Book Club | Coping With The Next

Short Story Book Club

Our team has developed a short story reading group in collaboration with Hope & Cope. Our reading group will take place over three weeks, beginning on November 1st, 2022. We will be providing reading material in three genres: self help, nonfiction about cancer, and memoirs of cancer survivors. Please contact us to receive an audiobook, e-book or print copy of the readings.There are also guided reflection questions linked below to assist you when reading.

We will also be hosting three debriefing workshops to discuss themes from each short story. These will be held on November 8th, 15th, and 22nd on Zoom. Workshops will be led in English, but participants are welcome to ask questions and contribute to the conversation in French and English. See the description below for a description of each week's workshops and readings. You are welcome to join us for as many or as few workshops as you would like.

To receive access to the Zoom link for the workshops, please fill out the form below.

We hope to see you soon!

Reading List

"People Say, ‘Be Positive’ When You Have Cancer. I Prefer to Complain With Friends" By Annaliese Griffin

One woman's experience with how complaining helped her manage challenging situations during her cancer journey.

Guided Reflection Questions:

These reading guides are meant to help you reflect on your own experience and identify with these stories. Please answer these questions either during or immediately after reading.

Check in with yourself. If you don’t feel comfortable answering a question feel free to move on to the next one. This is meant to help you get the most out of the text, but some questions may bring up difficult emotions. Reach out to your loved ones and careteam if you need extra assistance.

How did this text make you feel? Write down your immediate thoughts and emotions (which can be later discussed during the workshop).
Do you relate to this story?
The author writes about how complaining with other people makes her feel like an equal

rather than the “poor cancer mom”. Do you have a similar experience?
How do you feel when people share things about their own life in response to your

complaints about something related to cancer?
The author writes about her experience in her daily interactions with others and the

potential benefits of complaining together. Do you agree with her? Why or why not?
Do you worry that your experience with cancer will be the “focal point” of your

relationships?
What advice from this text could help you or loved ones manage difficult situations?

"Support for People with Cancer: Taking Time"

This pamphlet, created by the National Cancer Institute, is designed to empower people with tools for how to support oneself and loved ones while living with cancer.

For our book club, we will be reading and discussing Chapter 3: Sharing your feelings about cancer.

Guided Reflection Questions:

These reading guides are meant to help you reflect on your own experience and identify with these stories. Please answer these questions either during or immediately after reading.

What emotions and feelings does this chapter bring up for you? Please answer this question either during or immediately after reading the text.
How do friends and family react when you talk about your cancer journey?
Do you feel comfortable talking about cancer?
Are you personally open to discussing your cancer with friends, family or others?
What do you appreciate more when talking to a friend or family member: when they simply listen empathetically or when they offer advice / solutions? Why?
In your experience, have most people ‘tiptoed’ around the topic of cancer when they are with you?
How do you deal with feelings of anger?
Have you tried using a journal to express your emotions before?
1. If yes: was that helpful for you?
2. If not: would you be interested in starting a journal?
What did you learn from this text?

"Untamed" by Glennon Doyle

This novel presents the personal lessons that one woman learned while navigating a divorce and rebuilding her life.

We will be reading "Key One: Feel it All", an excerpt from this novel.

Guided Reflection Questions:

What advice from this reading resonated most with you? Why?
Do you often try to avoid negative emotions or feelings of pain?
What emotions and feelings does this chapter bring up for you? Try to answer this question either during or immediately after reading the text.
Do you believe that sitting with and feeling all of your feelings will help you manage your pain?
Is there something from this short story that you could use to help deal with difficult situations and / or emotions?
What advice would you offer someone who has been newly diagnosed with cancer?
Do you relate to the narrator of this text?
The author of this text writes about the pain that came with recovering from alcohol-use disorder. Do you believe that her perspective is relevant for people affected by cancer?
Glennon Doyle, the author of this text, writes about the ongoing process of using her pain to become “truer, more beautiful versions of [herself].” Do you feel that you have gone through a similar process? Why or why not?
Doyle writes about working through her emotions and obtaining a sense of peace. Have you or anyone in your life been able to achieve a similar sense of peace? What process led you / your loved one to this state?

Short Story Book Club

Reading List

Contact us to receive the Zoom link for our interactive workshops