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4.4 AVERAGE
4.4 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
informative
slow-paced
Haven’t been this annoyed by a memoir / book of essays as this one in a long time. I don’t understand the high rating it has. This is a lot of navel-gazing with a lot of blame placed on others with little personal responsibility taken for her own actions or decisions. She also doesn’t acknowledge her own privilege of the opportunities that she was afforded from Avonlea and instead craps on her most famous role.
Highly recommend listening to this as the author reads it herself. Great hearing her intonations etc. Absolutely fascinating hearing Sarah tell her story! Thoroughly engaging narrative. Love it.
I read this series of essays after it was recommended by a friend, who had informed me that it covers Polley's recovery from a concussion. I had just had my fifth concussion, so was eager to read someone else's portrayal of it.
There were some really great bits of insight across these essays - particularly insight into why someone might have a difficult time navigating whether or not to come forward in the Jian Ghomeshi trial, but overall felt a bit privileged in certain parts. I wanted to love it, but there were moments of disconnect about how much time and money could afford certain types of care around bodily suffering that just left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. As an aside - I went to the same high-risk pregnancy clinic as she did, and the staff there are just as wonderful as she described.
There were some really great bits of insight across these essays - particularly insight into why someone might have a difficult time navigating whether or not to come forward in the Jian Ghomeshi trial, but overall felt a bit privileged in certain parts. I wanted to love it, but there were moments of disconnect about how much time and money could afford certain types of care around bodily suffering that just left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. As an aside - I went to the same high-risk pregnancy clinic as she did, and the staff there are just as wonderful as she described.
I went into this looking for more of a straight memoir and this is instead a collection of essays that explore some of the many traumas that have happened to Polley in her lifetime. This isn't a "woe is me," style book, but instead it's a showcase of "If i can overcome this, so can you."
There were many, many times in this short book that I was moved to tears my Polley and her deep wells of strength.
This was a really lovely collection and i truly hope we get more stories about her life. I know this is just the tip of the iceberg and i really hope we get to learn more about her many journeys.
Also, make sure you watch the documentary about her family, THE STORIES WE TELL. It's wonderful doc with some fantastic twists and turns that add even more layers to her story.
There were many, many times in this short book that I was moved to tears my Polley and her deep wells of strength.
This was a really lovely collection and i truly hope we get more stories about her life. I know this is just the tip of the iceberg and i really hope we get to learn more about her many journeys.
Also, make sure you watch the documentary about her family, THE STORIES WE TELL. It's wonderful doc with some fantastic twists and turns that add even more layers to her story.
Another interesting "celebrity memoir" that really gets at how hard it is on a kid to be famous. It's a bunch of essays about a lot of the pain this Canadian actress/director faced in her life.
Rigorous and courageous are the two words that immediately spring to mind upon finishing this memoir. I listened as Sarah Polley read her words to me—on my work commute and before falling asleep at night—and her beautiful voice, along with the curiosity and tenderness with which she approaches so many difficult memories and experiences, worked on my subconscious and dream life in deep and thought-provoking ways. The last chapter, at this particular moment in my own life and recoveries, spoke volumes. Run Towards the Danger will stay with me for a long time.
It’s always hard to rate a memoir. It’s one person’s life and they’re sharing it with the rest of the world.
I’ve seen a fair amount of Polley’s work and her documentary about her mother so I went into this book knowing a little of her background. I wasn’t planning on reading this book but it won the Toronto Book Award, so I gave it a go. I am trying to go through the finalists as they form to my library.
This book is interesting and Polley has had an incredibly adventurous life, even when she didn’t want to. She also acknowledges the privileges she had.
But I found it impossible to relate to anything in this book. It’s almost like reading a fantasy and I bizarrely struggled to believe everything. It was a very disconcerting feeling.
I guess this book wasn’t for me. Had it been more about Polley’s experiences as a writer and director, I would have been interested but she barely touches on those aspects of her career. Instead she focuses on her acting career, her family, children, and her injury, which I’m sure will be engaging for other audiences, but not me.
I’ve seen a fair amount of Polley’s work and her documentary about her mother so I went into this book knowing a little of her background. I wasn’t planning on reading this book but it won the Toronto Book Award, so I gave it a go. I am trying to go through the finalists as they form to my library.
This book is interesting and Polley has had an incredibly adventurous life, even when she didn’t want to. She also acknowledges the privileges she had.
But I found it impossible to relate to anything in this book. It’s almost like reading a fantasy and I bizarrely struggled to believe everything. It was a very disconcerting feeling.
I guess this book wasn’t for me. Had it been more about Polley’s experiences as a writer and director, I would have been interested but she barely touches on those aspects of her career. Instead she focuses on her acting career, her family, children, and her injury, which I’m sure will be engaging for other audiences, but not me.
I enjoyed this more than I expected. She's writing abut the hard things - her concussion, having children, (and som mortal danger associated with) child acting and the dangers... easy quick, enjoyable read. Great vacation fare.