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 Synopsis Reviews  Cashing In On Cancer  Miles Kington |
In this hilarious and moving book, popular English humorist Miles Kington faces cancer and death with his sparkling trademark wit, musing on everything from board games and yodeling to the prospect of being outlived by his dog. A July 2009 Indie Next List Great Read Synopsis When some people are told they have only a few months to live, they might travel around the world or write their memoirs or put their affairs in order. When it happened at the age of 66 to Miles Kington--one of England's best-loved humorist--he did what he did best, offering sharp, wry, laugh-out-loud observations and ideas about his situation. Following his diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, Kington proposes crazier and crazier ideas for his next book (what he calls "cashing in on cancer") in a series of letters to his literary agent, Gill. And what sort of things capture Kington's attention in his waning months? The sudden grimness of those 1,000 Places to See Before You Die books, for example. (What about 100 Things to Do Before You Die, Without Leaving Home?, he suggests. Instead of bungee jumping and whitewater rafting, learn to whistle with two fingers in your mouth, yodel, or steam open envelopes.) The irony that his dog, Berry, will probably outlive him, or the semi-outrageous idea of creating a funeral video: For the last two or three years, I have been daydreaming off and on about how I could contrive to be present at my own service. The answer is quite simple. Make a video in advance of my farewell speech, to be shown on a monitor, from the pulpit, or on a screen behind the stage, or wherever the best place would be. I have already visualised the opening shot. It is of me, smiling ruefully, and saying to camera: "Hello. I am sorry I couldn't be here in person with you today." Mischievous and utterly original, Miles Kington's words in the face of death are memorable and surprisingly uplifting. Reviews "What a wonderful legacy this is. A book to make the Grim Reaper laugh and even, one hopes, encourage Him to give up the job altogether."
"Laughter was [Kington's] lifeblood. With unflinching courage and undiminished inventiveness, this unique, quirky wordsmith coped with his dying in the only way he could, by escaping into his surreal imagination and taking a squint at death's funny side."
"If I were still editor of The Times of London, I'd probably skip going to the office every day because I'd no longer find, in those pre-digital days, the sizzingly funny folios of copy from Miles Kington. They cheered us up to no end. He's done it again with this original memoir. How could he, for heaven's sake, when he's writing about his cancer? Don't flinch. Read it. You owe it to yourself."
"One of the most brilliantly written books I've ever read--hilarious, sad, touching, profound. A true tour de force."
"Kington focused on the little things in life and why they mattered even more once he knew his condition. Readers who appreciate an honest, open approach, with humor that occasionally turns dark, will read this book in one sitting."
"I'm not sure I've ever encountered a book quite like Miles Kington's How Shall I Tell the Dog? Imagine someone with the wit and playfulness of Dave Barry writing a memoir as heartbreaking and personal as Tuesdays With Morrie. I'm only sorry I wasn't born British; to have been exposed to the writings of Mr. Kington earlier and on a more regular basis would have been a treat. I'm sure my customers will feel the same way."
"How Shall I Tell The Dog? is a hilarious one-sided conversation about love, death, and a brilliant writer's unfinished business. Faced with cancer, Miles Kington does the only thing he can: write a book about it. The effort is part pratfall, part pirouette. After all, there are so many delightful ways to go and a trove of pithy observations to make on the way there."
"Miles Kington has given us a funny, tender, and poignant memoir that took me by surprise. I found myself laughing out loud at times, while deeply moved and touched by its intimacy and insights. Kington obviously loves writing and loves books. This, plus his considerable skill and charm contributed to finding myself becoming unexpectedly immersed in his life, and his joy for living. Treat yourself and share his humor and journey."
"This is the last work of British humorist Miles Kington, an editor for Punch, writer and reviewer for the London Times and columnist for 22 years in The Independent. Written as a series of letters to his agent, Kington explores the many ways to "cash in on cancer" with book ideas, displaying great grace and humor while staring down pancreatic cancer with less than a year to live. It's gallows humor to an extent, but very creative and very British. There are definitely laugh out loud moments and no real teary ones--he's much too funny for that."
"I read Miles Kington's How Shall I Tell the Dog? out loud to my dogs. That is not an exercise in eccentricity, but it forces me to slow down and actually hear and enjoy the language. This was the perfect book to read aloud. I could catch his more subtle humor amid the laugh-out-loud humor. He truly turns the ordinary memoir on its head and perhaps makes us look at ourselves and our feelings about life and death and dying differently."
"This is a wonderful and original memoir told through letters from British journalist Miles Kington, to his literary agent. His letters, full of ideas for books and thoughts about life, are short and to the point and show his amazing ability to find humor in the darkest moments of life."
" Late British humorist Miles Kington offers a witty, bittersweet slice of meta-nonfiction about his struggle with pancreatic cancer--or, more precisely, his struggle to write a book about it. [...] Throughout the goofy proceedings, Kington remains tuned to his condition but focuses on his relationships and life story, sparing much of the harsh physical reality; perhaps more stirring in omission, Kington writes around the pain to produce a touching, funny and life-affirming look at death. "
"Remarkably, the tenor remains light, even during Kington's most difficult times. Gallows humor may be the most difficult kind of comedy, as it's designed to make the audience uncomfortable. Kington somehow makes it work."
"How Shall I Tell the Dog? is not like any book about cancer you have seen, or will...The humor, of course, is just gloss for the wisdom...Miles Kington was a wise man. And, also, a wise guy. It's a terrific combination."
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