Letters from the Land of Cancer

Early in 2006 Walter Wangerin Jr. was diagnosed with cancer. They found it in his lungs. He was told to get his affairs in order. He was told that he should prepare to die. 

Letters from the Land of Cancer is the collection of letters and meditations written by Wangerin to friends while he waited in doctor's offices, waited for phone calls and diagnoses, and waited for death. Wangerin's reflections are powerful. A cancer diagnosis will do that. Death gives life and power to one's words. Such is certainly the case with Wangerin's writing. 

Wangerin is an excellent writer (the author of over 40 books, Wangerin has won the National Book Award, a New York Times Best Children's Book of the Year, and several Gold Medallion Awards). His writing is poetic, a fitting tone to carry forth the glorious peaks and devastating valleys of living and dying.

The letters ask questions about the journey of life and death, the struggle for patience, anger in dark circumstances, grief, and more. Wangerin's words challenge not only the way we will die, but the way we live; perhaps this is the greatest gift the book gives to its readers.

Letters from the Land of Cancer by Walter Wangerin Jr.

Published: 2010 by Zondervan

Length: 199 pages  

Purpose Statement: "[After his 2006 cancer diagnosis], Wangerin began writing a series of letters to his friends and family, detailing the many facets of surviving cancer and eloquently reflecting on the end of life. Now Wangerin offers these intimate letters to all who ask questions about what it means to live and die well. As Wangerin writes, 'Here is the story which must ultimately embrace every living body, every physical person. Here, too, is the story in which our faith in Christ most can shine'" (from the back cover). 

Recommended For: Anyone. Living and dying well is a challenge faced by us all.

Cheapest Place to Buy: Christianbooks.com is selling it for a limited time for $4.99 (US) 

Note: Once again, a special thanks to Calvin Seminary for selecting Letters from the Land of Cancer as the book of semester and making it available to the seminary community free of charge.