Six More GBM Memoirs
BY FLORENCE WETZEL
Memoirs about GBM offer an opportunity to connect with others who have been on this journey. These six books—four by caregivers and two by patients—present distinct perspectives on the reality of life with GBM.
All the books are available on Amazon as paperbacks and eBooks, and in some cases audiobooks. For more memoir recommendations, see these earlier posts:
The Courage to Finish What You Started: From Startups, to Ironman, to Fighting Cancer by Alex Cooper
Tissues and Resilience: A Review of What Does It Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella
All in My Head by Jessica Morris
After being diagnosed with GBM in 2016, Jessica started a blog to document her journey and work through her emotions. By turns funny, reflective, and philosophical, the book offers an honest look at living with a GBM diagnosis. It also includes a moving afterword by her husband. Jessica was also the founder of OurBrainBank, an online resource designed to empower GBM patients.
It’s Okay to Laugh (Crying Is Cool Too) by Nora McInerny Purmort
After losing her husband to GBM in 2014, Nora wrote this candid account of navigating GBM in a perfectly imperfect way. The past and present intertwine throughout the book, giving insight into both caregiving and grief. Her charming writing style is a lovely mix of playful humor and profound wisdom, including moments where she helps her young son understand his father’s illness. She has a podcast and has written other books on grief as well.
Learn more at Nora McInerny.
Waiting for the Monsoon by Rod Nordland
Rod was a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist who visited 150 countries as a war correspondent. Like novelist Sophie Kinsella, writing was already at the center of his life when he received a GBM diagnosis. And like her, Rod was able to write an honest, moving book in the midst of his illness. His partner, Leila Segal, has a post on this blog: “Love in the Time of Brain Cancer” - A Photo Essay by Leila Segal
Through My Brother’s Lens: A Journey of Life Lessons by Stephanie Maria Moulis
Stephanie lost her brother Harry to GBM in 2020. This book consists of photographs he took in Iran in the 1970s, accompanied by poems that are clear and easy to follow. Although not directly about GBM, it’s full of wisdom and practical insights to strengthen the soul. One dollar from each book is donated to GBMRO.
Daughter: Embracing the Difficult Journey of Caring for a Dying Parent Without Falling Apart by Laura Dill
Both Laura’s mother and father had GBM at the same time, an almost unthinkable responsibility for a caregiver. Nonetheless, she found her way through with admirable, hard-won resilience. Woven throughout the story are eight points of practical, hands-on advice for caregivers that are sure to help others. She learned to slay one dragon at a time, and she even founded a nonprofit for GBM caregivers called Slay Society.
Navigating Glioblastoma: A Caregiver’s Perspective by Sally Connolly
Sally’s husband learned of his GBM diagnosis on their 38th wedding anniversary in 2013. What followed was three years of caregiving, and then rebuilding her life after his death. She writes with calm honesty about the difficulties in their marriage, and the challenge of caring for a man with anger issues. Sally also describes how taking writing classes helped her process her experiences, which led to this warm, moving memoir.
Florence Wetzel is a writer and contributor to the GBMRO blog, where she explores the emotional and literary sides of GBM. She is the author of Sara My Sara, a memoir about friendship, illness, and grief. You can find more of her posts on the GBMRO blog.
