Reviews

In "Above the Din: Diary of the HepC Wonder Drugs," Labar Laskie offers the reader a ring-side seat through the long years of her encounter and eventual triumph over the life-threatening illness Hepatitis C. Her anecdotal record portrays the full spectrum of human experience - physical, emotional, spiritual - with extraordinary honesty, courage, and indomitability of spirit and will. Her investigations into the nature of the disease were enlightening, as were the methods tried that may have offered hope and relief. These included acupuncture, mega doses of vitamin C, Chinese herbs, a consultation with the Dalai Lama’s physician, and even trapeze lessons, to name just a few. Perhaps her greatest attribute is an unabating sense of humor, reflected in the superb illustrations that aptly depict the meaning and intent of each journal entry. Reading this journal will make you gasp, weep, and frequently laugh out loud. Whether or not we are confronting a life-threatening illness, we all face times when our best resource may be having learned how to fly “above the din.” In that regard, Labar Laskie serves as an exceptional guide.

“Labar Laskie’s graphic memoir is a breathtaking achievement.”

“A unique combination of memoir, diary, advice column, textbook, and somehow, a comic novel…should be required reading by both patients and clinicians.”