Publication Date: 02nd June 2025
Amazon India: https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B0FBNGWY38
Garuda Publications: https://garudalife.in/triple-negative-a-tale-of-love-faith-and-surrender
Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/235606354-triple-negative
Genre: Memoir
One Liner: Poignant
May 2021
Aarti Pathak, the author, lost her mother to COVID and got a cancer diagnosis a few hours later. This memoir spans May 2021 to June 2022, plus an update for January 2023, and an epilogue. Though it talks about the grief of losing a parent and the trials of being a cancer survivor, it is a story of faith, hope, love, and surrender, as the tagline suggests.
TBH, I’m not into memoirs unless I have to read them for a specific reason. My initial interest in this book was because a friend edited it. However, as I started reading, I was glad that I went for it. I would have missed something poignant if I didn’t pick this up.
TNBC
Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive form of cancer, hard to treat (it doesn’t respond to hormone therapy), and has higher recurrence chances. Being diagnosed with it means the author went through intense and fast-paced treatment with regular chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy. It drains everything from the body and soul, so much so that the drug used is nicknamed Red Devil. More drugs and injections are required to counter the side effects.
Book Review
Hospitals and Humans
Given the timeline and topic, hospitals are prominent in the book. We come across a spectrum of doctors, specialists, nurses, lab technicians, and others that the author interacted with. As many of you would guess, some of them are capable and caring. Some are callous and robotic. It raises many questions, too – does treating the same disease in numerous people make the patients any less human? Don’t they deserve basic human respect?
Each time hospital staff was mentioned, I prayed that the author had a positive experience. It wasn’t always so, but she took it in stride like so many of us do because we have no choice in some matters. Her vulnerability in these instances is a reminder that kindness is no longer free. You pay for it in luck.
Also, the financial aspect of cancer treatment makes its presence felt through its absence. It is super expensive, and having enough money to pay for it is a blessing.
Devotion and Devas
I should mention the author’s deep sense of bhakti and faith in devas. Even when she feels like giving up, she doesn’t lose her trust in devas. In fact, it is this devotion that keeps her going – along with her husband’s love.
It’s not easy to maintain such faith when everything seems to be going the other way. I’m blessed that I know or read about people who managed it so effortlessly. It’s a lesson for me to learn and incorporate into my life.
The author has also tried Akashic healing. As a tarot reader, I have an idea of the extent of fake healers and readers in the market. It does seem like she came across someone genuine, or as genuine as one can be, given the instances. A month or so ago, my friend and I discussed Akashic records. I urged her to try accessing hers, though I haven’t decided if I want to give it a shot myself. A few hours after reading this memoir, I came across a book teaching the process of accessing Akashic records. Should I consider it a message?
Family and Support System
The author’s husband deserves an exclusive paragraph. He is the silent hero of the book. His love for her is not flashy or dramatic. It is consistent, solid, and heartfelt. Their love for each other comes from their souls – soulmates indeed (#touchwood).
The kids deserve a special mention, too. Young boys, thirteen and eleven years old, and how mature, understanding, and loving! I love them so much! They made me laugh and cry. A big, big to them.
After two forwards and a preface, there’s a detailed acknowledgement section. The author names everyone who was with her on this journey in some form.
There are little moments where realization strikes. For example, when the author wonders why she wasn’t able to live a regular life like others going through a similar situation (chemo), her direct conversations with them give the answers. Not everything is as it seems from the outside. There’s no one-size-fits-all theory. Someone achieving it all doesn’t mean they have a superpower. It could also mean that they have the required support system for it (and most importantly, in this case, their form of cancer and the treatment plans may not be as aggressive). This is my favorite part of the book, as the message applies to various scenarios.
Writing Style
The writing style is conversational, informal, and casual. Reading it feels like listening to a friend speak about her life. The structuring of individual events (with subheads) in neat chapters enhances the style.
The book is divided into three parts: the first leading to the diagnosis, the second part detailing the treatment, and the third part about the recovery and afterward.
It is informative without reading like a medical report. It is human without overdoing emotions. It shows strength but also highlights vulnerability. It talks of despair as well as hope and determination. It is inspiring without being preachy. There’s pain and anger, but not bitterness.
I got teary-eyed at many places for different reasons. Sometimes, it was due to the sheet beauty found in the simplest of moments, normalcy, something we often take for granted until it’s snatched from us.
Life Goes On
Life doesn’t wait for us to settle down. It throws spanners and challenges as it deems fit. The author was no exception. On one side, she did everything she could to take control of her life instead of letting cancer push her into a meek corner. At the same time, she had to face more health issues as well as the never-ending grief of losing her mother.
There are no guarantees in life; only whatever happiness we find and hold on to as things happen around us and to us. We have to live…
To summarize, Triple Negative is a heartfelt, poignant, and touching memoir that makes us a part of the author’s life as she navigates through the toughest phase. I’d recommend reading the book in stages, as it can get overwhelming despite the sprinkling of light-hearted moments and normalcy.
My thanks to the author for a complimentary copy of the book. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.
