No Laughing Matter

A very sweet story about friendship. It was truly a delight to read. The story beautifully depicted the bond between two friends. Their loyalty, care, and understanding for each other were truly heartwarming. It made me realize the importance of having true friends in our lives. The way they supported each other through thick and thin was inspiring. I could easily put myself in their shoes and feel their emotions. The story had a simple yet powerful message that friendship is a precious gift that should be cherished. I found myself smiling throughout the reading and was left with a warm feeling in my heart. I would highly recommend this story to anyone who loves a good tale about friendship. It is sure to touch your heart and make you appreciate the special people in your life.

I too had Guillain-Barré Syndrome when I was much younger. It was a truly challenging experience. Reading this book has been a great source of comfort for me. It made me feel a little less alone in my struggle. It's really interesting to read someone else's perspective on how this syndrome affected them. Because, let's face it, having Guillain-Barré Syndrome really SUCKED BISCUITS. It took a toll on my physical and mental well-being. But through it all, I managed to persevere. And reading this book has given me a newfound sense of hope and inspiration. I'm glad that there are others out there who understand what it's like to go through this. It makes me feel like I'm not alone in this fight.

Joesph Heller, the renowned author of Catch-22, found himself hospitalized for months due to a rare autoimmune condition known as Guillian-Barre Syndrome. In this affliction, the victim can become paralyzed for days, weeks, or even longer. The story of his illness and recovery is co-written with his buddy, Speed Vogel, with each chapter alternating points of view. I was initially drawn to this book as I had also suffered from Guillain-Barre five years ago and felt a sense of unfinished business. However, I soon discovered that other people's illness can be rather boring and even disgusting. Heller seems to kvetch about his sputum on almost every page, which is quite off-putting. He also has the audacity to congratulate himself on his so-called fabulous physique, despite being an old geezer. Additionally, he denigrates women at every opportunity and name drops to an embarrassing degree, mentioning the likes of Mel (Brooks), Marlon (Brando), and Dustin (Hoffman).

The only somewhat interesting aspect of the book is the sense of being taken on a tour of old Hollywood by a grumpy mensch. However, the friend who co-writes, Speed Vogel, reminds me of Kato Kaelin. He gives us every tedious detail of his life, neuroses, and self-aggrandizing observations. Basically, he's a poor kid who sponges off rich movie stars and basks in their reflected glow. Heller, on the other hand, does absolutely nothing in terms of introspection or reflection. Instead, we get a blow-by-blow account of his gallant efforts to spew forth phlegm and his admirable ability to entertain movie stars under duress. He eventually finishes recuperating in the south of France. I must confess that I skipped about 150 insufferable pages, going from page 166 straight to the end. It makes one wonder how such a drip could have written the masterpiece that is Catch-22.