2020: A deep and powerful memoir from a dear family friend of mine.

I am impressed by Walton's willingness to relive the intense ups and downs that she experienced during her cancer journey. The year+ that she spent undergoing treatment was brutal, and to delve back into it as deeply as she did requires many hours spent revisiting it.

The use of an alter ego voice (named Eliza C.) was very effective and a successful way to gain more insights into Eliza's thoughts. It also highlighted a powerful reminder of why you need to be your own advocate while surviving the medical system. We certainly don't make it easy to navigate health care in this country.

There are so many characters that come in and out of Eliza's life that they can be hard to keep track of (even though I have a leg up by being one of them). This does not detract from the story; rather, it sheds light on the full support system that buoyed Walton through her journey.

I loved the many references to other literary works, in particular to Infinite Jest and Roger Ebert. One of Eliza C's doctors was named Murakami, perhaps in a very subtle nod to Haruki Murakami?