Review: Some Strong "Parts", A Little Less "Sum"
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 7, 2011
"The Sum of My Parts" is James Sanford's somewhat funny and always honest story about confronting a diagnosis of cancer, in his case testicular cancer.  The first part of the book was easily the most engaging.  Sanford wakes up one morning to swelling and discomfort in his lower left groin.  Given his good health and age, Sanford doesn't even consider the worst possibilities.  In fact, he doesn't even have a doctor so first resorts to his own medical treatments (baby powder, ice, etc) before finally visiting one of the strip mall emergency clinics.  The doctor's diagnosis is a rash and a prescription of antibiotics.  The reader certainly knows the eventual diagnosis, but Sanford does a great job of adding the suspense and surprise he had as the symptoms didn't dissipate and he finally saw a doctor that ultimately shared the bad news.  The remainder of his story is certainly solid and worthy of reading --- how he shares his news with his family, friends and co-workers and his eventual recovery, both physical and mental -- but just didn't keep me as engaged emotionally as the pre-diagnosis parts.  This is not to diminish his overall story and as a Kindle single, this is a very short read that is worthy of the hour or so of time.