Midpoint: Manhood, Midlife and Prostate Cancer
As a healthy 56-year-old marketing executive, Jim Hill never saw stage-3 prostate cancer coming. Yet, in early 2018 he found himself on his back for six hours, going through a laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. His surgeon ventured into the tangle of tissue, nerves, and blood vessels in his groin to remove his prostate, seminal vesicles, lymph nodes, and some surrounding tissue. The good news was Jim's cancer seemed to be eradicated. The bad news was the experience would leave him altered physically and psychologically, as a man, a husband, and a father. Written for the 2.9 million men who are living with prostate cancer today--and for their loved ones, caregivers, and health care providers--Midpoint candidly explores the gritty, often embarrassing realities of prostate cancer and its impact on middle-aged male identity with clarity, compassion, and, ultimately, hope.
Plot/Idea: 8 out of 10
Originality: 10 out of 10
Prose: 10 out of 10
Character/Execution: 9 out of 10
Overall: 9.25 out of 10
Assessment:
Idea/Concept: Hill’s narrative progresses from diagnosis to the uneven terrain of recovery at the perfect pace. Nostalgic memories occasionally slow down the plot before things progress forward again.
Prose: Hill has a fantastic, calculated control over his prose. He expertly blends comedy into his narrative, creating the ideal balance of light-hearted humor and everyday unease.
Originality: As Hill reminds the reader, everyone’s cancer journey is unique. Hill’s personal history with cancer, combined with his unrelenting candor make his story one of a kind.
Execution: Hill is raw and reflective, providing an unusually candid look at how prostate cancer affected and forever changed his life. His musings give the reader an intimate look at his psyche as he progresses from an average man in the throes of middle age to a cancer survivor over the span of four months.
Blurb: A funny and honest look at life with prostate cancer.
Date Submitted: October 13, 2019
