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suzreadsalot's review against another edition
very gendered language threw me off. felt very icky only made it a couple chapters
laura_corsi's review against another edition
4.0
I’m so glad this book is out in the world and we need more and more like it. A beautiful meditation on healing and the feminine divine, but don’t worry, not in a woo-woo way. Also, of course, great advice for all of us with disabling chronic illnesses that are all in our head. Turns out science is beginning to come around to our side a little at a time. Hope springs eternal, am I right?
dhrachovec's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
3.25
I’m so frustrated on behalf of the author, and this story is representative of the frustrations women face to get diagnoses. Parts of it feels like running in a circle, not going anywhere, and I think the vulnerable narrative quality is effective if slow.
It’s frustrating however to have someone continue to ask “why weren’t these people having autoimmune disease 100 years ago or in developing countries” … because they died. The mortality rate for women without antibiotics has always been high and people regularly used to die in their early 30s from random sepsis. It feels a little short sighted and like someone’s personal doom spiral trying to make sense of her illness. (Which again, I do get.)
It’s frustrating however to have someone continue to ask “why weren’t these people having autoimmune disease 100 years ago or in developing countries” … because they died. The mortality rate for women without antibiotics has always been high and people regularly used to die in their early 30s from random sepsis. It feels a little short sighted and like someone’s personal doom spiral trying to make sense of her illness. (Which again, I do get.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Eating disorder, and Suicidal thoughts
poutinetandoori's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Must read!
amsearer's review against another edition
5.0
This book infuriated me on behalf of the author. It echoed so many of the things I've heard from clinicians who didn't know what they didn't know and couldn't fathom that there is, in fact, anything they lack in terms of their knowledge. The problem must clearly lie with the patient. No matter what. It also validated so many of the feelings I've had bouncing from jerkface doctor to ignorant doctor, and confirmed that there is no one stop shopping when it comes to chronic illness. We're all different. But we're all worthy of care and good health.
duck56's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
Beautiful. Incisive. Potentially life-changing for anyone with symptoms they do not fully understand or for anyone who has been told it's all in their head.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Mental illness
angeleone's review against another edition
Very relatable to my story but nothing particularly struck me. I appreciated the narration and story telling but it was just too long and slow for me.
mllqnn's review against another edition
5.0
Sometimes you come across a book at just the right time, and it feels life-changing. I really loved this book. This is probably the best book about chronic illness I have ever read, and I have read a lot. I appreciated that Ramey wasn't trying to sell me anything. She simply explains what she has researched, what she knows to be true, and how it adds up to the big picture in her mind. While there were definitely parts that didn't speak to me, there were so many more parts that did. I think the best part is that Ramey really acknowledges the reader, and proposes new ways of thinking about chronic illness, without pushing it down your throat like many other books try to do. Now I want every woman (and most of the men) in my life to read this book!