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tracithomas's review
3.0
I liked much of this memoir, a meditation style book told on fragments and reflections. Grue shares much about stigmas and feelings and his body being turned into a “case” through clinical language. It feels distant at times which I didn’t love.
bucketoffish's review
2.0
I liked that this book didn't really follow the standard linear structure of a memoir, but rather was more like a set of philosophical essays touching on aspects of living with muscular atrophy. Grue touches on topics such as the experience of being set apart as a kid, the clinical gaze, what it's like to have relationships with a disability, etc. It's definitely an interesting look into a different type of life.
mailenefh's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
alysereadsbooks's review
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Listened to the audiobook version of this and thoroughly enjoyed! It was dense and academic, so it deserves a reread. Great analysis of what it means to be disabled in the world and how it influences time
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Chronic illness
fuguballoon's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.0
I struggled to get through this book. Although I truly appreciated some passages, the lack of chapter breaks made it hard to find natural stopping points, or to have a sense of the overall pace. (I read the ebook, maybe the print version has breaks.) As a disabled person, I liked the way the author described his life in the present as generally happy and fulfilling. It's definitely not the usual depiction of disabled people as either tragic or inspirational, which was meaningful to me. However, I agree with other reviews that said a lot of the reason why his life is the way it is its because of privilege (racial, economic, etc) that not everyone has. I think they could have been acknowledged better, or at all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism