Unafraid: A Survivor’s Quest for Human Connection by Niyati Tamaskar

Niyati Tamaskar boldly tells the story of her cancer journey in unabashed and fearless detail in Unafraid: A Survivor’s Quest for Human Connection.

For this active, healthy, happy and high-functioning author, the shock and impact of a breast cancer diagnosis is depicted with intense authenticity, but there is also an impressive matter-of-factness about the prose that doesn’t lean heavily on emotional musing. Beautiful moments of reflection are supported by displays of indomitable strength, which make it an essential read for anyone whose life has been touched by cancer.

Not only is this a viscerally descriptive narrative of a daunting struggle in the author’s life, but there are also thought-provoking gems peppered throughout Tamaskar’s chronicle. It works both as revealing guide through a traumatic time, as well as an exploration of cultural solidarity and the strength of family.

The most sluggish sections are the in-depth medical explanations, but for many readers this is the sort of detail that will make the book an informative comfort. There are also a few moments that are unexpectedly detached and impersonal, given the subject, but overall, Unafraid is a powerful reflection on the will of the human spirit, and wholly unique among memoirs on the subject.

Book Links