What is a Medical Memoir?

Luzoni · 10-25-2012, 07:25 AM

What's the difference between a standard run of the mill memoir and a Medical Memoir?

thothguard51 · 10-25-2012, 07:35 AM

My understanding...

A medical memoir is where the main subject is medically related on how a person dealt with a medical issue and all its affects as experienced by the main character or say a parent, spouse, etc who had to live through the medical drama...

Say, someone who has battled MS or breast cancer vs someone who has battled the Taliban or was a fighter pilot in WW2.

Maryn · 10-25-2012, 06:06 PM

thothguard's got it. I'm not a big memoir reader, but when my husband was ill, I did read two medical memoirs by people with the same illness. I only remember one, "My Time on Fire" by Evan Handler, an actor most people in the US might well recognize, although few could name him. (His distinctive appearance was largely shaped by the treatments which saved his life.)

It wasn't a great book, but it was a true book, and he survived, so I liked it for that reason.

Maryn, whose husband also survived

Siri Kirpal · 10-25-2012, 10:30 PM

Sat Nam! (literally "Truth Name"--a Sikh greeting)

What the others said.

Blessings,

Siri Kirpal

Luzoni · 10-26-2012, 02:29 AM

LOVE your pumpkin pic Maryn. That is one creepy grin. Also, sorry to hear your husband was ill, but wonderful that he recovered

I've never read any medical memoirs so can you guys tell me more about them, like to what extent is it just a survivor, or a loved one/friend of a victim, detailing their struggle and symptoms, or is it also the author delving into the condition, educating the reader a little. Can it be just narrative, just education with personal examples, or mixtures of both? (Not that any genre has strict rules, I suppose).

Also, any recommendations on good or memorable medical memoirs you've read?

Siri Kirpal · 10-26-2012, 04:04 AM

Sat Nam! (literally "Truth Name"--a Sikh greeting)

I've seen memoirs that were instruction manuals in fancy dress. I've seen memoirs that were narratives only. And everything in between.

Tuesdays with Morrie isn't exactly a medical memoir; it's a man's story of his relationship with a dying teacher. But that teacher's affliction with Lou Ehrig's disease plays a huge part in the story.

Blessings,

Siri Kirpal

10-25-2012, 07:25 AM	#1
Luzoni practical experience, FTW Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: USA: North of Hell and South of Paradise Posts: 186	What is a Medical Memoir? What's the difference between a standard run of the mill memoir and a Medical Memoir?

10-25-2012, 07:35 AM	#2
thothguard51 A Gentleman of a refined age... Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Out side the beltway... Posts: 7,976	My understanding... A medical memoir is where the main subject is medically related on how a person dealt with a medical issue and all its affects as experienced by the main character or say a parent, spouse, etc who had to live through the medical drama... Say, someone who has battled MS or breast cancer vs someone who has battled the Taliban or was a fighter pilot in WW2. __________________ Knowledge is learned while wisdom is earned. Currently working on... From, The Tales of Netherron, Book 1, A Game of Pawns Book 2, Pawn takes Queen, Book 3, Pawn's Gambit, In the pipeline, Children of Netherron, follow up trilogy Guardians of Netherron, prequel trilogy http://nickanthony51.wordpress.com (on hiatus) Nick Anthony

10-25-2012, 10:30 PM	#4
Siri Kirpal Swan in Process Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: In God I dwell, especially in Eugene OR Posts: 2,601	Sat Nam! (literally "Truth Name"--a Sikh greeting) What the others said. Blessings, Siri Kirpal __________________ "The only freedom any of us ever has is the freedom to choose how we will not be free."

10-26-2012, 04:04 AM	#6
Siri Kirpal Swan in Process Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: In God I dwell, especially in Eugene OR Posts: 2,601	Sat Nam! (literally "Truth Name"--a Sikh greeting) I've seen memoirs that were instruction manuals in fancy dress. I've seen memoirs that were narratives only. And everything in between. Tuesdays with Morrie isn't exactly a medical memoir; it's a man's story of his relationship with a dying teacher. But that teacher's affliction with Lou Ehrig's disease plays a huge part in the story. Blessings, Siri Kirpal __________________ "The only freedom any of us ever has is the freedom to choose how we will not be free."

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10-25-2012, 06:06 PM	#3
Maryn Goethe, Wind in His Hair AW Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: City Park Posts: 25,451	thothguard's got it. I'm not a big memoir reader, but when my husband was ill, I did read two medical memoirs by people with the same illness. I only remember one, "My Time on Fire" by Evan Handler, an actor most people in the US might well recognize, although few could name him. (His distinctive appearance was largely shaped by the treatments which saved his life.) It wasn't a great book, but it was a true book, and he survived, so I liked it for that reason. Maryn, whose husband also survived

10-26-2012, 02:29 AM	#5
Luzoni practical experience, FTW Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: USA: North of Hell and South of Paradise Posts: 186	LOVE your pumpkin pic Maryn. That is one creepy grin. Also, sorry to hear your husband was ill, but wonderful that he recovered I've never read any medical memoirs so can you guys tell me more about them, like to what extent is it just a survivor, or a loved one/friend of a victim, detailing their struggle and symptoms, or is it also the author delving into the condition, educating the reader a little. Can it be just narrative, just education with personal examples, or mixtures of both? (Not that any genre has strict rules, I suppose). Also, any recommendations on good or memorable medical memoirs you've read?