Roger, I enjoy your blogging and of course your reviews. I especially appreciate your candor in detailing the effects that your illness (and cures) have had on your life. I wonder if you've read this article by Christopher Hitchens?

http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2011/06/christopher-hitchens-unspoken-truths-201106

I found it remarkable and as compelling as your discussions regarding how you've coped with "losing your voice", or more specifically, the ability to speak.

I've long felt that the ability to speak well leads to the ability to write well. Have you noticed any difference in your writing since you've lost the ability to speak? Has it made your writing better? How do you feel the ability to speak affects the articulation of the written word?

I'm curious I suppose more than anything else. I often find that I write more carefully than I speak. In my job, I write a lot of email/business correspondence and I take greater care with email than I do with conversation. I wonder how much I would improve/change my writing or my conversation if I would apply the freedom of speech to my writing and the discipline of writing to my speech.

Anyway, just some random thoughts. Thanks so much for what you write, it is just like a conversation to your readers, and somehow very personal.