Glittering a Turd: How surviving the unsurvivable taught me to live: The Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller

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But Darren’s journey hasn’t always been smooth. His father died by suicide while in prison when Darren was just 11 years old. As he and Kris sit down for a chat, he explains what a profound impact this had on his life, how it became a catalyst for him exploring the world of comedy, his experiences with therapy and the difficult years that fell in between.

This book time hops to give you an insight into the life growing up, the life before diagnosis and the life during the diagnosis. It emotionally connects you more the further you read into every chapter. The chapter titles made me smile. I’m glad the chapters were not just labelled a number. Her outlook on cancer and living with cancer is so life affirming. I’ve mentioned it before but I’ll mention it again for the sake of this review; I lost my father in 2017, 9 months after a terminal diagnosis of cancer and the whole time was a horrible, difficult, turd of a time, and it would have been very easy to crumble. As I’m sure Kris did at times, but she also learnt how to live. Yes she was given a terminal diagnosis, but cancer diagnoses are no longer always the death sentence they once were. She was given 2-3 years life expectancy and here she is, over ten years later. But in my community (myositis), it seems like being a woman, and being a woman of colour, already makes you start with a disadvantage. If you haven’t come across the expression before you can probably figure out what it means: shit is shit, and you can’t do anything about that, but you can sprinkle some shiny crap on it and pretend that it’s something else. In other words, we can and do tell ourselves that our reality is pretty, even when it’s just a veneer over the underlying stinkiness. Unbound commissioning editor Joelle Owusu said: “I‚Äôm delighted to be working with Kris on such a unique and exciting book. She is a true inspiration and she puts her heart and vivacious personality into everything she does. This book offers a whole-hearted and funny perspective on the realities of living with cancer and she is not just surviving but thriving. It‚Äôs been a joy to bring the project to life.”Gaby is steadfast in remaining 33 (you’ll hear why) but also where her sunny disposition comes from, and how it pulled her through her turd and is something she has imbued into her own children. Gaby isn't apologetic about her outlook on life, her positivity isn't toxic it is a case of she is who she is, and who she is is a total joy!

This is the type of book where there are certain parts that the reader can identify with , it doesn't matter who you are there will be something in the book that will speak to you and that is what is beautiful about it , its a book that doesn't exclude anybody. You will go through a rollercoaster of events , you will ride the highs and the lows , you will be happy and you will cry your eyes out . I got this as a library loan and raced through it in under a day. It has taken me a while to review however as I was in a complete rage after reading. To get such a life-changing diagnosis so young is... I have no words, and I went throught it, although my diagnosis was not cancer, and my recovery and remission was (is) shorter than what Kris went through, I could relate so much. If you were sitting in a room chatting to Kris I cannot imagine the conversation to be any more intimate and engaging than the writing in this book. Kris talks about her childhood, her family, her relationships, the things she loves and hates, how she set up Coppafeel because she believed in cancer prevention and early diagnosis. Starting in a little tent at a festival, winging it, the charity has become a huge force in making changes in health education, a dialogue about the C word and has literally saved the lives of many women who have gone to their GPs armed with Kris’ story. And yes Kris writes about her cancer. Diagnosed at 23 - and isn’t that the ‘turd’ of the title - after a series of terrible missed opportunities/ mis-diagnoses which meant that her eventual diagnosis had a ‘terminal’ label.I couldn’t put it down, Kris had me hooked straight away. It is funny and emotional and trustworthy, thoughtful and important and so real. She doesn’t hide away from the fact that having cancer, and knowing someone with cancer, is a real shit show (literally and figuratively), but she also doesn’t hide away from the fact it can bring joy into your life. You learn to live more if you know your time is numbered. Feb told it was secondary breast cancer - it had already spread to my lower spine (which explained the immeasurable pain). It is becoming a common theme to have doctors dismiss or misdiagnose patients with these kind of diseases... and one thing that seems like a common denominator is that the patient usually is a woman. It was in the last 3 memoirs I listened to, but those 3 memoirs were also by women. Her writing is honest and brutal, and it needs to be. If people take away one message from this book , it should be this, above all else, don't ever take no for an answer, particularly from a doctor. Question everything!!!!! How to Glitter a Turd aims “help people navigate any of life‚Äôs big challenges, as well as the very particular trauma that is cancer.”

For listeners of the Glittering A Turd, CALM is offering an exclusive offer of 40% off a CALM Premium subscription at CALM.COM/GLITTERKris stepped down as Coppafeel! c.e.o. three years ago but still works for the charity part-time. She writes and speaks regularly about her experiences My third and final thank you to Kris is just for existing. Although a complete stranger I am so proud of you and everything you have done and have yet to do. I hope the next time I’m in Cornwall I can visit Beyoncé and meet you there. Lots of this book has sat with me and will sit with me the rest of my life, I have already shared quotes with all of my friends and I’ll continue to buy copies and gift them as it’s truly something everyone should read. I hope you continue to live and be happy for many years to come and when the time comes, as it will for us all I hope you know that your presence on this earth will be forever - in the work you’ve done and the minds of people like me and everyone else who has followed your journey and passed it on. Fans of Love Island might recognise Laura from season 4 of the show, but others will likely know her from her incredible sporting career as a pro surfer and model. She’d been making waves in the sporting world from her early teens, clinching the title of UK Champion at just 14 years old before deciding to retire at 21. What an inspiring story of a 23 year olds journey with what started as breast cancer during a pandemic. I loved how witty it was and how the authors spirits were so high. I’ve read a few memoirs and this was so powerful.