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The Girl With Nine Wigs
English language edition.
Sophie is 21 when she is diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of cancer. A striking, fun-loving student, she finds her world reduced overnight to the sterile confines of a hospital. But within these walls Sophie discovers a whole new world of gossiping nurses and sexy doctors, and of hair loss and eyebrow pencils.
As Sophie faces the challenges of chemotherapy, wigs – now a crucial part of her life – become a powerful form of self-expression. Each of her nine wigs makes her feel stronger and gives her a distinct personality, and that is why each has its own name: Stella, Sue, Daisy, Blondie, Platina, Uma, Pam, Lydia and Bebé. There’s a bit of Sophie in all of them, and they reveal as much as they hide. Sophie is determined to be much more than a cancer patient.
Sophie is 21 when she is diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of cancer. A striking, fun-loving student, she finds her world reduced overnight to the sterile confines of a hospital. But within these walls Sophie discovers a whole new world of gossiping nurses and sexy doctors, and of hair loss and eyebrow pencils.
As Sophie faces the challenges of chemotherapy, wigs – now a crucial part of her life – become a powerful form of self-expression. Each of her nine wigs makes her feel stronger and gives her a distinct personality, and that is why each has its own name: Stella, Sue, Daisy, Blondie, Platina, Uma, Pam, Lydia and Bebé. There’s a bit of Sophie in all of them, and they reveal as much as they hide. Sophie is determined to be much more than a cancer patient.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
41 people are currently reading
1133 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
January 15, 2016
This is a difficult one to review; while I appreciate the insight into Sophie's journey and find her attitude extremely inspirational, I definitely would have liked some more substance to the story itself, or at least a little more narrative. I think the biggest cause of this for me is the Diary structure in which it's presented, but with the writing of each entry being that of a novel complete with dialogue. I just found it a little muddled in that regard, and I struggled to really get a handle on the emotion.
The look into the treatment itself was interesting, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Then there's the stars of the show of course; the wigs. LOVE those, that Sophie finds different strengths from each one and gets through those toughest months by playing those parts and protecting her real self. Such a great story that makes so much sense and I love it. I found myself checking the cover each time she bought a new wig to see which one it was, but I lost track and would have appreciated some name tags on those ladies to help me picture the scenes they played such integral parts in.
So overall I enjoyed it a lot and I commend Sophie van der Stap on her strength, but as a NOVEL I found it quite slow and shallow, as if it's just scratching the surface of all the experiences and emotions I expected and wanted to feel.
The look into the treatment itself was interesting, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Then there's the stars of the show of course; the wigs. LOVE those, that Sophie finds different strengths from each one and gets through those toughest months by playing those parts and protecting her real self. Such a great story that makes so much sense and I love it. I found myself checking the cover each time she bought a new wig to see which one it was, but I lost track and would have appreciated some name tags on those ladies to help me picture the scenes they played such integral parts in.
So overall I enjoyed it a lot and I commend Sophie van der Stap on her strength, but as a NOVEL I found it quite slow and shallow, as if it's just scratching the surface of all the experiences and emotions I expected and wanted to feel.
October 14, 2015
This book is a candid look at a cancer diagnosis and the aftereffects. However, despite the subject matter and the likeable voice of the author, overall the book felt very shallow - it reads like a collection of blog posts, not a cohesive work.
September 30, 2015
A special thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sophie van der Stap delivers a well-written, poignant, and inspiring personal journey with cancer, THE GIRL WITH NINE WIGS ---real words, tears, and pain she has faced. From friends gained, and those lost; family, friends, nurses, IV drips, doctors, blood transfusions, white coats, pills, tubes, scans, blood counts, and her own bald head.
Everyone is real; the wigs, the last hairs, her scars, her new personalities: Stella, Daisy, Sue, Blondie, Platina, Uma, Pam, Lydia and Bebe---all real. From humor, fear, wit, and a strong need to survive, with a little help from her nine new personalities. Sophie has been given a second chance, and starts living once again to tell her uplifting story of triumph. She will make you laugh, cry and smile!
Sophie, age twenty-one, a normal gal attending university. She has a loving family and does all the fun things girls do at this age. Then the symptoms begin. Tests. Needles. Hospitals. Doctors. Scans. Procedures. The heartbreaking news. Instead of going back to university the next Monday. The news is delivered. Cancer. The nightmare has been confirmed. All she hears is aggressive, advanced, rare, Rhabdomyosarcoma (a rare malignant tumor involving striated muscle tissue).
How could she have cancer? She could die. First her mom had cancer. Now her? She is afraid of what is to come.
The diary entry begins starting in mid-January. She will get through this. What about her hair, her eyebrows, eyelashes. Chemotherapy. Hooked to an IV. The side effects. Fluid retention, nausea, vomiting. A nasty disease. A rare cancer. Her life?
Her older twenty-five year old sis has a role, her mom, and dad, are all there to help support her. She has one job. To survive chemo. To get better. She is depressed. Empty. Fifty-four weeks of chemo.
By mid-February, next comes wig shopping. The previous year when her mom when through breast cancer, she was there helping her, get a wig and now, here she is. Her mom, sister, and Annabel, her friend. Be positive Sophie. The hairdos look stupid. A disaster. She wants to hide, to escape. Not just from the disease but from the reactions of everyone around her, confirming what she wants to forget. The neighbors. The pity. The family, friends, the crying. She has to give the wig thing a try; however, all she sees is a stranger.
Playing with headbands, hairspray, and trying to get rid of the itch of something on her head. She is numb with a perfect diet of fear, stress, and night sweats. Tumor fever. She is scared. Her real hair is falling out in clumps. It is time for the razor. She is bald. She will avoid mirrors. She hates her head.
Her wigs:
• Daisy is a keeper. Long Blond curls. She is mischievous and playful. Perfect for sundresses. Barbie like. Romantic
• Sue: Short and spicy red. Edgy cut brings out her boldness. Strong and decisive. Headstrong. She makes an impression. Attention getter. Sassy
• Stella: Makes her understand what she is not. Her hair is always the same. It never moves. Rigid. Insecure
• Blondie: short sexy blonde bob. Real hair. Most expensive. Thoughtful. She makes her feel different. Independent. Blondes has more fun. They get the attention and free drinks.
A wig turns out to be much more than a bunch of hair. Each one does something for Sophie. They affect her sense of self. She soon finds when she puts on Daisy with the long curls, her Italian sandals become sexy stilettos, her jeans, a hip-hugging skirt, and her humble cleavage becomes a real showstopper. Everyone wants to know who is hiding behind the blonde ringlets.
All four ladies have something in common. In all four there is a little of her. A Sophie who grows by stealing a little inspiration from them all. A Sophie who can see the changes in herself by observing how these ladies tackle life. Together Daisy, Blondie, Sue and Stella are forming a new her.
She meets Jurriaan (Jur), a young man diagnosed with cancer when he was twenty-one. He is now twenty-six, full of energy. He tells her to break down the fear and illness day by day. Meditation. Writing. He has mantras. He has a girlfriend. He wants to be friends. There are three stages of her disease and she is in the middle. Her disease is rare. She has friends who want to help. All guys want to be her friend, and nothing more.
Everyone wants to pick her apart, from pathologists, anatomists, and oncologists. What is normally a children’s disease, her age is puzzling to the specialists. Blood transfusions, low red blood cell count, injections for white blood cells, and transfusions to boost her blood count. A weak immune system, bruises. Pale skin. A lack of energy.
Sophie learns she can change wigs to transform her mood, when she wants to leave her current life behind. Then there is her old faithful guardian, her IV, always beside her. Hospitals, death, diseases. Then she finds she needs another look that the four cannot provide.
Next we meet the new wigs and personalities:
• Platina: Electric white bob. Least expensive. Fun-loving. Made to impress. Freedom.
• Uma: Sensual. A perfect look to meet up with the boys. Jur likes her the best.
• Pam: The girl next door. Blonde streaks. Jennifer Aniston’s younger sister look. She likes Pam. Her 7th new look. She cannot wait to show Rob. Goes with her wardrobe
• Lydia: Given to her by Bebe, she wore back in the sixties. Warm Auburn.
• Bebé: Platinum-blond locks, exotic, sexy; a tribute to Bebe in Andalusia
Now she has nine characters to choose from – with endless options to pair with her wardrobe. A green top for Uma and Sue on her shopping list—to give their red locks a bit more oomph. Also on her list: a pink floral shirt to give Daisy a little extra sweetness, and a sexy black blouse to flaunt Bebe. When she goes into town she goes for sexy and sultry for obvious reasons. Bebe, Uma, and Palm have been the ones to see most of the restaurants, clubs, and parties. They are the only ladies who traveled with her to Barcelona.
She learns to seize the day, her breakfasts, her cups of tea, and the occasional glass of wine, her afternoons outside in the sun, or snuggled up inside when it rains. She seizes the evening sun and thunderstorms. The cancer makes her feel more loved. Every time she turns up with a new wig, it is high praise. Wearing the illness on the outside makes the situation easier for others, and for her. The wigs make it easy to switch worlds. Her wigs are becoming more of a solution rather than a problem.
She looks in the mirror and hardly recognizes her old self. It helps dressing up as all the different personalities, to learn how she sees herself. Maybe she will figure out who she is underneath.
Sometimes she prefers the peace and silence of her own thoughts, where she has an apple pie with Jur, not to commiserate with fellow victims. or rooms full of baldies or a spiritual weekend in a country castle with scalps and wigs. The chemo wears her out while it is killing her nasty tumors. She also learns to eat healthy. From quinoa, beets, pumpkin seeds, millet, and spirulina, chlorella, aloe vera, ginseng, and other organic produce and delights. From yoga to meditation. From vitamins, boxes of herbal remedies, and hot flashes due to chemo—menopause?
On her strong days wearing a wig to match her mood, she appears healthy and on her low days, she hides out in her bed. She can hate the world, she can dislike others. Moan, call people names and life is no longer her friend, but her enemy.
Dying is not an option. When she transforms herself into a femme fatale, she feels like one. When she does her makeup and puts on high heels and a wig, she feels stronger, bigger, and less afraid. Her wigs do not make her anonymous; they give her a chance to another, parallel life where caner does not exist.
She always associated cancer with old people and unhealthy lifestyles, but the past few years have shown her that nothing could be further from the truth. Look at her mom and all the celebrities who have dealt with it. Sometimes even underneath the clothes and wigs, and makeup she looks like a cancer patient. She has a bald head and scars. However she is used to the wigs and likes seeing them on her dresser as part of her. Then there are her dreams.
She reaches her twenty-second birthday and appreciates her day more realizing you are around to grow another year older than when you were healthy. Twenty-two and in a wheel chair at the hospital. Now she needs an MRI. Radiation. An operation is not an option. They have to hunt down the very last cancer cell. She feels like she is staring in a sci-fi movie. The men in white coats. The machines.
She lives for the day she will be clean, clean, clean (better than a triple orgasm)! If she gets the good news, can she trust it?
When she gets asked to appear on live TV, she has no clue which wig to wear…who will come and sit with her between the hosts? Her wigs have become a media sensation! All she has to do is how people that you can live with cancer, that you can still laugh and enjoy yourself. That she still shops, wears fake eyelashes, dresses up, and goes on dates. That life with cancer does not have to be just an emaciated body, pain, and endless vomiting.
Wigs can be fun, not just for her, but for anyone with cancer. Is she a sensation…..emails from everyone with unknown names. When she receives an email from a cancer patient with cynical humor, she has to meet her. She goes to churches, to embrace the silence, the calm, and the fact she is always welcome, not matter what she says or does the previous day.
Chantal, age thirty-four, terminally ill, with breast cancer, enjoying life, making jokes, flirting, and shoe shopping. Sophie wants to feel her strength. She is her new hero. The doctors have given her two years. There is a lot that have had to give up, but a lot left. They have every second, minute, and hour of the day for their selves. They live for themselves and those they love. She can make jokes about cancer bitches (ends up at random parties and wakes up in the morning with a killer hangover).
After all, a girl with cancer has to work harder for a bit of attention than a girl without. A life with a secret.
When the following year approaches she reflects on her new friend, her family, her love life, and her prognosis. She has to ween off the meds with good news. She decides to write. A manuscript. Nine Wigs. The Girl with Nine Wigs.
Wow! An inspiring story assured to empower you, through illness, and especially cancer—to put you in touch with life, how to embrace life, joy and laughter. Choose to waste, or treasure the time. The author demonstrates with brutal honesty and compassion, how to turn an illness into something good. (loved the Epilogue and the Postscript)
Even with the overwhelming cancer, her wigs offered her joy during her deepest despair to find a refuge, an escape, and comfort. A lesson for us all not to take anything for granted, we should celebrate life and love.
On a personal note:
A perfect book to lift my spirits-- my healthy and fit mom with all her annual doctor appointments, discovered two years ago she had colon cancer. She has been through surgeries, complications, hospital stays, eight months of chemo, blood transfusions and many of the same procedures covered in the book; to discover, she was in remission; to later find it has spread to the liver and outside to the abdominal area, and now unable to operate. Trying a stronger chemo was not working, as caused many other complications wearing her body down at age 83. She will not give up. Her friends are amazed at her tenacity.
Currently she is doing much better, and not taking chemo, taking one day at a time and enjoying life. The book meant so much to me as throughout all this my mom never lost her hair; however wears a short pixie cut. Now that she is off the chemo, they have taken her off her calcium, due to her kidneys, and her hair is now falling out with bald spots. I have tried to persuade her to see about a short sassy wig, but she continues to say she cannot stand anything on her head. However, she has not tried on a wig in twenty years, so I am positive we could find her one to boost her spirits. Cannot wait to tell her about this incredible book!
Thank you, Sophie van der Stap (beautiful in every way) for sharing your incredible journey, of strength; from pain to joy---you are an inspiration at age thirty-two, and wish you continued best of health and happiness! It was a pleasure to read your story--and highly recommend to anyone who is going through cancer, or to share with family and friends, who need a boost to get them through the dark valleys.
JDCMustReadBooks
Sophie van der Stap delivers a well-written, poignant, and inspiring personal journey with cancer, THE GIRL WITH NINE WIGS ---real words, tears, and pain she has faced. From friends gained, and those lost; family, friends, nurses, IV drips, doctors, blood transfusions, white coats, pills, tubes, scans, blood counts, and her own bald head.
Everyone is real; the wigs, the last hairs, her scars, her new personalities: Stella, Daisy, Sue, Blondie, Platina, Uma, Pam, Lydia and Bebe---all real. From humor, fear, wit, and a strong need to survive, with a little help from her nine new personalities. Sophie has been given a second chance, and starts living once again to tell her uplifting story of triumph. She will make you laugh, cry and smile!
Sophie, age twenty-one, a normal gal attending university. She has a loving family and does all the fun things girls do at this age. Then the symptoms begin. Tests. Needles. Hospitals. Doctors. Scans. Procedures. The heartbreaking news. Instead of going back to university the next Monday. The news is delivered. Cancer. The nightmare has been confirmed. All she hears is aggressive, advanced, rare, Rhabdomyosarcoma (a rare malignant tumor involving striated muscle tissue).
How could she have cancer? She could die. First her mom had cancer. Now her? She is afraid of what is to come.
The diary entry begins starting in mid-January. She will get through this. What about her hair, her eyebrows, eyelashes. Chemotherapy. Hooked to an IV. The side effects. Fluid retention, nausea, vomiting. A nasty disease. A rare cancer. Her life?
Her older twenty-five year old sis has a role, her mom, and dad, are all there to help support her. She has one job. To survive chemo. To get better. She is depressed. Empty. Fifty-four weeks of chemo.
By mid-February, next comes wig shopping. The previous year when her mom when through breast cancer, she was there helping her, get a wig and now, here she is. Her mom, sister, and Annabel, her friend. Be positive Sophie. The hairdos look stupid. A disaster. She wants to hide, to escape. Not just from the disease but from the reactions of everyone around her, confirming what she wants to forget. The neighbors. The pity. The family, friends, the crying. She has to give the wig thing a try; however, all she sees is a stranger.
Playing with headbands, hairspray, and trying to get rid of the itch of something on her head. She is numb with a perfect diet of fear, stress, and night sweats. Tumor fever. She is scared. Her real hair is falling out in clumps. It is time for the razor. She is bald. She will avoid mirrors. She hates her head.
Her wigs:
• Daisy is a keeper. Long Blond curls. She is mischievous and playful. Perfect for sundresses. Barbie like. Romantic
• Sue: Short and spicy red. Edgy cut brings out her boldness. Strong and decisive. Headstrong. She makes an impression. Attention getter. Sassy
• Stella: Makes her understand what she is not. Her hair is always the same. It never moves. Rigid. Insecure
• Blondie: short sexy blonde bob. Real hair. Most expensive. Thoughtful. She makes her feel different. Independent. Blondes has more fun. They get the attention and free drinks.
A wig turns out to be much more than a bunch of hair. Each one does something for Sophie. They affect her sense of self. She soon finds when she puts on Daisy with the long curls, her Italian sandals become sexy stilettos, her jeans, a hip-hugging skirt, and her humble cleavage becomes a real showstopper. Everyone wants to know who is hiding behind the blonde ringlets.
All four ladies have something in common. In all four there is a little of her. A Sophie who grows by stealing a little inspiration from them all. A Sophie who can see the changes in herself by observing how these ladies tackle life. Together Daisy, Blondie, Sue and Stella are forming a new her.
She meets Jurriaan (Jur), a young man diagnosed with cancer when he was twenty-one. He is now twenty-six, full of energy. He tells her to break down the fear and illness day by day. Meditation. Writing. He has mantras. He has a girlfriend. He wants to be friends. There are three stages of her disease and she is in the middle. Her disease is rare. She has friends who want to help. All guys want to be her friend, and nothing more.
Everyone wants to pick her apart, from pathologists, anatomists, and oncologists. What is normally a children’s disease, her age is puzzling to the specialists. Blood transfusions, low red blood cell count, injections for white blood cells, and transfusions to boost her blood count. A weak immune system, bruises. Pale skin. A lack of energy.
Sophie learns she can change wigs to transform her mood, when she wants to leave her current life behind. Then there is her old faithful guardian, her IV, always beside her. Hospitals, death, diseases. Then she finds she needs another look that the four cannot provide.
Next we meet the new wigs and personalities:
• Platina: Electric white bob. Least expensive. Fun-loving. Made to impress. Freedom.
• Uma: Sensual. A perfect look to meet up with the boys. Jur likes her the best.
• Pam: The girl next door. Blonde streaks. Jennifer Aniston’s younger sister look. She likes Pam. Her 7th new look. She cannot wait to show Rob. Goes with her wardrobe
• Lydia: Given to her by Bebe, she wore back in the sixties. Warm Auburn.
• Bebé: Platinum-blond locks, exotic, sexy; a tribute to Bebe in Andalusia
Now she has nine characters to choose from – with endless options to pair with her wardrobe. A green top for Uma and Sue on her shopping list—to give their red locks a bit more oomph. Also on her list: a pink floral shirt to give Daisy a little extra sweetness, and a sexy black blouse to flaunt Bebe. When she goes into town she goes for sexy and sultry for obvious reasons. Bebe, Uma, and Palm have been the ones to see most of the restaurants, clubs, and parties. They are the only ladies who traveled with her to Barcelona.
She learns to seize the day, her breakfasts, her cups of tea, and the occasional glass of wine, her afternoons outside in the sun, or snuggled up inside when it rains. She seizes the evening sun and thunderstorms. The cancer makes her feel more loved. Every time she turns up with a new wig, it is high praise. Wearing the illness on the outside makes the situation easier for others, and for her. The wigs make it easy to switch worlds. Her wigs are becoming more of a solution rather than a problem.
She looks in the mirror and hardly recognizes her old self. It helps dressing up as all the different personalities, to learn how she sees herself. Maybe she will figure out who she is underneath.
Sometimes she prefers the peace and silence of her own thoughts, where she has an apple pie with Jur, not to commiserate with fellow victims. or rooms full of baldies or a spiritual weekend in a country castle with scalps and wigs. The chemo wears her out while it is killing her nasty tumors. She also learns to eat healthy. From quinoa, beets, pumpkin seeds, millet, and spirulina, chlorella, aloe vera, ginseng, and other organic produce and delights. From yoga to meditation. From vitamins, boxes of herbal remedies, and hot flashes due to chemo—menopause?
On her strong days wearing a wig to match her mood, she appears healthy and on her low days, she hides out in her bed. She can hate the world, she can dislike others. Moan, call people names and life is no longer her friend, but her enemy.
Dying is not an option. When she transforms herself into a femme fatale, she feels like one. When she does her makeup and puts on high heels and a wig, she feels stronger, bigger, and less afraid. Her wigs do not make her anonymous; they give her a chance to another, parallel life where caner does not exist.
She always associated cancer with old people and unhealthy lifestyles, but the past few years have shown her that nothing could be further from the truth. Look at her mom and all the celebrities who have dealt with it. Sometimes even underneath the clothes and wigs, and makeup she looks like a cancer patient. She has a bald head and scars. However she is used to the wigs and likes seeing them on her dresser as part of her. Then there are her dreams.
She reaches her twenty-second birthday and appreciates her day more realizing you are around to grow another year older than when you were healthy. Twenty-two and in a wheel chair at the hospital. Now she needs an MRI. Radiation. An operation is not an option. They have to hunt down the very last cancer cell. She feels like she is staring in a sci-fi movie. The men in white coats. The machines.
She lives for the day she will be clean, clean, clean (better than a triple orgasm)! If she gets the good news, can she trust it?
When she gets asked to appear on live TV, she has no clue which wig to wear…who will come and sit with her between the hosts? Her wigs have become a media sensation! All she has to do is how people that you can live with cancer, that you can still laugh and enjoy yourself. That she still shops, wears fake eyelashes, dresses up, and goes on dates. That life with cancer does not have to be just an emaciated body, pain, and endless vomiting.
Wigs can be fun, not just for her, but for anyone with cancer. Is she a sensation…..emails from everyone with unknown names. When she receives an email from a cancer patient with cynical humor, she has to meet her. She goes to churches, to embrace the silence, the calm, and the fact she is always welcome, not matter what she says or does the previous day.
Chantal, age thirty-four, terminally ill, with breast cancer, enjoying life, making jokes, flirting, and shoe shopping. Sophie wants to feel her strength. She is her new hero. The doctors have given her two years. There is a lot that have had to give up, but a lot left. They have every second, minute, and hour of the day for their selves. They live for themselves and those they love. She can make jokes about cancer bitches (ends up at random parties and wakes up in the morning with a killer hangover).
After all, a girl with cancer has to work harder for a bit of attention than a girl without. A life with a secret.
When the following year approaches she reflects on her new friend, her family, her love life, and her prognosis. She has to ween off the meds with good news. She decides to write. A manuscript. Nine Wigs. The Girl with Nine Wigs.
Wow! An inspiring story assured to empower you, through illness, and especially cancer—to put you in touch with life, how to embrace life, joy and laughter. Choose to waste, or treasure the time. The author demonstrates with brutal honesty and compassion, how to turn an illness into something good. (loved the Epilogue and the Postscript)
Even with the overwhelming cancer, her wigs offered her joy during her deepest despair to find a refuge, an escape, and comfort. A lesson for us all not to take anything for granted, we should celebrate life and love.
On a personal note:
A perfect book to lift my spirits-- my healthy and fit mom with all her annual doctor appointments, discovered two years ago she had colon cancer. She has been through surgeries, complications, hospital stays, eight months of chemo, blood transfusions and many of the same procedures covered in the book; to discover, she was in remission; to later find it has spread to the liver and outside to the abdominal area, and now unable to operate. Trying a stronger chemo was not working, as caused many other complications wearing her body down at age 83. She will not give up. Her friends are amazed at her tenacity.
Currently she is doing much better, and not taking chemo, taking one day at a time and enjoying life. The book meant so much to me as throughout all this my mom never lost her hair; however wears a short pixie cut. Now that she is off the chemo, they have taken her off her calcium, due to her kidneys, and her hair is now falling out with bald spots. I have tried to persuade her to see about a short sassy wig, but she continues to say she cannot stand anything on her head. However, she has not tried on a wig in twenty years, so I am positive we could find her one to boost her spirits. Cannot wait to tell her about this incredible book!
Thank you, Sophie van der Stap (beautiful in every way) for sharing your incredible journey, of strength; from pain to joy---you are an inspiration at age thirty-two, and wish you continued best of health and happiness! It was a pleasure to read your story--and highly recommend to anyone who is going through cancer, or to share with family and friends, who need a boost to get them through the dark valleys.
JDCMustReadBooks
September 23, 2015
5 stars!!
You would think that a book about a young girl with cancer would be all morose and would be something that would put you in a really bad mood. That is not the case with this book. Yes, towards the end, it does get a little tear jerky, but for the most part, it was kept pretty much up beat. As much as you can with a diagnosis of cancer. While it was kept pretty much upbeat, there was the underlying factor of the difficulty of finding someone to love. That had of have been very hard. I hope she finds him one day.
I also loved how the author would put on different wigs and seem to be different characters for the mood that she was feeling then. This was definitely a great read and definitely held my interest. It was entertaining, endearing, informational, sad, funny and kudos to the author who was brave enough to tell her story.
Thanks St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for providing me with this free e-galley in exchange for an honest review!
You would think that a book about a young girl with cancer would be all morose and would be something that would put you in a really bad mood. That is not the case with this book. Yes, towards the end, it does get a little tear jerky, but for the most part, it was kept pretty much up beat. As much as you can with a diagnosis of cancer. While it was kept pretty much upbeat, there was the underlying factor of the difficulty of finding someone to love. That had of have been very hard. I hope she finds him one day.
I also loved how the author would put on different wigs and seem to be different characters for the mood that she was feeling then. This was definitely a great read and definitely held my interest. It was entertaining, endearing, informational, sad, funny and kudos to the author who was brave enough to tell her story.
Thanks St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for providing me with this free e-galley in exchange for an honest review!
November 9, 2014
Grūti vērtējams darbs un savā ziņā nav pelnījis vairāk par 3 zvaigznēm. Tomēr vai ir ētiski vispār vērtēt šādus patiesus dzīves traģēdijas stāstus? Sofija ir veiksminiece, viņai paveicās. Katrs ar vēzi cīnās pa savam un viņas metode ir ne labāka, ne sliktāka. Kas mēs esam, lai kritizētu viņas vēlmi savās atmiņās uzsvērt flirtēšanu ar puišiem, nevis savas sāpes un asaras (kuru tur ir pietiekami, nepārprotiet)? Vērtējot tikai tekstu - uzrakstīts viegli un ar pašironiju, tomēr pēc izlasīšanas palika iztukšotības sajūta. Par līdzīgu tēmu interesantāka, dziļāka un labāka bija Will Schwalbe "The End of Your Life Book Club" - tās ir sirsnīgas dēla atmiņas par mātes pēdējiem gadiem.
July 20, 2019
In dit boek vertelt Sophie van der Stap hoe het is om als jonge vrouw kanker te krijgen. Als overlevingsmechanisme koopt ze meerdere pruiken: "zes (later 9) subpersonages waarachter elk een ander stukje Sophie schuilt". Door deze humor is het toch een leesbaar boek geworden. Het is alleen niet mijn genre.
April 28, 2020
bazı kısımlarda çok fena duygulandım 🥺
January 25, 2021
2.5 zvaigznes
Grāmatas anotācijā teikts, ka "šķiet , neviens cīņu ar vēzi nav aprakstījis ar tādu vieglumu, reizē atklājot savu trauslumu un spēku". Vai nu neesmu īstā mērķauditorija vai arī grāmata pie manis bija atnākusi neīstajā brīdī, bet tā diemžēl mani līdz galam neuzrunāja. Reizēm nepameta sajūta, ka stāstījums ir tāds kā plakans, pārāk popsīgs, personīgi man prasījās vairāk dziļuma. Bet prieks, ka meitenei ir izdevies pārvarēt šo krīzi un izstāstīt pasaulei šo stāstu, kas māca itin visā saskatīt pozitīvo un izdzīvot dzīvi visā krāšņumā, neskatoties uz slimību.
Grāmatas anotācijā teikts, ka "šķiet , neviens cīņu ar vēzi nav aprakstījis ar tādu vieglumu, reizē atklājot savu trauslumu un spēku". Vai nu neesmu īstā mērķauditorija vai arī grāmata pie manis bija atnākusi neīstajā brīdī, bet tā diemžēl mani līdz galam neuzrunāja. Reizēm nepameta sajūta, ka stāstījums ir tāds kā plakans, pārāk popsīgs, personīgi man prasījās vairāk dziļuma. Bet prieks, ka meitenei ir izdevies pārvarēt šo krīzi un izstāstīt pasaulei šo stāstu, kas māca itin visā saskatīt pozitīvo un izdzīvot dzīvi visā krāšņumā, neskatoties uz slimību.
October 1, 2025
Dit boek heeft me geïntrigeerd. Ik vond het erg interessant om te lezen hoe Sophie in mijn geboortejaar haar behandeling tegen kanker heeft ondergaan. 54 weken lang chemotherapie, echt bizar lang.
Kritiek geven op een boek zo persoonlijk als deze voelt een beetje lullig, maar goed, ik ga het toch doen: Het einde vond ik beter geschreven dan het begin, wellicht dat dat is omdat ze het schrijverschap beter te pakken had? Of ik raakte meer gewend aan de manier van schrijven, het voelde alsof het een blog was, en niet op een leuke manier.
Ik vond dat er wat rare opmerkingen in stonden aan het begin, de typische 'als mijn bff een man was was ik verliefd geworden op dr'. (Uhh oke?) Gevolgd door 'maar gelukkig voor haar ben ik geen lesbo'. Tsja naja, wat kan ik ervan zeggen..
Het was ook een wirwar van jongens en ze vond voor m'n gevoel iedereen leuk en dan weer niet, maar goed dat is natuurlijk hoe zij het ook echt ervaarde, dus dat kan ik haar niet kwalijk nemen. Maar duidelijk was het me niet.
Wel interessant en vooral mooi dat ze zich zo kon uitten door haar vele pruiken, dat ze daar wat moois uit kon halen tijdens deze moeilijke periode uit haar leven.
Kritiek geven op een boek zo persoonlijk als deze voelt een beetje lullig, maar goed, ik ga het toch doen: Het einde vond ik beter geschreven dan het begin, wellicht dat dat is omdat ze het schrijverschap beter te pakken had? Of ik raakte meer gewend aan de manier van schrijven, het voelde alsof het een blog was, en niet op een leuke manier.
Ik vond dat er wat rare opmerkingen in stonden aan het begin, de typische 'als mijn bff een man was was ik verliefd geworden op dr'. (Uhh oke?) Gevolgd door 'maar gelukkig voor haar ben ik geen lesbo'. Tsja naja, wat kan ik ervan zeggen..
Het was ook een wirwar van jongens en ze vond voor m'n gevoel iedereen leuk en dan weer niet, maar goed dat is natuurlijk hoe zij het ook echt ervaarde, dus dat kan ik haar niet kwalijk nemen. Maar duidelijk was het me niet.
Wel interessant en vooral mooi dat ze zich zo kon uitten door haar vele pruiken, dat ze daar wat moois uit kon halen tijdens deze moeilijke periode uit haar leven.
sorry-but-no
July 14, 2018Mir ist bewusst, dass es sich bei der Autorin um eine starke Frau handelt, die schwere Zeiten durchleben musste und die Bewunderung verdient, weil sie trotz ihrer schweren Krankheit nicht aufgehört hat zu kämpfen.
Trotzdem muss ich leider sagen, dass der Erzählstil von Sophie van der Stap mich überhaupt nicht anspricht. Es liest sich recht hölzern und ich merke immer mehr, dass ich mich zwingen muss das Buch zur Hand zu nehmen, was für mich ein klares Zeichen dafür ist, dass ich das Buch nach 65 Seiten abbrechen sollte.
Trotzdem muss ich leider sagen, dass der Erzählstil von Sophie van der Stap mich überhaupt nicht anspricht. Es liest sich recht hölzern und ich merke immer mehr, dass ich mich zwingen muss das Buch zur Hand zu nehmen, was für mich ein klares Zeichen dafür ist, dass ich das Buch nach 65 Seiten abbrechen sollte.
October 25, 2020
Ganz nett zu lesen. Manchen Szenen konnte ich nicht folgen, ist teilweise recht durcheinander geschrieben und mit so vielen Namen muss man erstmal zurecht kommen - oder wie ich, einfach drüber lesen. Trotzdem hat mich das Buch nicht losgelassen und ich wollte und habe es gerne, recht zügig durchgelesen.
December 12, 2019
Sophie. Stella, daisy, sue, blondie, platine, oema, pam, lydia, bebe. 9 farklı peruk, 9 farklı karakter.
21 yaşında kansere yakalanan ve mücadele edip kanseri yenen genç bir kadının günlüğü. Hepsi gerçek.
21 yaşında kansere yakalanan ve mücadele edip kanseri yenen genç bir kadının günlüğü. Hepsi gerçek.
July 17, 2018
Patiesa līdz sirds dziļumiem. Bēdīga un priecīga. Vienlaikus. Patiesībā skaists stāsts, par spīti tam, ka pamatā ir bēdīgas lietas.
April 5, 2018
A realistic story of a girl with cancer and how she coped with it. Perhaps it was a bit difficult for me to fully understand her situation and some of her ideals are not the same as mine, but overall it was an okay read. I feel more grateful towards my health and life after reading about her emotion and experience.
September 29, 2015
My TBR pile is sky-high, but I still can't resist perusing titles on NetGalley and when I saw Sophie Van Der Stap's memoir, The Girl with Nine Wigs, I had to read it. Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advanced copy of Van Der Stap's novel, in exchange for an honest review.
PLOT- Dutch college student, Sophie Van Der Stap, is only twenty-one when she is diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Her life changes immediately, as she must set aside school and spend weeks living at the hospital, undergoing tests, chemotherapy and, radiation. Throughout her illness, Sophie struggles with her identity. She uses a variety of wigs to create different personas, these new characters are part Sophie and part an identity that she wants to exude. Do blondes have more fun? Are redheads a bit sassy? Sophie is battling her cancer, but she is able to use these new characters to embolden herself and even have some must needed fun.
LIKE- I dare you to read The Girl with Nine Wigs and not completely fall in love with Van Der Stap. She's a strong woman, not afraid to be honest in her writing and brave for telling her story. Plus, she comes across as such a fun-loving, life-loving person, that it is impossible to not root for her to overcome all of her challenges. Her attitude towards life, will make you reexamine your own outlook.
Van Der Stap's memoir doesn't just focus on her medical issues. It goes to deeper, as she explains, how it feels to have a possible death sentence, just as your life is starting. Van Der Stap longs to just be a normal college student and with her wigs, she is somewhat able to achieve it, if only for a night. One example, is a man that she flirts with and picks up at a nightclub, never telling him about her diagnoses. It's a fling for one night. This fling makes her feel nearly normal, although, when the night is finished, the entire situation is tainted with sadness. Van Der Stap must come to terms with the cancer forever changing her life, both in good and bad ways. This is a story about shifting and lost identities.
As much as I fell in love with Van Der Stap, I also came to feel care and concern towards the friends that she makes in the cancer ward. I was tense reading the last couple of chapters, waiting to find out what happens to these friends.
DISLIKE- Absolutely nothing. I couldn't put this memoir down.
RECOMMEND- Yes! Put The Girl with Nine Wigs on the top of your TBR pile. Van Der Stap has an incredibly compelling story to share, but she is also a strong writer, making this memoir a must-read.
Also, you have to look up Sophie Van Der Stap. I always like to see a picture of authors, especially if I'm reading a memoir. I had already falling in love with her on the page and, then I saw a picture. Van Der Stap is stunningly gorgeous. I was so blown away, that I had to immediately show my husband.
Like my review? Check out my blog!
PLOT- Dutch college student, Sophie Van Der Stap, is only twenty-one when she is diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Her life changes immediately, as she must set aside school and spend weeks living at the hospital, undergoing tests, chemotherapy and, radiation. Throughout her illness, Sophie struggles with her identity. She uses a variety of wigs to create different personas, these new characters are part Sophie and part an identity that she wants to exude. Do blondes have more fun? Are redheads a bit sassy? Sophie is battling her cancer, but she is able to use these new characters to embolden herself and even have some must needed fun.
LIKE- I dare you to read The Girl with Nine Wigs and not completely fall in love with Van Der Stap. She's a strong woman, not afraid to be honest in her writing and brave for telling her story. Plus, she comes across as such a fun-loving, life-loving person, that it is impossible to not root for her to overcome all of her challenges. Her attitude towards life, will make you reexamine your own outlook.
Van Der Stap's memoir doesn't just focus on her medical issues. It goes to deeper, as she explains, how it feels to have a possible death sentence, just as your life is starting. Van Der Stap longs to just be a normal college student and with her wigs, she is somewhat able to achieve it, if only for a night. One example, is a man that she flirts with and picks up at a nightclub, never telling him about her diagnoses. It's a fling for one night. This fling makes her feel nearly normal, although, when the night is finished, the entire situation is tainted with sadness. Van Der Stap must come to terms with the cancer forever changing her life, both in good and bad ways. This is a story about shifting and lost identities.
As much as I fell in love with Van Der Stap, I also came to feel care and concern towards the friends that she makes in the cancer ward. I was tense reading the last couple of chapters, waiting to find out what happens to these friends.
DISLIKE- Absolutely nothing. I couldn't put this memoir down.
RECOMMEND- Yes! Put The Girl with Nine Wigs on the top of your TBR pile. Van Der Stap has an incredibly compelling story to share, but she is also a strong writer, making this memoir a must-read.
Also, you have to look up Sophie Van Der Stap. I always like to see a picture of authors, especially if I'm reading a memoir. I had already falling in love with her on the page and, then I saw a picture. Van Der Stap is stunningly gorgeous. I was so blown away, that I had to immediately show my husband.
Like my review? Check out my blog!
September 29, 2015
The Girl With Nine Wigs is an impressive book about a 21-year-old girl who has cancer. Sophie gets a rare diagnosis and an uncertain year for her begins. A year with a lot of downs, but also several ups, because even though she has cancer Sophie manages to embrace life and to find ways to get through the horrific treatments, feeling awful and being afraid. She starts with one wig she doesn't like very much, so soon she buys another one, and another. Sophie ends up with nine wigs that each have their own nickname and matching personality. Stella, Sue, Uma, Daisy, Platina, Blondie, Bébé, Pam and Lydia all have their own benefits and characteristics. They often make Sophie bolder and more confident and because of them she ends up in all kinds of fascinating situations. She can hide behind them, but she's also showing more of herself when she's wearing these wigs.
I read 'Meisje Met Negen Pruiken', which is the original Dutch title of this book pretty soon after it came out. I think it should have been translated into English years ago. I'm glad I can finally share this impressive Dutch book with my readers now. All Dutch women I know have read this book and each of them was and still is equally moved by Sophie's story. She doesn't constantly focus on the medical side of cancer, instead she writes about what it is to go through life with cancer, which means she describes the whole package. Her story is about the encounters she has and how they make her feel. Even if there's a wig that makes Sophie look great she's still vulnerable and she carries her diagnosis with her wherever she goes.
Sophie is looking for love, like almost everyone else. She meets the most wonderful men and flirts whenever she can, but she wants someone to be close to. Meanwhile her character is rapidly developing, probably a lot more quickly than it would have if she'd remained healthy. She starts her book being a regular girl with so much potential and then she turns into someone extraordinary while she's dealing with a terrible illness. I think that's an amazing achievement and think it's only just that the whole world has the chance to read about it. I think everyone should read her story. It's beautiful and open, it's sometimes sad, but mostly hopeful and the writing is really, really good.
I read 'Meisje Met Negen Pruiken', which is the original Dutch title of this book pretty soon after it came out. I think it should have been translated into English years ago. I'm glad I can finally share this impressive Dutch book with my readers now. All Dutch women I know have read this book and each of them was and still is equally moved by Sophie's story. She doesn't constantly focus on the medical side of cancer, instead she writes about what it is to go through life with cancer, which means she describes the whole package. Her story is about the encounters she has and how they make her feel. Even if there's a wig that makes Sophie look great she's still vulnerable and she carries her diagnosis with her wherever she goes.
Sophie is looking for love, like almost everyone else. She meets the most wonderful men and flirts whenever she can, but she wants someone to be close to. Meanwhile her character is rapidly developing, probably a lot more quickly than it would have if she'd remained healthy. She starts her book being a regular girl with so much potential and then she turns into someone extraordinary while she's dealing with a terrible illness. I think that's an amazing achievement and think it's only just that the whole world has the chance to read about it. I think everyone should read her story. It's beautiful and open, it's sometimes sad, but mostly hopeful and the writing is really, really good.
February 25, 2016
This is undoubtedly one of the lighter, happier reads about living with cancer that you'll find. That isn't to say it isn't profound or important - far from it.
The author's writing is frank. She doesn't shy away from any details about her cancer or treatment symptoms. I didn't know, for example, about "tumour fever" or "chemo pee", which was a tad surprising after reading various YA and adult novels about cancer (then again, maybe not - all that pesky physical stuff might have messed with the aesthetics of those books too much!). What surprised me less, but never fails to amaze me, is the paradox of cancer that is presented in the memoir. The cancer could kill her, it's a terrible thing to happen to her and her family - but it has brought them all back together, and she could not be who she has become without cancer.
The book isn't without fault. The writing was often, as I said before, profound (see the title of this review), but it was also often a little awkward-sounding, not quite refined. Every now and then it felt like important details had been skipped over or even just the odd sentence that could've made what the author was trying to convey clearer. But overall I felt privileged to be reading her memoir - to be given a window into her terror, her youth, her youthful desires, her familial love, and everything the cancer and the treatment did to her body. And though she often reiterates the enlightenment she discovered - that the cancer really is a part of her - it never feels saccharine or insensitive. She talks about those who've lost the fight, or who lost by the time the book was published.
I'm fortunate enough never to have been directly touched by cancer, but I hope this book would help those who are at this very moment.
The author's writing is frank. She doesn't shy away from any details about her cancer or treatment symptoms. I didn't know, for example, about "tumour fever" or "chemo pee", which was a tad surprising after reading various YA and adult novels about cancer (then again, maybe not - all that pesky physical stuff might have messed with the aesthetics of those books too much!). What surprised me less, but never fails to amaze me, is the paradox of cancer that is presented in the memoir. The cancer could kill her, it's a terrible thing to happen to her and her family - but it has brought them all back together, and she could not be who she has become without cancer.
The book isn't without fault. The writing was often, as I said before, profound (see the title of this review), but it was also often a little awkward-sounding, not quite refined. Every now and then it felt like important details had been skipped over or even just the odd sentence that could've made what the author was trying to convey clearer. But overall I felt privileged to be reading her memoir - to be given a window into her terror, her youth, her youthful desires, her familial love, and everything the cancer and the treatment did to her body. And though she often reiterates the enlightenment she discovered - that the cancer really is a part of her - it never feels saccharine or insensitive. She talks about those who've lost the fight, or who lost by the time the book was published.
I'm fortunate enough never to have been directly touched by cancer, but I hope this book would help those who are at this very moment.
November 12, 2015
Sophie van der Stap wordt op jonge leeftijd geconfronteerd met kanker. Ze krijgt chemotherapie en hoewel ze meerdere tumoren heeft, verdwijnen ze allemaal en wordt ze tegen het einde van het boek kankervrij verklaard.
Waarom deze titel? Sophie wou de moed niet laten zakken en zodra ze kaal werd, ging ze pruiken passen, maar het werd niets. In een winkel voor theaterbenodigdheden vond ze wel haar meug. Ze ging meermaals terug voor andere pruiken... in totaal negen. Elke pruik kreeg een naam en bij het dragen van een bepaalde pruik voelde Sophie zich "anders", een andere persoon dan bij het dragen van een andere pruik. Het boek is, ondanks het zware thema, toch doorspekt met humor, zo heeft ze het over haar relaties, behoefte aan seks, het hebben van seks en wat er tijdens het hebben van seks, of het kussen van een jongen soms gebeurde met haar pruik. Ook beschrijft ze hoe het voelde als jongens ontdekten dat ze kanker had.... Maar haar emoties "beschrijft" ze echt op een afstandelijke manier zodat ze ook niet echt raken....
Zij bleef ondanks haar kanker een flirtster en uitgaanstype eerste klas.
Het grote deel van het boek gaat eigenlijk over haar "liefdesperikelen". Dat had ik niet verwacht in zo'n boek, maar het maakt natuurlijk ook deel van haar leven.
Ik had echt meer van het boek verwacht, een ander soort boek.
Voor mij was het toch een teleurstelling.
Toch geef ik het nog een kans en zal zeker het vervolg lezen: "Een blauwe vlinder zegt gedag".
Waarom deze titel? Sophie wou de moed niet laten zakken en zodra ze kaal werd, ging ze pruiken passen, maar het werd niets. In een winkel voor theaterbenodigdheden vond ze wel haar meug. Ze ging meermaals terug voor andere pruiken... in totaal negen. Elke pruik kreeg een naam en bij het dragen van een bepaalde pruik voelde Sophie zich "anders", een andere persoon dan bij het dragen van een andere pruik. Het boek is, ondanks het zware thema, toch doorspekt met humor, zo heeft ze het over haar relaties, behoefte aan seks, het hebben van seks en wat er tijdens het hebben van seks, of het kussen van een jongen soms gebeurde met haar pruik. Ook beschrijft ze hoe het voelde als jongens ontdekten dat ze kanker had.... Maar haar emoties "beschrijft" ze echt op een afstandelijke manier zodat ze ook niet echt raken....
Zij bleef ondanks haar kanker een flirtster en uitgaanstype eerste klas.
Het grote deel van het boek gaat eigenlijk over haar "liefdesperikelen". Dat had ik niet verwacht in zo'n boek, maar het maakt natuurlijk ook deel van haar leven.
Ik had echt meer van het boek verwacht, een ander soort boek.
Voor mij was het toch een teleurstelling.
Toch geef ik het nog een kans en zal zeker het vervolg lezen: "Een blauwe vlinder zegt gedag".
December 29, 2013
I really enjoyed this book, it's well-written and very witty. When my friend recommanded me this book a few years back, I wasn't interested in reading it since I thought it would be too depressing. (A 21-year old student with cancer and a bad prognose, isn't a very light topic.)
Yet, the book containt a lot of humor and the way the leading character Sophie deals with her illness is very inspiring. Without ignoring Sophie's fear and doubts, the book has an overall positive feel to it.
The only things that botherd me a bit, was that at some points the book felt a little bit 'scripted'. Sophie is a very flirtacious and glamorous person to begin with, but in some parts it felt like this was emphasized to much. For instance: There were so many guys that meant a lot to her, and were the only one who could understand certain things, that I couldn't tell one from the other. There were just too many different names and a lot of them were only mentioned two or three times.
Also the spirituality felt somewhat unreal. It's described in a very superficial way which makes it hard to take seriously. It felt a bit like yoga and church were dragged into the book, just to add a few ''spiritual'' aspects. I didn't like it, at least, not in the way it was done here.
Except from that, it was a great book. I enjoyed reading it and I admire Sophie a lot!
Yet, the book containt a lot of humor and the way the leading character Sophie deals with her illness is very inspiring. Without ignoring Sophie's fear and doubts, the book has an overall positive feel to it.
The only things that botherd me a bit, was that at some points the book felt a little bit 'scripted'. Sophie is a very flirtacious and glamorous person to begin with, but in some parts it felt like this was emphasized to much. For instance: There were so many guys that meant a lot to her, and were the only one who could understand certain things, that I couldn't tell one from the other. There were just too many different names and a lot of them were only mentioned two or three times.
Also the spirituality felt somewhat unreal. It's described in a very superficial way which makes it hard to take seriously. It felt a bit like yoga and church were dragged into the book, just to add a few ''spiritual'' aspects. I didn't like it, at least, not in the way it was done here.
Except from that, it was a great book. I enjoyed reading it and I admire Sophie a lot!
February 12, 2016
Pegasus Yayınlarından çıkan Dokuz Peruklu Kız Yazarın yanı Sophie Van Der Stap'ın kanseri yenme öyküsünü anlatıyor bize. Baştan uyarayım, duygusal kat sayınızın fazla olduğu bir zamanda okumayın bu kitabı göz yaşlarınızı tutamayabilirsiniz. Ya da hastane randevunuz varsa , kanser hastası iseniz ya da tarama öncesi ise kitaba başlamak için uygun bir zaman değil. Neden diye sorarsanız kitap aslında çok duygusal ya da kötü sonla biten bir kitap değil. Fakat kitabı okurken kendi mücadelenizi , kendi rahatsızlığınızı hatırlayıp daha da duygusallaşabilirsiniz ve kötü etkilenmenizi istemem. Duygusal olarak rahat, kontrollerinizi tamamlamış bir zamanda okurken kitabı gülümseyerek okuyacağınızı ve Sophie 'yi çok seveceğinizi düşünüyorum.
Sophie yirmi bir yaşınca genç, hareketli, üniversite öğrencisi bir genç kızdır. Heyecan ile okulu beklerken rahatsızlanır ve bir takım tahlil , tetkikten sonra tanısı konur. Kanser'dir. Sophie bu durumla başa çıkabilmek ve hayata tutunmak için farklı peruklar alır kendisine . O anda nasıl hissediyorsa ve kendini için aslında bir savunma duvarı oluşturmak için farklı peruklar kullanır. Hayatın ucundan yakalar ve ona sımsıkı sarılır. Onu asla bırakmaz ve kanseri yener.
Sophie yirmi bir yaşınca genç, hareketli, üniversite öğrencisi bir genç kızdır. Heyecan ile okulu beklerken rahatsızlanır ve bir takım tahlil , tetkikten sonra tanısı konur. Kanser'dir. Sophie bu durumla başa çıkabilmek ve hayata tutunmak için farklı peruklar alır kendisine . O anda nasıl hissediyorsa ve kendini için aslında bir savunma duvarı oluşturmak için farklı peruklar kullanır. Hayatın ucundan yakalar ve ona sımsıkı sarılır. Onu asla bırakmaz ve kanseri yener.
August 7, 2016
The book takes places over about 18 months, it is in a diary format however it isn't full of mindless rambling, it is straight to the point of what she did that day, the tests she received and how she felt about it. It was really interesting and I absolutely flew through it because I was right there with her whenever she had an upcoming scan I would rush through the pages feeling nervous for her.
I absolutely loved the idea with the wigs and how each one made her feel different, if she wanted to feel strong, sexy, confident then there are different wigs for each of those, she might decide that today she wants to wear Platina because she wants to stand out and doesn't care who knows about her cancer.
Throughout this book everything that happens is real and I absolutely loved it, I loved reading about how some days she felt lively and like she could beat cancer and other days she just wanted to stay in bed. It felt like I was right there with her going through this treatment and I loved every second of this book.
To read more of this review visit my blog at: https://bookgeek2015.wordpress.com/
I absolutely loved the idea with the wigs and how each one made her feel different, if she wanted to feel strong, sexy, confident then there are different wigs for each of those, she might decide that today she wants to wear Platina because she wants to stand out and doesn't care who knows about her cancer.
Throughout this book everything that happens is real and I absolutely loved it, I loved reading about how some days she felt lively and like she could beat cancer and other days she just wanted to stay in bed. It felt like I was right there with her going through this treatment and I loved every second of this book.
To read more of this review visit my blog at: https://bookgeek2015.wordpress.com/
June 4, 2013
Mit 21 Jahren die Diagnose zu hören bekommen: Krebs, selten, aggressiv, metastasierend - sicherlich eine Horrorvorstellung für jeden. Sophie trifft dieses Schicksal, doch statt zu verzweifeln oder zu resignieren, nimmt sie auf ihre Art den Kampf gegen die Krankheit auf. Sie bewahrt sich ihre Fröhlichkeit und Lebensfreude, und den Verlust ihrer Haare nimmt sie als Gelegenheit, durch unterschiedlichste Perücken Facetten ihrer Persönlichkeit und ihrer Stimmungen auszuleben. Offen bis weit über die Schmerzgrenze hinaus berichtet sie von ihren Ängsten, Zweifeln und Befürchtungen, aber ebenso auch von der Bereicherung die die Krankheit für ihr Leben mit sich bringt.
Ein ungemein ehrliches, erschreckendes aber auch ausgesprochen Mut machendes Buch - nicht nur für an Krebs Erkrankte. Auch wenn es keine Lösung im Sinne von Heilung gibt (was auf Sophie nicht zutrifft), zeigt es, dass man das Leben dennoch genießen kann. Im Hier und Jetzt!
Ein ungemein ehrliches, erschreckendes aber auch ausgesprochen Mut machendes Buch - nicht nur für an Krebs Erkrankte. Auch wenn es keine Lösung im Sinne von Heilung gibt (was auf Sophie nicht zutrifft), zeigt es, dass man das Leben dennoch genießen kann. Im Hier und Jetzt!
January 27, 2014
Het Meisje met negen pruiken begon op zich redelijk, de lezer word meteen frontaal in het kanker-patient verhaal gegooid. Wat heftig en confronterend is. En zeker goed om daar als gezonde medemens bij stil te staan. Maar na zo'n 20 pagina's was het 'shock' effect er van af, en had ik graag iets meer gezien. Waarom dit bijvoorbeeld niet een boek over kanker is, maar een goed boek, van iemand die kanker heeft (gehad). Maar helaas, daarna begon een weinig samenhangend verhaal over pruiken en een aantal personages wat daar aan vast zou moeten hangen. Terloops werden verscheidene mannen aangedaan, die wel of niet bleven hangen en meestal veel aandacht kregen van de vrouwelijke hoofdpersoon. Het deed me weinig, ik kon niet meeleven, en er zat wat mij betreft weinig diepgang in dit boek. Jammer, want het had mooi kunnen zijn.
November 18, 2016
#readingchallenge(leftover2015) (my memoir book)
Written in a quick, mini blog-esque entry style, you read Sophie's experience with cancer as you if you are a close friend she's updating. She's brave, as she openly relays her thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
She found a way to keep a morose subject up-beat, as she creatively coped with her possible death sentence. While you do feel sad for her at times, as she struggles, you never feel depressed reading because her writing style gives such a positive outlook on life. You fall in love with her and celebrate new wigs, new identities, and new accomplishments with each entry.
I do wish she had her perfect love story, but her personal growth leaves you feeling enlightened.
Written in a quick, mini blog-esque entry style, you read Sophie's experience with cancer as you if you are a close friend she's updating. She's brave, as she openly relays her thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
She found a way to keep a morose subject up-beat, as she creatively coped with her possible death sentence. While you do feel sad for her at times, as she struggles, you never feel depressed reading because her writing style gives such a positive outlook on life. You fall in love with her and celebrate new wigs, new identities, and new accomplishments with each entry.
I do wish she had her perfect love story, but her personal growth leaves you feeling enlightened.
August 17, 2016
Fandím všem lidem, kteří bojují s rakovinou a mám vždycky radost, když někdo tuto nemoc dokáže porazit a vrátit se do života. Nějak už je ale horší o tom číst. Alespoň tato kniha mi něčím nesedla, přišla mi psaná tak nějak povrchně, člověk neznalý by mohl získat dojem, že krom návštěv nemocnice a sem tam nějakého toho pláče lze žít naprosto bezstarostný život plný večírků a romantických vzplanutí. A přitom mám dojem, že přesně to autorka svou knihou sdělit určitě nechtěla. Spíš chtěla ukázat, že je důležité hlavně pozitivní myšlení a nebabrat se v lítosti, jen nějak nevím, kolik lidí v podobné situaci to dokáže povzbudit, když je to napsané tímhle stylem. Třeba jsem ale jen příliš kritická.
October 18, 2011
Yes, it's a heavy story, but still I felt kinda bored during the reading.. I don't know, she kept talking about boys and doctor K and I don't find that very interesting to know.
But I liked the fact that she had another personality if she wore another wig. On the other hand, I found her describing sometimes a bit annoying. 'Now I'm Silvia. And I'm Silvia again tomorrow.' Sometimes that was a bit too much in my eyes.
But still, heavy story, hard part of her life and I wish her all the best and health in the world.
But I liked the fact that she had another personality if she wore another wig. On the other hand, I found her describing sometimes a bit annoying. 'Now I'm Silvia. And I'm Silvia again tomorrow.' Sometimes that was a bit too much in my eyes.
But still, heavy story, hard part of her life and I wish her all the best and health in the world.
August 14, 2011
Different than I expected based on the description, a bit more depressing than I'd hoped, although I'm sure this detailed story of a cancer surviver is quite realistic and would give hope and comfort to those dealing with cancer. Would have enjoyed it more personally if the story had in fact been mostly about the wigs and their "personalities", and the (maybe more) interesting or comical encounters they brought about.
July 5, 2015
Līdz pēcvārdam uztvēru šo grāmatu kā daiļliteratūru, lai gan klusībā apzinājos, ka ir lietas, ko nevar izdomāt. Ņemot vērā to, ka šī drīzāk ir tāda kā autobiogrāfija, stāstu gribējās skaudrāku, asāku, ne tik ļoti līdzsvarā, lai vairāk atklājas vēža daba. Medicīniskie termini lasītājam neko neizsaka, bet emocijas un izjūtas gan. Šoreiz gribējās vairāk otrā un mazāk pirmā.
December 24, 2016
The girl with the nine wigs is about a girl diagnosed with cancer but fights it back by becoming the characters she sees in the wigs she puts on. All kind of colors and hairstyles represent another part of herself and she chooses who she wants to be each day based on her feelings. It is an impressive book.
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