Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.4 AVERAGE
4.4 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
While Sarah Polley has such a unique life experience, I found her subject matter incredibly relatable. A lot of her essays dealt, either directly or indirectly, with memory and how it can be affected by physical impacts, psychological trauma, or simply the stories we tell ourselves over and over. I found it deeply thought-provoking and the deeper her journey went, the more thorough my self-examinations became.
I also found her description of having a c-section incomparably close to my own experience. Since having one, I’ve realized that there is so little about that type of surgery in modern literature or movies to the point where I really had no idea what to expect (nor how dramatic and intense it would be). I’m so thankful for her candidness with such a personal experience.
I also found her description of having a c-section incomparably close to my own experience. Since having one, I’ve realized that there is so little about that type of surgery in modern literature or movies to the point where I really had no idea what to expect (nor how dramatic and intense it would be). I’m so thankful for her candidness with such a personal experience.
challenging
dark
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
I knew Sarah Polley only from a B level horror movie, but not by name. I did enjoy these essays but the last one (Run Towards the Danger) may have legitimately changed my life. I have a severe phobia that deeply affects me on a daily basis and that I know affects my child as well. I happened to read this essay when I was at a particularly difficult time with my phobia, and "Run Towards the Danger" has spoken to my rational brain in a way I needed.
A collection of essays by screenwriter, director, and Canada's darling Sarah Polley, Run Towards The Danger is equal measures insightful, intriguing, and heartbreaking. In early essays, Polley recounts her experiences as a child actor working at the Stratford Theatre Festival during a production of Through The Looking Glass, and then later on working at a film set in The Adventures of Baron Munchausen. Other essays discuss her experience of motherhood, grappling with the aftershocks of being a child actor, and the notorious Jian Ghomeshi case, in which she spares no detail.
I rarely read memoirs or autobiographies, but with Sarah Polley (an actual writer telling her own story, a Canadian who recently won an Oscar no less), I couldn't resist. This book raised fascinating conversation about why we as a society allow child actors to work, and at what cost to their well-beings and youth. The essay collection also made me consider how members of the entertainment industry can mean well while still inflicting harm onto others - the world isn't neatly divided into monsters and victims, and the worst part is when someone you love and admire is capable of abusive behaviour - and just because someone has a passion from a young age that does not mean they are ready for the life of adult work.
Thought-provoking, crisp, and evocative. I expected nothing less from this Canadian icon.
4 Sheeps
I rarely read memoirs or autobiographies, but with Sarah Polley (an actual writer telling her own story, a Canadian who recently won an Oscar no less), I couldn't resist. This book raised fascinating conversation about why we as a society allow child actors to work, and at what cost to their well-beings and youth. The essay collection also made me consider how members of the entertainment industry can mean well while still inflicting harm onto others - the world isn't neatly divided into monsters and victims, and the worst part is when someone you love and admire is capable of abusive behaviour - and just because someone has a passion from a young age that does not mean they are ready for the life of adult work.
Thought-provoking, crisp, and evocative. I expected nothing less from this Canadian icon.
4 Sheeps
emotional
hopeful
informative
fast-paced
Wow this was a random book a stumbled upon and may have just changed my life? After 8 concussions I can't believe I found this.
Aside from that - this book is wonderful. Interesting, some names dropped that I knew, pulled at your heartstrings multiple times. It's just wonderful.
Aside from that - this book is wonderful. Interesting, some names dropped that I knew, pulled at your heartstrings multiple times. It's just wonderful.
This book was at times disturbing , heart breaking and absolutely beautiful throughout.
I first remember Sarah from her child acting days, and the fact that she resembles my younger sister so much it's almost uncanny. I was a big fan of her acting (Go, The Sweet Hereafter) and when she made a turn to writing and directing I was sad I'd never see her act again.
I often wonder about people who start their lives doing one thing and end up doing another. Sometimes I wish I could, even though I already have - maybe I just want to reverse my decisions?
Anyway. A series of deeply felt and well-written essays that shine light upon what made her who she is. The essays concern her family, her upbringing, the reality of working as a child actor and her history of health issues - some truly harrowing stuff. I myself have had multiple concussions and reading about her treatment was fascinating and certainly something I could empathize with.
When we see one thing in life, on the screen especially, we think we know what the reality is but we often don't. The role memory plays in our life and how we twist it and manipulate it to be a reality that never was is touched upon.
Although I'm more of a fan of Sarah's acting than writing and directing, that's just because of me and my own likes and dislikes - she is clearly talented. As a person, I find her endlessly interesting and her writing deeply considered. Highly recommended.
I often wonder about people who start their lives doing one thing and end up doing another. Sometimes I wish I could, even though I already have - maybe I just want to reverse my decisions?
Anyway. A series of deeply felt and well-written essays that shine light upon what made her who she is. The essays concern her family, her upbringing, the reality of working as a child actor and her history of health issues - some truly harrowing stuff. I myself have had multiple concussions and reading about her treatment was fascinating and certainly something I could empathize with.
When we see one thing in life, on the screen especially, we think we know what the reality is but we often don't. The role memory plays in our life and how we twist it and manipulate it to be a reality that never was is touched upon.
Although I'm more of a fan of Sarah's acting than writing and directing, that's just because of me and my own likes and dislikes - she is clearly talented. As a person, I find her endlessly interesting and her writing deeply considered. Highly recommended.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced