The story the author tells is a fascinating one, but the narrative is in need of more clarity and could move more smoothly and at a greater pace. As it is, readers may have trouble engaging with a story that has a lot of potential.
Prose: The prose is straightforward and contains letters and quotes from The Bible. On the sentence level, the writing is quite strong, but the narrative does not flow smoothly, which will take readers out of the story.
Originality: While cults are nothing new, this memoir is certainly original both in its structure and content.
Character Development: Although readers get to know the author, she remains distant and readers will come away from the book wanting a fuller understanding of her character and how/why she changed over the course of the narrative. Some of the other players—in particular Bill and Ira—could also be fuller and more fleshed out.
Plot: Kaplan's memoir moves along at a swift pace, detailing her vast experiences with modeling, acting, and comedy.
Prose: The prose here is workmanlike and familiar, though it serves the material and story well.
Originality: Kaplan's story is entertaining if not particularly original. The themes of the story will seem familiar to readers.
Character Development: The characters here are well developed. The author captures the essence of all the interesting people she has met during her long career.
