Allison Tyler reviewed It’s Always Something on OfftheShelf.com. A Memoir With the Power to Make You Laugh and Cry by Allison TylerIn 1989, my ex-boyfriend Jim’s aunt, Maryann, lent me her copy of It’s Always Something, Gilda Radner’s poignant and intimately detailed account of her battle with ovarian cancer. “Give this back when you’re done,” Maryann told me. “This book gives me strength to fight my cancer. It’s very important to me. I want you to read it, but you have to return it.”I neither read nor returned the book. Worse, I lost touch with Maryann soon thereafter, and never knew if she’d survived.Decades passed. Each time I moved, I’d take It’s Always Something off my bookshelf and think, “I hope Maryann is OK . . .” I wanted to call her, but guilt squashed the desire. I felt terrible for having never read the book, for having never returned it and, mainly, for losing touch with my sweet friend. I’d pack the book in a box and think the same thoughts when I unpacked it in my new place. But I never called, I didn’t even have her phone number; and the book stayed on my shelf, unread.In 2010, a few months before I became seriously ill myself, I reconnected with Jim via Facebook. I was hesitant to ask about his aunt, but elated to find out she was doing well. As my illness progressed, Jim and I became closer and, when I was out on medical disability leave from work and my health was uncertain, he came to visit me for the first time in twenty-two years. It went well that day, and we’re getting married this year.Second chances are a rare thing, and I was lucky enough to get a double dose with Jim and his aunt. I was able to return the book that Maryann had lent me so long ago, with my deepest apologies. She was delighted to have it back, and to have me back in the family. We went on, our bond as strong as if no time at all had passed, but I still hadn’t read the book.For my own sanity I avoid sad or violent books and movies, and there is no getting around the fact that It’s Always Something is tragically sad, and that cancer is viciously violent. I loved Gilda Radner. I had grown up watching her on Saturday Night Live. I loved her as Roseanne Roseannadanna and Emily Litella. I saw her one-woman show on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre. We had the same crazy hair. She was married to Gene Wilder, whom I also loved and who will always be Willy Wonka to me. I remembered Wilder’s words in his speech to the House subcommittee on the need for proper cancer screening, a year after Radner’s death. It was sobering to know that Radner’s initial misdiagnosis may have killed her. Cancer is one of my greatest fears, and I did not want to read of how much this beautiful, hilarious force of nature had suffered. But, recently, I knew I had to. I knew I owed it to Maryann and Gilda to read this book.People often speak of heroes and bravery in revered or superhuman terms, but Gilda Radner was incredibly human in her struggle with her illness, so very real and honest with no sugarcoating and no pretension. That was her superpower. She shared details of her cancer that only a close friend would tell you, details similar to the stories Maryann had shared with me so long ago. It was heartening to read of Radner’s life before cancer, and her strength and gumption during her battle, in her own unique words. It was uplifting to know she was able to accept love and support from other patients in The Wellness Community, and that she generously returned that love and support to so many, even after her death.Gilda’s Club, founded in 1989 by Wilder and Radner’s cancer psychotherapist, Joanna Bull, is still going strong and providing that same pillar of support that was so healing and crucial to Radner. I cried when I realized that Radner had died before Gilda’s Club was founded, and right after the release of It’s Always Something. She never got to celebrate either Gilda’s Club or her rightful place on the bestseller list.I am happy I read It’s Always Something, albeit twenty-five years late. When someone is willing to share with us the most difficult challenge of their life, we owe it to them to listen. I finally understand why the book had meant so much to Maryann.
It's Always Something is Gilda Radner's only book that she wrote while battling with ovarian cancer in the mid-late 1980s before she succumbed to the disease and died in May 1989. The book chronicles her beginning stages of married life with husband Gene Wilder (famous for movies like Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles), finding out she had ovarian cancer, battling the cancer with various methods and doctors (some methods and are questionable to their legitimacy). The title, It's Always Something was a phrase her father would often say. Radner's father died of a brain tumor when she was only 12 years old.I have to say the Radner was honest and raw when she wrote this book. She didn't hide very much from us. She had constant (really, constant) mood swings, threw horrible temper tantrums, was heavily depressed and not leave her bedroom or eat for days, become jealous when she watched other comedians performs on TV, etc. If you are looking for juicy celebrity gossip you are looking in the wrong book. Radner set out to write about her journey ... battling cancer, not her private life with other celebrities.The writing style of the book isn't quite elegant, timelines and scenes seemed randomized but Radner this was her first and only book after all.Everyone seems to the think the quote below is the memorable line from this book."I wanted a perfect ending. Now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next.Delicious Ambiguity."I think the next line, the final line of the memoir speaks louder however. To me this sums up (while using another story) Radner's battle with cancer. "When I was little Dibby's cousin had a dog, just a mutt, and the dog was pregnant. I don't know how long dogs are pregnant, but she was due to have her puppies in about a week. She was out in the yard one day and got in the way of the lawn mower, and her two hind legs got cut off. They rushed her to the vet and he said, "I can sew her up, or you can put her to sleep if you want, but the puppies are okay. She'll be able to deliver the puppies."Dibby's cousin said, "Keep her alive."So the vet sewed her backside and over the next week the dog learned to walk. She didn't spend any time worrying, she learned to walk by taking two steps in the front and flipping up her backside, and then taking two steps and flipping up her backside again. She gave birth to six little puppies, all in perfect health. She nursed them and then weaned them. And when they learned to walk, they all walked like her."Who would I recommend this book to. Easily to those who are dealing with any type of cancer or who have a loved one with cancer. It will help you a great deal, I think. Even though this is in no way a self-help book, you can see what someone with cancer is going through first-hand. If you have any interest in Gilda Radner, have ever laughed at one of her jokes, I'd suggest picking this up to get to know her life a little bit better.
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I feel guilty not giving this a 4 or 5 star review because I love Gilda so much. I thought she was hysterical. It wasn't one of the best written biographies, but I couldn't put the book down either. It was interesting to read about her struggle with cancer and her never-ending relapses. She was one amazingly strong person. I know that's what people usually say to describe other people, but you should read this bio so you know what I mean. She lived through one stroke of bad luck after another. I don't even know where she got her strength from. Kudos to her husband Gene for sticking by her side. What a shame how she finally ended up dying. Life can be so cruel sometimes.I read the 20th "newly revised" anniversary edition with a forward by Alan Zweibel, and I wonder why they didn't give the reader an update on her death later on. Fortunately I had already found out on the internet some months back, but they should definitely add that in future revisions. We still love you Gilda!!
—Pollopicu
I listened to this book. Gilda read the entire book. This is an inspirational book by a kick ass woman. Unfortunately, Gilda and her husband, Gene Wilder, did not get their happily ever after but he loved her until the end. And she adored him. There were chuckles, laughs, and lots of tears while listening to her talk about her misdiagnosis of cancer. It made me realize that even with all the money and celebrity and great doctors, mistakes can be made and people are affected. I enjoyed this book immensely. It made me feel blessed for my life. It also made me sad that a funny, energetic, positive role model for women and cancer survivors everywhere lost her voice. Rest In Peace Gilda. You are missed.
—RangerGirl
Few books have ever touched me as deeply as this one did.For those of you too young to remember her, Gilda Radner was a comedian on Saturday Night Live. She played, among other things, Rosanne Rosanna Danna, the grossout queen of the SNL News scene. Oh she was funny!When she first found out she was diagnosed with cancer, Gilda set out to write a book about how she beat the disease. The book starts out on such a positive note as this lovely, strong, courageous, and hilarious woman faces the roller coaster.But things go wrong. The cancer does not go away. Soon she comes to realize that she is not writing a book about beating cancer, she is writing a memoir of her death for those who may find themselves following her. Gilda was courageous to the end.Even writing this review I feel myself getting a little misty-eyed.The end of the book is not penned by Gilda, but by her husband--the legendary comedian Gene Wilder. He loved her to the very end. Read this book and you will know he loves her still.
—Steven Kent
