mschlat's review
4.0
A wonderfully written collection of essays in which Brown discusses the impact her cerebral palsy has had on her life, with particular emphasis on memory and self-image. As one whose body has changed dramatically (both due to the disease and the treatments) over the years, Brown describes in great detail what she remembers and forgets, and I was moved by how her memories failed to capture the times in her life when she was more able-bodied.
The prose is fantastic, and the work as a whole is a compelling view at the experience of being disabled, fiercely independent, and (at times) horribly unsure. I found the essays sometimes repetitive, and there's not a strong connective tissue between them. (There's a piece on Liberty University that feels more like journalism with a strong personal bent than the more introspective pieces around it.) But I would highly recommend reading at least a few pieces.
The prose is fantastic, and the work as a whole is a compelling view at the experience of being disabled, fiercely independent, and (at times) horribly unsure. I found the essays sometimes repetitive, and there's not a strong connective tissue between them. (There's a piece on Liberty University that feels more like journalism with a strong personal bent than the more introspective pieces around it.) But I would highly recommend reading at least a few pieces.
minniepauline's review
5.0
This is a book to be savored. I read it slowly and still, I couldn’t absorb every poetic, painful, beautiful thing. McCully Brown bares herself in these pages, and in doing so, held up a mirror for me to see myself, if I dared. She is a thundering talent.
britreads's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
The personal essays in here touched on grief, loss, the complexity of faith, disability and so many other topics. Some essays really stood out to me such as 'The Virginia State Colony for Epileptics and Feebleminded', 'Fragments, Never Sent' and 'The Cost of Certainty'. I was deeply moved by the moments where she talked about her twin sister who died right after they were born. I think the ending of 'Fragments, Never Sent' was so moving.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism and Medical content
Minor: Child death and Religious bigotry
bkish's review
4.0
This is a difficult book to review and speak on. Too many traps and roads to go down with no cheese awaiting
This young woman was born into shocking difficulty. Her young life has been fraught with surgeries pain lack of mobility trauma. And this review of mine will refuse to go down road commiserating about the unfairness of a lkife lived with cerebral palsy from youngest age.
Regardless of the explicit circumstances of Molly‰ЫЄs life this woman Lives fully explores choices has at her foundation wonderful loving parents and siblings. She has known love with men sexual fulfillment friendsip success as a poet travel. And her body often works against her self.
This book is series of essays written by Molly about her life her issues her choices her thoughts her failures and successes.
What is most important i think is that none of her circumstances interfere with her Being...
Judy g
This young woman was born into shocking difficulty. Her young life has been fraught with surgeries pain lack of mobility trauma. And this review of mine will refuse to go down road commiserating about the unfairness of a lkife lived with cerebral palsy from youngest age.
Regardless of the explicit circumstances of Molly‰ЫЄs life this woman Lives fully explores choices has at her foundation wonderful loving parents and siblings. She has known love with men sexual fulfillment friendsip success as a poet travel. And her body often works against her self.
This book is series of essays written by Molly about her life her issues her choices her thoughts her failures and successes.
What is most important i think is that none of her circumstances interfere with her Being...
Judy g
what_g_reads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.25