Alice & Oliver

Cancer. Writers are often advised to write about what they know. The struggle with that advice involves deciding how to write about what one knows. The novel, Alice and Oliver, writes about a couple’s experience with cancer, something author Charles Bock knows a lot about from his own experience. Bock’s decision about how to write about this made all the difference for readers of this novel. Instead of mining all the roller coaster emotional components of this experience, Bock chooses the daily slog of doing one thing after another. He focuses on the psychological dimensions with great skill. His presentation of the health care system with all the associated frustration and financial jeopardy comes across with great clarity and insight. Bock’s characters are well-developed, and readers who enjoy finely written fiction are those most likely to enjoy reading this novel. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Alice and Oliver from amazon.com.