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Bright Clouds
Reviewer's Bookwatch,
May, 2005 by Tom Geraghty
Bright Clouds
Pat Dwyer
Guajira Publications
Oaklawn, Ballyfin Road, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, Ireland
Phone: 00-353-502-20387
ISBN 0954869303
LINK TO REVIEW SITE
Up to now Pat was better known as a poet and in 2002 he launched his first book of poetry 'From Thurles to Cuba with Love'. This latest book marks his first foray into prose. It is not so much a chronicle of Pat's experience of the disease as a personalised guidebook drawing on his experience and written in his inimitable style, typified by the book's sub-title 'Smiling in the face of adversity and coping with Multiple Sclerosis'. In it, he touches on subjects as diverse as the excellent health-care provided in Cuba, the role of humour in dealing with disability, Ryanair's despicable attitude to people with disabilities--if I can insert a personal prejudice, perhaps that phrase should have read 'Ryanair's despicable attitude'--his religious faith, the sexual needs of people with disabilities and many more. If, as I have said, this is a guide-book it is highly individual one, full of knowledge and personal reminiscence. Above all, it is a book devoid of the self-pity that few could begrudge Pat if he was so minded. As they say, with experience comes wisdom!
There is a convention that when people in full health hear of another's difficulties we claim that 'It puts everything into perspective'. In truth, it may but we don't. We experience sympathy and then get back to our own daily worries. To paraphrase a quote used by Pat in the book, we are very brave with other people's illnesses! This is a book that should not just be read by MS sufferers and their families. Books that are warm, witty and wise are worthwhile for all to read and are rare enough to be found. I would describe this one as life-affirming except that Pat would probably tell me that it makes me sound like a bloody hippy! Sail on Pat.
With publishers falling over themselves to publish trashy novels and vacuous dissertations on the lives of forgettable 'celebrities', it is a mystery why the big publishing houses did not beat a path to Pat's door to get their hands on this work.
COPYRIGHT 2005 Midwest Book Review
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group
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Book STEPs
Bright Clouds
Smiling in the face of adversity and coping with multiple sclerosis
Pat Dwyer
Systematic account from highly positive thinker Dwyer who describes MS from which he is a sufferer, among six thousand other Irish people.
He explains diagnosis, possible causes, symptoms, prognosis, types, treatment, alternative medicine and supplements, supports, organisations, assistance and entitlements. He also discusses his own life, thoughts and attitudes with a chapter on poetry giving some of his own and some by Pablo Neruda whom he translates with a sample poem.
From the Author
In Ireland there appears to be a general dearth of literature written by disabled people, especially with diseases like Multiple Sclerosis. This is an account of my personal experience with multiple sclerosis, covering a comprehensive explanation of the disease itself. It is a book written from the experience and perspective of a sufferer who has faced this disease as realistically as I can. I have endeavoured to write it with a sense of humour without trivialising the disease. It is a cold look at the disease but is not defeatist or depressive. This book is a story about an MS sufferer trying to cope with a baffling disease and written by the same and all my efforts to get treatment in far away places like Cuba because there was nothing available here in Ireland.
I have attempted to explain in as understandable a way as possible, the various possible causes of the disease, the vast number of problems/symptoms that can develop in your body when you have it, and what to consider in deciding how to combat, treat and live with multiple sclerosis in some small way both mentally and physically. I have spent 13 months researching and writing this book, which has been therapeutic in a way!
About the Author
Pat Dwyer born in Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Living in Portlaoise since 1988 and spent 2 years in Ballyfin College, completing his Leaving Certificate there in 1979. At this stage of his life he considers himself an honorary Laois man! Opened Bealtaine Festival (The Bealtaine Laois Festival of Literature celebrates writing, storytelling, music and live performance in County Laois) with Tom Nestor in May 2002 launching his first book of poetry-From Thurles to Cuba with Love at the same event. Married to Joan, they have three children. Writes poetry in both English and Spanish. Prizewinner in the Spanish Section of the Dun Laoighaire/Rathdown International Poetry Competition 1998. Other publications include a poem in From Here to the Horizon, Laois Anthology 1999. The poem Un Cuba Libre was originally written in Spanish and later anglicised. This book Bright Clouds is his first venture into non-fiction and was written because he is personally affected by Multiple Sclerosis.
224pp 2004
210x146
http://www.booksteps.ie/bks/showbk2.php?bookid=2993
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