This story is about the author's journey with illness, specifically cancer, and the challenges of being diagnosed and undergoing treatment in the healthcare system. I appreciate the humor with which Benedict shares her story. When dealing with any long-term illness, finding humor in anything you possibly can is a coping mechanism. That said, I don't think there was anything novel about what the author had to share. As a memoir, this was interesting and highlights the issues within the United States healthcare system. *Advance copy provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

This certainly gives you a sense of how the healthcare system works and emphasized why you should educate and advocate for yourself. I really enjoyed the direct nature of the story. I would suggest that it will be beneficial to anyone who has had to navigate the system.

Elizabeth Benedict shares her journey through the healthcare system as she is diagnosed and treated with cancer. She also expresses her struggles with hypochondria disorder that sends her into fits of unease when things seem amiss with her health.

This book was a pretty normal example of a regular person getting diagnosed and struggling to be seen in the healthcare system. The author writes about the same struggles people face daily with almost every illness when trying to get doctors to listen and dealing with the unknowns. It was hard to find understanding in the author’s frustrations when her diagnosis god delayed an extra week due to the doctor's schedule when she has just delayed it for three weeks due to hers. Overall a pretty summative story about becoming ill and all the worries with it. I don’t think the author “Re-wrote” anything about illness. But her journey gave voice to many’s struggles.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to the ARC copy this audiobook in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

This book is about author’s lifelong struggle with paralyzing anxiety and fears of a potential catastrophic event like death or terminal illness and her experience of healing and survival from it.

Elizabeth Benedict is a woman whose life seems happy and fulfilling. She’s got a loving family and an accomplished career as a fiction writer and a college admissions coach. She lives in a place where she can enjoy life’s beautiful offerings of culture, art and amazing culinary experiences.

Then a day comes when her fear of death via cancer becomes reality and no matter how prepared she thought she was, it felt paralyzing and isolating. The road to healing is hard, physically and emotionally, but author gets to survive it.

At the end of this road she gets to rewrite the story of her illness and share her vulnerability and resilience with the reader.

The book is narrated by the author and makes listening to her story relatable. Her mastery of written word shows in the beautiful language she uses and the writing style.

Listening to “Rewriting Illness: A Story of My Own” was an enjoyable experience for me and felt relatable.

I listened to this on audio from NetGalley and I'll admit the audio was pretty terrible. Despite that I still devoured this. I was visiting a family member with cancer a couple times a week for several weeks, and this was one of the only books I could bring myself to pick up during this time. Hearing the author explain their experience from diagnosis to treatment to remission through thoughtful prose became a source of comfort during my long subway rides home. I particularly appreciated her insight on how she navigated the health care system and how she would have done so differently. I enjoyed this book right up until the end, which had the ingredients to be really powerful, but went in a direction that didn't quite land for me.

In Rewriting Illness, Elizabeth Benedict has written an important book about facing a life-threatening illness. Although her illness was cancer, this book could apply to any potentially fatal illness.

Although a self-proclaimed hypochondriac Ms. Benedict was not a strong advocate for herself. She turned to homeopathic remedies and internet suggestions while allowing medical professionals to drag their feet and string her along. This allowed treatment of her illness to be delayed, and could have had a negative impact on her outcome.

I wish that Rewriting Illness had been available when I faced my own life-threatening illness. Like Ms. Benedict, I was afraid to actually hear a diagnosis and the delay could have been fatal.

I would highly recommend this title to anyone who fears facing a diagnosis, to those already diagnosed and facing an uncertain future, and to potential caregivers.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received a free digital audio copy of this title from Net Galley.

#RewritingIllness#ElizabethBenedict#NetGalley

I enjoyed listening to this surprisingly light-hearted and humorous memoir narrated by the author, Elizabeth Benedict. It was nice to hear her story of being diagnosed with, treated for, and surviving cancer in her own voice. The focus here is more on the author’s fears, emotions, and personal experience of navigating the healthcare system than on the cancer itself. I think my favorite parts of the story related to what she has learned about communicating with doctors and why doctors might say things a certain way. She also waxes philosophical about topics such as the violent metaphors we use regarding illness.

Although the author has considerable privilege, I found her story relatable. Despite her education, social connections, and financial resources, she still experiences doctors acting as though her anxiety is more of an issue than her lump, has difficulty getting diagnosed in a timely fashion, and has concerns about being able to afford treatment.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in memoirs related to health problems or is curious about one woman’s cancer journey. The audiobook production is good, and the author’s narration is easy to understand and relate to.

I received a free review copy of the audiobook through NetGalley. I volunteered to provide an honest review.

Review of “Rewriting Illness: A Story of My Own” by Elizabeth Benedict

Disclaimer: Please note that I received an ARC audiobook copy of this book from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Rewriting Illness: A Story of My Own” by Elizabeth Benedict is a touching memoir that takes listeners on a personal journey through illness, fear, and the complexities of the healthcare system. With warmth and honesty, Benedict shares her own experience with cancer, offering relatable anecdotes and heartfelt reflections along the way.

Narrated by the author herself, the audiobook is filled with moments of humor, vulnerability, and resilience. Benedict’s storytelling is engaging and down-to-earth, making it easy for listeners to connect with her experiences. Through her story, she shines a light on the universal fears and frustrations that come with navigating healthcare, particularly as a woman facing a serious diagnosis.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the memoir is Benedict’s exploration of broader issues surrounding women’s health and healthcare disparities. She tackles these topics with courage and candor, highlighting the need for greater understanding and support within the medical community. Her story serves as a reminder of the importance of advocating for oneself and seeking solidarity during challenging times.

“Rewriting Illness: A Story of My Own” is a heartfelt and thought-provoking audiobook that offers insight, inspiration, and hope. Whether you’re facing your own health struggles or simply looking for a relatable story of resilience, Benedict’s memoir will leave a lasting impression.