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ameliasbooks's review against another edition
fast-paced
2.75
The topic was interesting and I usually like a fragmented style once in a while, but this was a bit too jumpy and all over the place. Also Manguso describes that the disease made her a more awful person, which is totally relatable, because there's no time for nonsense, if you are trying to survive or struggling to accept your situation.
So I can't judge if the disease was responsible for that, but I found her attitude towards other people quite judgemental and some of her descriptions left me feeling really uncomfortable. For example, the way she describes hitting a van full of kids, left me a bit speechless. I would have expected her to be more reflective on that situation, not while she was in that situation, because of the state she was in, but in hindsight.
So I can't judge if the disease was responsible for that, but I found her attitude towards other people quite judgemental and some of her descriptions left me feeling really uncomfortable. For example, the way she describes hitting a van full of kids, left me a bit speechless. I would have expected her to be more reflective on that situation, not while she was in that situation, because of the state she was in, but in hindsight.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Blood, Suicide attempt, Chronic illness, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Body shaming, Sexual content, Car accident, Forced institutionalization, Drug use, and Fatphobia
Minor: Eating disorder, Cancer, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Dementia
sandysawmill's review against another edition
4.0
A memoir about sudden tragic illness that becomes chronic, the emotional turmoil of being a worse person after trauma and its overcoming. Human and raw, I especially found her first person descriptions useful to consider as a nurse, when it’s often easy to forget.
afgerstenberger's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
brenessaroach's review against another edition
4.0
This book was so beautifully written about Sarah and her life battling with her disease through her 20s. She is so strong and the way she writes is beautiful because she writes it in a way that feels like you’re almost reading poems. This book talks a lot about hospitalization and the treatments she went through and because of her descriptions it’s very easy to visualize the pain and everything she went through. That being said, I would look up trigger warnings for this book just incase !
pattydsf's review against another edition
4.0
“My existence shrank from an arrow of light pointing into the future forever to a speck of light that was the present moment. I got better at living in that point of light, making the world into that point. I paid close attention to it. I loved it very much.”
I don’t know what brought this book to my attention. I do know that I was able to get a copy on https://www.paperbackswap.com/ and so I used some credits to purchase it. However, I do wish I could remember how I first heard of Manguso.
This is, on the surface, a quick read. It is 184 pages with lots of blank space. However, the subject matter, grave illness, does not lend itself to speed. I had to pace myself as I read. I wanted to know more and to know less. Illness and possible death come to everyone, but it was tough to experience someone else’s illness. Life was very hard for Manguso and that was difficult for this reader. I knew she had to have gotten better for she had written this book. It must be clear by now, that I was conflicted by this story.
I am glad I read it. I think I need to revisit it in a different place and time. I was reading it as a friend was dealing with debilitating back pain. Watching my friend and reading this book was probably not the best combination. Some of Manguso’s words were hard for me to absorb.
I don’t believe that this is a tale for everyone. Much will depend on where you are in life. However, if you want to read about compassion and care as well as dealing with tough issues, you might want to consider this book.
I don’t know what brought this book to my attention. I do know that I was able to get a copy on https://www.paperbackswap.com/ and so I used some credits to purchase it. However, I do wish I could remember how I first heard of Manguso.
This is, on the surface, a quick read. It is 184 pages with lots of blank space. However, the subject matter, grave illness, does not lend itself to speed. I had to pace myself as I read. I wanted to know more and to know less. Illness and possible death come to everyone, but it was tough to experience someone else’s illness. Life was very hard for Manguso and that was difficult for this reader. I knew she had to have gotten better for she had written this book. It must be clear by now, that I was conflicted by this story.
I am glad I read it. I think I need to revisit it in a different place and time. I was reading it as a friend was dealing with debilitating back pain. Watching my friend and reading this book was probably not the best combination. Some of Manguso’s words were hard for me to absorb.
I don’t believe that this is a tale for everyone. Much will depend on where you are in life. However, if you want to read about compassion and care as well as dealing with tough issues, you might want to consider this book.
mad4smut's review against another edition
2.0
It was a great story. Learning of her trials she faced with her sickness. Something about it was very difficult for me to stay engaged and I think it effected me more than I realized. Not a bad book by any means but I wouldn't read again.
leighwitz's review against another edition
5.0
This was my first of Sarah Manguso and I’m completely enamored. I can’t understand how such sparse and matter-of-fact prose can read so beautifully. This story of illness wasn’t a story of triumph or of grief; it was simply a record of what happened to her, which is what made it so captivating. Several lines made me pause, set the book down, and take a deep breath of knowing, but none of them were written with an air of specialty or exaggerated emotion. Definitely going to read more Sarah Manguso.
lilymargo's review against another edition
5.0
So I read this in, what, 2 days? Despite that I had to put this book down a lot in between reading. Especially at the start where my queasiness got the better of me (spoiler- many a mentioning of medical trauma and blood).
I love Sarah Mongusso’s writing. This is the third book of hers I’ve read, and I’m glad I read this one now, rather than first. Provides a lot of context to her writing and the personality that shines through. It is deadpan and witty and often achingly detached from an all together incredible overcoming of the two types of decay: suicidal depression and disease (which in this case I learn, may be part of the same root-bound tree).
I love Sarah Mongusso’s writing. This is the third book of hers I’ve read, and I’m glad I read this one now, rather than first. Provides a lot of context to her writing and the personality that shines through. It is deadpan and witty and often achingly detached from an all together incredible overcoming of the two types of decay: suicidal depression and disease (which in this case I learn, may be part of the same root-bound tree).