“Gorilla in the Room and Other Stories”

Recommended ***  Cancer. A word no one wants to hear. Many years ago, both my dad and brother died of this terrible disease. Many others in our lives have had to deal with forms of this dreaded disease. Dealing with the knowledge that you in fact have cancer has got to be the hardest of ways to live. Each day is difficult . How can one deal with this?

Ed Tracy, a fellow theater reviewer opted to make his story one that fits his particular life. It involves theater and working with the docs towards his living with what he named  the ” Gorilla in the room” (the big C). The title of his book is interesting but the way it is written is special.

Ed had stage 3 cancer and as he began the drug regimen, he made a discovery. His mind, perhaps with the help of these drugs brought back many memories. We all have great memories that are buried and just memories. In Ed’s case, the drugs made them more vivid. His youth, his college days, his theater days and more.

His book is written as a musical comedy with many chapters. There are songs, there are production numbers, costumes, set building, and in-between, short stories  (chapters in Ed’s memory bank) .

There may be some confusion for some, but if you have ever lost someone to this “gorilla” it is easy to stay with what is happening. Ed goes from chemo treatment to rehearsal. There are four families, all dealing with cancer. Their stories are connected  because they all face the “gorilla”. The story explores each family, their lives, events in those lives and the changes they face.

Will this book eventually become an actual musical? Did Ed Tracy write this with that purpose in mind? I for one think he chose to write his book this way because he felt a comfort zone by doing so. Ed is a fellow theater reviewer. We see each other at all the openings in and around Chicago. His wife is a writer who has in fact written a book/musical for the holidays and she runs the Monday night Cabaret at Peterino’s. No wonder the book is written as a musical. As a theater person and one who has dealt with family members and Cancer, I found the book well done and a good “read”.

I guess that some people will be unable to deal with the subject matter, but at least Ed has found a way to make it far less uncomfortable. The book is published by  Koehler Books

ISBN 978-1-64663-307-4  hardcover $29.95

ISBN978-1-64663-305-0 soft cover $19.95

For information visit www.gorillaintheroom.com