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4.4 AVERAGE
4.4 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
A remarkable collection of essays that are unflinching in their approach to the writer's trauma and confusion about the events depicted, ranging from her childhood to recent past. The role of memory in reshaping these, by turn uncovering or obfuscating the 'true' nature of what occurred, is a constant thread, as are Polley's own conflicted feelings about their impact.
A high-risk pregnancy draws out painful memories of the loss of her own mother at a young age; her reasoning behind why she initially did not to go public about a sexual assault gains even greater resonance in the wake of the Heard-Depp trial; and the wholly unnatural nature of fame - specifically child stardom - is explored most strikingly in her early experiences on the chaotic set of Terry Gilliam's 'The Adventures of Baron Munchausen'.
Wrinkles consistently complicate the picture, drawing out unanswerable questions around culpability, the power of art and the reliability of memory. Contrary to modern 'self-care' strategies, the collection makes a case for the cathartic potential of leaning into such challenging concepts to greater understand the self, as explored in the closing essay detailing a concussion that gives the book its title, which offers the closest thing to a happy ending, in that it led to Polley writing this arresting collection.
A high-risk pregnancy draws out painful memories of the loss of her own mother at a young age; her reasoning behind why she initially did not to go public about a sexual assault gains even greater resonance in the wake of the Heard-Depp trial; and the wholly unnatural nature of fame - specifically child stardom - is explored most strikingly in her early experiences on the chaotic set of Terry Gilliam's 'The Adventures of Baron Munchausen'.
Wrinkles consistently complicate the picture, drawing out unanswerable questions around culpability, the power of art and the reliability of memory. Contrary to modern 'self-care' strategies, the collection makes a case for the cathartic potential of leaning into such challenging concepts to greater understand the self, as explored in the closing essay detailing a concussion that gives the book its title, which offers the closest thing to a happy ending, in that it led to Polley writing this arresting collection.
reflective
medium-paced
I've always enjoyed Sarah Polley's work as an actor and director and she does an excellent job narrating her own audiobook. Like her acclaimed film Stories We Tell, these essays frequently examine the nature of memory and the narratives we tell ourselves about ourselves. I found her ruminations on her child acting experiences, as well as the moving story of her high-risk pregnancy and daughter's stay in the NICU, particularly compelling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault
An intriguing collection of essays about the life and career of a filmmaker and writer who I've come to admire. Polley's writing is beautifully polished and poised while covering her reflections on a variety of topics. I was most drawn to the chapters devoted to showbiz, but was surprised at how much of the book includes material from her early years as well as her personal life, including multiple harrowing medical issues. This book helped me understand Polley more as a creative individual, and it's honestly pretty surprising that she stuck with acting for so long before transitioning to working behind the camera.
Love the 'essay collection as memoir' form when it's done right, and this is so good. Don't get a full chronology of Polley's life but a sense of what makes her who she is - a very smart, deeply thoughtful writer and filmmaker, who's gone through a lot of scary shit!
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment
TL;DR version: Read it. It's incredible.
In a bit more detail, Sarah Polley has written an amazing memoir, focusing on a number of challenging, traumatic experiences in her life. Despite being a Canadian icon (and me being Canadian), I did not know most of the things she's written about herself. I knew she acted both as a child and adult, directed, and wrote. I knew she had received many accolades in her professional life. I did not know the toll that acting took on her, that she had a disturbing encounter with Jian Ghomeshi, or that she suffered life-changing post-concussion symptoms. She she writes about these and other experiences with intelligence and self-reflection.
Given the number of difficult life events shared, this book could easily have been a pity party. It's not. Emphatically not. Ms. Polley has created a well-written, engaging memoir of a woman of intelligence and resilience. Beyond whatever catharsis she may have attained in its writing, this book should definitely add to her list of accolades.
In a bit more detail, Sarah Polley has written an amazing memoir, focusing on a number of challenging, traumatic experiences in her life. Despite being a Canadian icon (and me being Canadian), I did not know most of the things she's written about herself. I knew she acted both as a child and adult, directed, and wrote. I knew she had received many accolades in her professional life. I did not know the toll that acting took on her, that she had a disturbing encounter with Jian Ghomeshi, or that she suffered life-changing post-concussion symptoms. She she writes about these and other experiences with intelligence and self-reflection.
Given the number of difficult life events shared, this book could easily have been a pity party. It's not. Emphatically not. Ms. Polley has created a well-written, engaging memoir of a woman of intelligence and resilience. Beyond whatever catharsis she may have attained in its writing, this book should definitely add to her list of accolades.
A stunning book. Sarah Polley writes so beautiful, it’s like someone just softly and clearly telling you their story, but also aware of how time and circumstance can blur those stories for you.
It’s easy to just get lost in chapter after chapter, the storytelling is top shelf gorgeous.
Also! If you suffer from any kind of chronic pain or concurrent conditions, you’ll enjoy her perspectives on her own pain journey and her setbacks and victories.
I started reading this at a time of deep anxiety, fatigue, chronic pain and health flare ups and her writing was just so comforting and made me feel a little less isolated in my current state.
It’s easy to just get lost in chapter after chapter, the storytelling is top shelf gorgeous.
Also! If you suffer from any kind of chronic pain or concurrent conditions, you’ll enjoy her perspectives on her own pain journey and her setbacks and victories.
I started reading this at a time of deep anxiety, fatigue, chronic pain and health flare ups and her writing was just so comforting and made me feel a little less isolated in my current state.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced