Reviews

Breathless: An Asthma Journal by Louise DeSalvo

lfpemuse's review

5.0

Breathless: An Asthma Journal is one of those nonfiction books that bring health into perspective. Personally, I suffer from migraines and during the pandemic/lockdown, I had struggled to find reasons for my visual and physical disturbances. Frustrated with the lack of knowledge I had I decided to do what I always do and read books that can relate to any health-related issue. I have read many books by Louise DeSalvo but by far this one is my favorite. DeSalvo is honest, funny, expressive in ways that usually are difficult to achieve. I felt that the craziness she presented was fitting especially during the pandemic. There was a sense of comfort from her words. In her journey of chaos with her health and not receiving the proper treatments, answers, the uncertainty that came with all of it resonated with me as someone who also felt lost in my illnesses. DeSalvo is an informative poet, she combines beautiful and ugly imagery with science and history. She is having a conversation with the reader.

If you are searching for a book that shows the frustrations, complexities, and uncertainty of getting a proper diagnosis and treatment, this is a wonderful read. It allowed me as a reader to connect and feel like I have been seen. DeSalvo is excellent at doing this.

merrybelletrist's review

4.0

I liked that she decided to interlace her bout with asthma with other writers. That was very interesting for me to read. The articles near the very end of the book didn't really seem to fit the rest of the narrative, though. Or at least to me. I skimmed those for the most part.