Title: I’d Rather Be Dead Than Deaf: A Young Woman’s Journey with Liver Cancer
Author: E. Adrienne Wilson
Publisher: Blue Faery
ISBN: 979–8989552405
Pages: 442
Genre: Non-Fiction / Autobiography
Reviewer: Lily Amanda

Read Book Review

In this quietly powerful and touching text, a young artist and poet, details her moving life account battling liver cancer. A vibrant and bubbly teenager, E. Adrienne Wilson begins by letting readers into her intimate life and the joys – and lows – of adolescence through her musings, reflections, and introspection regarding various aspects of life, such as love and friendships.

The book contains poetic verses, journal entries and intricate drawings, all serving their intended purpose, and gets readers right into the soul and mind of a strong young woman whose untimely demise at the age of fifteen was a loss to the whole world.

A revelatory prelude from Adrienne’s older sister, Andrea, gives us a kaleidoscopic view of Adrienne’s childhood and the poignant journey of battling the life-altering disease as a family. After her sister’s death, Andrea formed Blue Faery: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association as a way to channel her grief. Its mission was to prevent, treat and cure primary liver cancer, through research, education, and advocacy.

As the book progresses, readers will take notice of Adrienne’s tone of writing which is full of warmth as she narrates how she embraced the inevitable changes that engulfed her daily life and her health. She faces this with determination and courage, making her poignant journey a shining beacon of light for many who may be going through a similar situation or are caregivers to a person suffering from a devastating illness.

The book evoked raw emotions in me reading how this talented artist embraced her condition, recounting each of the 147 days after the initial cancer diagnosis. By the time I finished reading the text, it felt as though I had met her in person. Her sage wisdom oozing from the pages urges her audience not to let life pass them by and instead live a rich purpose-driven life as well as cherish their loved ones.

Adrienne Wilson will be dearly missed. Her life lives on through this glistening tribute. I’d Rather Be Dead Than Deaf: A Young Woman’s Journey With Liver Cancer is no doubt an affecting work of non-fiction which will leave an indelible mark on anyone who puts their hands on it.