prettydeadlady's review
3.0
With the fall gone and past, and winter quickly approaching I’ve been settling in and reading quite a few books that have been on my list the entire summer. One that caught my eye a was Don’t Kill the Birthday Girl : Tales from an Allergic Life by Sandra Beasley. The first thing that caught my eye was in the intro where the author mentioned that her family called foods that she could eat, Sandra-friendly. I could relate as my family calls them Becky-friendly foods.
The thought of reading a book from a perspective of someone that has as many intolerances and allergies as I did was appealing, and I did enjoy most of the book. The one part that stood out to me as insensitive (pun!) was when she talked about people with intolerances, who can technically eat food, but it will still make them sick.
As someone with intolerances, I do occasionally indulge in something I shouldn’t — a bit of sugar here, a bit of dairy there, but I understand how detrimental this can be for me and I live with the gut-wrangling consequences of my actions. I felt that the author didn’t give us who didn’t have life-threatening allergies enough credit for what we do understand and do.
That being said, if you want to understand what life is like with multiple allergies/intolerances like mine (gluten, dairy, soy, sugar, coffee, yeast, mushrooms, celery, asparagus, cranberries, halibut and cod) this is the book for you to read.
The thought of reading a book from a perspective of someone that has as many intolerances and allergies as I did was appealing, and I did enjoy most of the book. The one part that stood out to me as insensitive (pun!) was when she talked about people with intolerances, who can technically eat food, but it will still make them sick.
As someone with intolerances, I do occasionally indulge in something I shouldn’t — a bit of sugar here, a bit of dairy there, but I understand how detrimental this can be for me and I live with the gut-wrangling consequences of my actions. I felt that the author didn’t give us who didn’t have life-threatening allergies enough credit for what we do understand and do.
That being said, if you want to understand what life is like with multiple allergies/intolerances like mine (gluten, dairy, soy, sugar, coffee, yeast, mushrooms, celery, asparagus, cranberries, halibut and cod) this is the book for you to read.
shanviolinlove's review
4.0
Sandra Beasley is a delightful human, and her work just showcases this.
Her non-fiction piece I would (and have) recommend. She makes the world of allergies accessible to those within ("We can relate!") and without ("I've never considered that ..."), but keep in mind, this is the work of a scholar. Her chapters are dense with methodical research, which some Goodreads critics appear to have found off-putting. Indeed, while narratives from her life are prevalent throughout this piece, it is more non-fiction than memoir, with lots of interesting histories and factual data about allergies research, different diets, and so forth.
One aspect I found interesting is that Beasley hails from what appears to be a more privileged background (frequent business vacas to Hawaii, back-to-school shopping trips at The Limited). The extensive hurdles over which her family navigates to meet her dietary needs, while cumbersome and in many cases life-threatening, are also feasibly accommodated monetarily (accessing "Sandra-friendly" restaurants, fleshing out the money for expensive substitute ingredients). Of the many aspects of an allergic life that this book covers, the hardships to the wallet are not as heavily addressed, which makes me as the reader question if that was an issue for Beasley at all. It would certainly be an issue for a family with a fixed income to consider, among others, the aspect of how to afford products that eschew the top eight most common allergens--and would be interesting to account, as we're currently seeing in mainstream news with the outcry over EpiPen prices, if being allergen-free would be regarded by some as an inaccessible financial privilege, not a basic right.
Her non-fiction piece I would (and have) recommend. She makes the world of allergies accessible to those within ("We can relate!") and without ("I've never considered that ..."), but keep in mind, this is the work of a scholar. Her chapters are dense with methodical research, which some Goodreads critics appear to have found off-putting. Indeed, while narratives from her life are prevalent throughout this piece, it is more non-fiction than memoir, with lots of interesting histories and factual data about allergies research, different diets, and so forth.
One aspect I found interesting is that Beasley hails from what appears to be a more privileged background (frequent business vacas to Hawaii, back-to-school shopping trips at The Limited). The extensive hurdles over which her family navigates to meet her dietary needs, while cumbersome and in many cases life-threatening, are also feasibly accommodated monetarily (accessing "Sandra-friendly" restaurants, fleshing out the money for expensive substitute ingredients). Of the many aspects of an allergic life that this book covers, the hardships to the wallet are not as heavily addressed, which makes me as the reader question if that was an issue for Beasley at all. It would certainly be an issue for a family with a fixed income to consider, among others, the aspect of how to afford products that eschew the top eight most common allergens--and would be interesting to account, as we're currently seeing in mainstream news with the outcry over EpiPen prices, if being allergen-free would be regarded by some as an inaccessible financial privilege, not a basic right.
foggy_rosamund's review
3.0
A clearly written, thoroughly researched account of the history of allergies in the US. Beasley suffered from severe allergies from birth, reacting struggle to such staples as milk, dairy, and beef, and ending up experiencing anaphylaxis many times. It's a harrowing but humorous account of struggling to find food and have a normal life when even a tiny amount of dairy can make you very very ill. I also appreciate that Beasley clearly spent a lot of time researching this subject, and her account is very informative. However, I wanted her to go into a bit more depth philosophically and emotionally: What is it like for people who are so aware how close they are to death all the time? What impact does it have on your understanding of the world? She didn't really touch on these subjects, which for me meant the memoir lacked some depth.
samiism's review
4.0
Well, that sure didn't take long to finish. Maybe because I had an actual hardcover instead of an ebook? Either way, it was a compelling read.
I don't have allergies at all. There was probably a time when my skin got itchy when I wore fake jewelry, but I'm not sure that was even a thing. I don't know the struggle of taking Benadryl, fumbling for an inhaler, or making sure you have your Epipen with you wherever you go. I dated a guy who has a shellfish allergy, and it sucked because it meant I couldn't have shrimp, lobster, crab, or oysters around him. Thankfully, he never got an allergy attack, which was great because he also never got around to picking up his Epipen when he had health coverage. One day when he accidentally grubbed on fried rice I cooked with oyster sauce, I jammed an antihistamine pill down his throat immediately. That was just because of shellfish allergy.
This girl, Sandra, has like 20 things she's allergic to. Besides the big 8, she can't have melons, mangoes, and cucumbers. Mangoes!!!! And no pickles! My initial reaction was "WHAAAT THAAA FUUUCK YOU POOR THING!"
Her family had made it a point to only have Sandra-friendly food around her. Traveling was a nightmare, especially when there isn't an emergency room nearby or they can't lug around their own cookware. Spontaneity with a loved one is next to impossible. No surprise kisses--who knows what the boyfriend ate?
But Sandra has made it work, armed with a purse full of sheets of Benadryl and epinephrine injectors. She's soldiered on. It's remarkable.
The one thing I didn't expect from this book was...the whole thing. I had expected a funny and quirky memoir about a girl ridden with allergies. But it's really taken on a more serious tone. Sandra gives us scientific facts with anecdotes about how it relates to some event in her life. But it's not boring, I promise. I was actually hooked. Took me maybe less than 3 hours to read altogether, which is a sign of a good book.
So the next time you whine about the menu choices in a fusion restaurant that your friends drag you to, better be thankful that you can actually eat what's offered. Others don't have that luxury.
I don't have allergies at all. There was probably a time when my skin got itchy when I wore fake jewelry, but I'm not sure that was even a thing. I don't know the struggle of taking Benadryl, fumbling for an inhaler, or making sure you have your Epipen with you wherever you go. I dated a guy who has a shellfish allergy, and it sucked because it meant I couldn't have shrimp, lobster, crab, or oysters around him. Thankfully, he never got an allergy attack, which was great because he also never got around to picking up his Epipen when he had health coverage. One day when he accidentally grubbed on fried rice I cooked with oyster sauce, I jammed an antihistamine pill down his throat immediately. That was just because of shellfish allergy.
This girl, Sandra, has like 20 things she's allergic to. Besides the big 8, she can't have melons, mangoes, and cucumbers. Mangoes!!!! And no pickles! My initial reaction was "WHAAAT THAAA FUUUCK YOU POOR THING!"
Her family had made it a point to only have Sandra-friendly food around her. Traveling was a nightmare, especially when there isn't an emergency room nearby or they can't lug around their own cookware. Spontaneity with a loved one is next to impossible. No surprise kisses--who knows what the boyfriend ate?
But Sandra has made it work, armed with a purse full of sheets of Benadryl and epinephrine injectors. She's soldiered on. It's remarkable.
The one thing I didn't expect from this book was...the whole thing. I had expected a funny and quirky memoir about a girl ridden with allergies. But it's really taken on a more serious tone. Sandra gives us scientific facts with anecdotes about how it relates to some event in her life. But it's not boring, I promise. I was actually hooked. Took me maybe less than 3 hours to read altogether, which is a sign of a good book.
So the next time you whine about the menu choices in a fusion restaurant that your friends drag you to, better be thankful that you can actually eat what's offered. Others don't have that luxury.
adelamercedes's review
3.0
I read this book because I have a toddler who is allergic to milk, beef, soy, and severely allergic to peanuts and tree nuts. I wanted to hear her view point as an adult living with life-threatening allergies. What bothered me was her stressing how others should not go out of their way to accommodate those with food allergies. Schools should not become nut free and so on. However, she goes on to write that she can't clean up cake or wash her boyfriends coffee cup... Ever heard of gloves? Nor does she carry an epi-pen. In some ways this book gave me a little insight into the obstacles my son will face when he's older. But the annoyances I mentioned before overshadowed many of the good parts.
ericadeb's review against another edition
3.0
I am conflicted about this book. The first 90 pages were too much science and not enough memoir. I was almost bored enough to put it down. But then it got better, kind of. She talked more about her life, which was great, but there were a lot of anecdotal stories that were never concluded. What happened when she had the reaction in the quiet car on the train? We never find out. I wish the memoir pieces had been more fleshed out.
andreajay's review against another edition
3.0
Very informative. A lot of science included, along with her life experiences.
liralen's review against another edition
3.0
Definitely intriguing. My own allergies are limited to boring things like dust and pollen, so I read this more out of curiosity than anything, but the author can definitely tell a good story.
I was left with two questions, though: first, how often? She talks at some length about how careful she has to be, and how a bit of milk could send her to hospital, but - then what? I couldn't tell whether she has allergic reactions daily, or once a week, or once every two months. I realise that this is a small thing to get stuck on, but for a reader who loves to know context, it's important.
And then, how bad? As I said, I'm pretty non-allergic, so I don't know what it means to end up in hospital with an allergic reaction. The author talks about life-threatening reactions, but doesn't really show them. (I do not wish that the author had had more intense reactions for the sake of the narrative, thankyouverymuch, just that she had given me a better idea of what her reactions meant.) I did sometimes get the sense that she didn't think of people with minor allergies as being actually allergic, although I suppose when you're dealing with immediate and violent reactions, that's understandable.
For the most part, it's a look at what it means, socially, to have very serious food allergies: being left out, being exceptionally careful (or not being exceptionally careful and then dealing with the consequences). A good read, if sometimes fuzzy on the details.
I was left with two questions, though: first, how often? She talks at some length about how careful she has to be, and how a bit of milk could send her to hospital, but - then what? I couldn't tell whether she has allergic reactions daily, or once a week, or once every two months. I realise that this is a small thing to get stuck on, but for a reader who loves to know context, it's important.
And then, how bad? As I said, I'm pretty non-allergic, so I don't know what it means to end up in hospital with an allergic reaction. The author talks about life-threatening reactions, but doesn't really show them. (I do not wish that the author had had more intense reactions for the sake of the narrative, thankyouverymuch, just that she had given me a better idea of what her reactions meant.) I did sometimes get the sense that she didn't think of people with minor allergies as being actually allergic, although I suppose when you're dealing with immediate and violent reactions, that's understandable.
For the most part, it's a look at what it means, socially, to have very serious food allergies: being left out, being exceptionally careful (or not being exceptionally careful and then dealing with the consequences). A good read, if sometimes fuzzy on the details.
blbstorey's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to read this book because I also have life-threatening food allergies, and I wanted to see if the author had any insights or coping strategies that might help me. I was disappointed in the book, though. It was mainly disjointed accounts of various incidents in her life where her allergies almost killed her, which were really very similar in the particulars. They just happened in different places. She also talks about research and doctor's attitudes toward allergies, and other people's experiences of trying to keep their children safe. All in all, I didn't see a real point to the book, it was mostly the author "sharing", without any real purpose. I don't want to say it was a complete waste of time, but it very nearly was.
mick's review against another edition
5.0
This had a lot more scientific info than I expected (so, not 100% memoir), but it was still very enjoyable and informative. Really recommend it for anyone who has allergies, might have allergies, or knows someone with allergies.