Synopses & Reviews
Twenty-three years old and fresh out of college, in love with her boyfriend Nick, and having just started a great new job as assistant editor at
Glamour magazine, Erin Zammett was looking forward to a future of unlimited promise until she was confronted by the one experience that no person, young or old, is ever prepared to confront. A routine checkup by her doctor seemed to indicate that she was in perfect health, until she was called back just a day later to be told that a blood test revealed she had a type of cancer, Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, the only known treatment for which was a bone marrow transplant; without treatment, she had roughly five years to live.
After the initial shock wore off, and with the support of her family and friends, her own inner strength, and a recently approved experimental drug, Erin Zammett immediately began the journey that would lead her to recovery. She began to document her experiences, to provide an outlet for the thoughts that came rushing to confront the brave new world she had entered, and the result, My So-Called Normal Life is a memoir of unparalleled candor and poignancy, encompassing much more than leukemia and the battle to overcome it. Above all, it's the story of a twenty-something living her dream life amid the unlimited excitement, adventure, and potential for growth of Manhattan, confronting the challenges of life and her new job battling cancer with unbounded courage and optimism.
Review
"Ms. Zammett's refreshing honesty makes her struggles real. Despite the scary diagnosis, she doesn't lose her sense of humor....So the title, My (So-Called) Normal Life, is fitting for a book about how Ms. Zammett's life goes on, despite having cancer." Dallas Morning News
Review
"Of the many grossly superficial statements made in her affluent, competitive family, perhaps the most offensive is: 'With cancer treatment...it's all about who you know.' It's no surprise that when her sister is diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, they invoke the 'healing power of shopping' and splurge on $300 Chanel sunglasses. Sustaining an appropriate sympathy for this character is, sadly, not easy." Kirkus Reviews
Synopsis
A compellingly inspirational memoir of a young woman confronting the battle of her life with hope, humor, and style.
About the Author
Erin Zammett is a frequent guest speaker to numerous cancer organizations, including the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the G&P Foundation for Cancer Research. She has also made numerous television appearances, including "Nightline" and "Good Morning America." She is an associate editor at Glamour magazine. Her cancer is now in complete remission.