“Wait it Gets Worse” by Lydia Slaby
Her job is stressful, her marriage is on the rocks, and she’s just been diagnosed with lymphoma. “Wait, It Gets Worse” tackles the tough stuff with clear-eyed honesty and an unrelenting sense of humor.
At just 33 years old, Lydia Slaby feels stuck in an unfulfilling career and tumultuous marriage. And then it gets worse: She’s diagnosed with cancer. Slaby’s new memoir is a testament to living and letting go, as she learns to jettison the things that no longer serve her while in treatment for lymphoma.
“Wait, It Gets Worse” tackles a question many cancer survivors face: What comes next? Despite feeling relief when her tests start routinely coming back as “no evidence of disease,” Slaby finds herself missing the way hospital life helped her dial into her deepest spiritual needs. Her desire to seek spiritual fulfillment sparks a journey of “letting go” that allows her to experiment with the uncomfortable, from splitting logs with her sister to crying in a sweat lodge, ultimately abandoning the search for perfection.
“Sometimes we think we know what’s serving us, but then we end up getting sick, or heartbroken, or without a job in a weird city, and that’s not a good sign,” Slaby says. “If you’re paying attention, your body and circumstances will tell you.”
“Wait, It Gets Worse” delivers a powerful lesson to the anxious human in all of us, whether or not our lives have been touched by cancer. Physical recovery aside, Slaby confronts emotional healing by learning to listen to signs from her body, her intuition, and the world around her. Journeying through love, her career, and cancer recovery, she learns to relinquish control and embrace life as it comes.
“Sometimes, you don’t know you’ll be okay until after you’ve taken the leap, but in the meantime, what are you supposed to do?” Slaby asks. “Taking the leap is super scary, but on the other side is this emotional calmness that serves in so many amazing ways.” Disruption Books, March 2019, $17.00
“Farewell” by Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
What happens when a loved one’s life comes to an end? How do family members face the inevitable? In “Farewell,” Edward T. Creagan, M.D., refuses to shy away from the tough questions that complicate end-of-life care. A longtime palliative care physician at the Mayo Clinic, Creagan offers clarity in regards to hospice, palliative care, and grief, while making suggestions to prioritize comfort and quality of life. “Farewell” provides insight into medical responses, illustrative anecdotes, and a question-and-answer guide for family members facing difficult conversations, making it a powerful resource for caregivers, family members, and health care professionals alike.
“Sweet Remedies” by Dawn Combs
Herbalist and beekeeper Dawn Combs has a recipe for everything. In her latest release, Combs aims to reintroduce the healing power of honey to mainstream society, from electuaries (healing tonics mixed with honey) to infusions and handmade, herbal supplements. Drawing upon the deeply historical and cross-cultural tradition of medicinal honey and herbs, “Sweet Remedies” offers blends for the common cold, body aches, insomnia, mental clarity, and more. Combs’ optimism. and a newfound understanding of medicinal herbs, honey remedies,tices will delight readers.
