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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
disclaimer: i was gifted this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. all words/views are my own.
This isn’t the usual type of book I would read. I’m not a non-fiction reader and I certainly don’t enjoy reading books about medical/health issues- it just has never been for me. However, this year I gave myself an aim of broadening my horizons and so I was thrilled when Nin reached out to offer me the chance to read her book.
It was heartbreaking.
To go from being a healthy, active, abled person one day to someone who couldn’t even lift their head from the bed for fear of being so violently ill and having a disability must be life changing. And yet, Nin took it all in her stride. Sure there are moments throughout the book where you know Nin would do anything to get her old life back, to return to the person she once knew so well but this book isn’t about that. This book is about accepting your fate and dealing with the grief that comes from losing something. We can all relate to grief; whether that be from losing a loved one, to a marriage breaking down to even missing out on getting a job promotion- grief comes in a variety of forms and as I am learning, every person deals with it in their own way. It takes a great deal of courage to be handed this path in life and continue onwards, instead of admitting defeat. Hearing how honest and raw Nin was about her feelings towards everything- including her family and self, was inspiring. It takes a lot for people to honest and I was glad to get a picture of who she was/is as a person throughout.
There were points in the book, where some of the language was lost on me and I did find myself losing focus. Over complicated words and long sentences are sometimes overwhelming and I found that this book had a lot of those. There were a lot of comparisons to feelings/sensations throughout, and whilst this can be helpful, it did start to tire after a while. This was also a hard read at points, particularly relating to the authors previous views on mental health and disability and whilst it isn’t something I have ever agreed with, I can see why it was a necessity to include. However that doesn’t mean it will be a pleasant read to most and so I would advise to take caution.
I am glad that I was able to go out of my comfort zone and read a book like this. Reading is subjective and I think if you can take something away from each persons story, then that can help you grow. Thank you Nin for reaching out, if you ever write another book, I’ll be sure to give it a read!
This isn’t the usual type of book I would read. I’m not a non-fiction reader and I certainly don’t enjoy reading books about medical/health issues- it just has never been for me. However, this year I gave myself an aim of broadening my horizons and so I was thrilled when Nin reached out to offer me the chance to read her book.
It was heartbreaking.
To go from being a healthy, active, abled person one day to someone who couldn’t even lift their head from the bed for fear of being so violently ill and having a disability must be life changing. And yet, Nin took it all in her stride. Sure there are moments throughout the book where you know Nin would do anything to get her old life back, to return to the person she once knew so well but this book isn’t about that. This book is about accepting your fate and dealing with the grief that comes from losing something. We can all relate to grief; whether that be from losing a loved one, to a marriage breaking down to even missing out on getting a job promotion- grief comes in a variety of forms and as I am learning, every person deals with it in their own way. It takes a great deal of courage to be handed this path in life and continue onwards, instead of admitting defeat. Hearing how honest and raw Nin was about her feelings towards everything- including her family and self, was inspiring. It takes a lot for people to honest and I was glad to get a picture of who she was/is as a person throughout.
There were points in the book, where some of the language was lost on me and I did find myself losing focus. Over complicated words and long sentences are sometimes overwhelming and I found that this book had a lot of those. There were a lot of comparisons to feelings/sensations throughout, and whilst this can be helpful, it did start to tire after a while. This was also a hard read at points, particularly relating to the authors previous views on mental health and disability and whilst it isn’t something I have ever agreed with, I can see why it was a necessity to include. However that doesn’t mean it will be a pleasant read to most and so I would advise to take caution.
I am glad that I was able to go out of my comfort zone and read a book like this. Reading is subjective and I think if you can take something away from each persons story, then that can help you grow. Thank you Nin for reaching out, if you ever write another book, I’ll be sure to give it a read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma
Moderate: Ableism, Suicide
Minor: Vomit, Pandemic/Epidemic
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Thank you to Nin for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this wonderful memoir!
First and foremost, Nin's writing does not read as debut author. It is polished and cohesive and full of emotion. Everything flowed well from chapter to chapter and paragraph to paragraph. There were times that the timeline did jump back and forth but it was done well and for purposeful reasons. I also felt that her use of allegories and fables that connected to her immediate frame of mind was quite impactful as it made it so easy to truly understand what she was feeling and experiencing. Sometimes it is hard for us to understand someone's point of view if it is not something we have directly experienced (as stated by Nin in her writing) but we all understand stories with a moral. That can help us to connect the dots, which it did for me.
Something that I think is so important in a memoir, which Nin did with grace, is to admit your faults and do self-reflection. She was able to realize that some of her choices, regarding her career especially, were doing more harm than good for her mental and emotional health as well as her family. She saw the positives in her difficult new state, something that I think many people struggle with. I especially loved the letter from her future self at the end of the book. The honesty and reflection she exemplified there was beautiful.
I cannot wait for more people to get their hands on this memoir and to hear more from Nin throughout the years!
First and foremost, Nin's writing does not read as debut author. It is polished and cohesive and full of emotion. Everything flowed well from chapter to chapter and paragraph to paragraph. There were times that the timeline did jump back and forth but it was done well and for purposeful reasons. I also felt that her use of allegories and fables that connected to her immediate frame of mind was quite impactful as it made it so easy to truly understand what she was feeling and experiencing. Sometimes it is hard for us to understand someone's point of view if it is not something we have directly experienced (as stated by Nin in her writing) but we all understand stories with a moral. That can help us to connect the dots, which it did for me.
Something that I think is so important in a memoir, which Nin did with grace, is to admit your faults and do self-reflection. She was able to realize that some of her choices, regarding her career especially, were doing more harm than good for her mental and emotional health as well as her family. She saw the positives in her difficult new state, something that I think many people struggle with. I especially loved the letter from her future self at the end of the book. The honesty and reflection she exemplified there was beautiful.
I cannot wait for more people to get their hands on this memoir and to hear more from Nin throughout the years!
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Unflinchingly honest and profoundly moving.
In an instant, Nin Mok’s world shifts irreversibly—her hearing disappears, the ground spins beneath her, and everything she once knew as a project management executive, mother, and high-achiever begins to unravel. Suddenly Silent and Still is a searing memoir of trauma, grief, acceptance, and ultimately—healing.
But this isn’t simply a story about sudden hearing loss and vertigo. It’s a meditation on identity, control, disability, motherhood, and the quiet yet fierce determination to keep moving forward. Mok writes with raw vulnerability and quiet strength, charting her journey of becoming disabled and rebuilding her life within the confines—and freedoms—of a new reality.
Her words struck a deeply personal chord with me. Like Mok, I became suddenly and irreversibly disabled at 40. Not through hearing or balance loss, but through physical and invisible disability, coupled with chronic pain. I know that grief. I know the painful re-evaluation of self. I know the silent scream of “Why me?”—and the slow, often difficult shift to “Why not me?”
I rarely highlight passages in books (I’m not a monster!), but this one? I found myself highlighting so many (perhaps feeling freer to do so on Kindle!).
My favourite line? “Who you are is as vast as the ocean.”
Being disabled doesn’t make you less. Nor does loss, grief, or struggle. We are all vast and infinite, whether able-bodied or not. Mok doesn’t sugar-coat her experience with toxic positivity; she embraces the pain, the mess, the questions. And that honesty is what makes this memoir so powerful.
Suddenly Silent and Still is both grounded and uplifting. A must-read for anyone navigating life-altering change—or for anyone who loves someone who is.
In an instant, Nin Mok’s world shifts irreversibly—her hearing disappears, the ground spins beneath her, and everything she once knew as a project management executive, mother, and high-achiever begins to unravel. Suddenly Silent and Still is a searing memoir of trauma, grief, acceptance, and ultimately—healing.
But this isn’t simply a story about sudden hearing loss and vertigo. It’s a meditation on identity, control, disability, motherhood, and the quiet yet fierce determination to keep moving forward. Mok writes with raw vulnerability and quiet strength, charting her journey of becoming disabled and rebuilding her life within the confines—and freedoms—of a new reality.
Her words struck a deeply personal chord with me. Like Mok, I became suddenly and irreversibly disabled at 40. Not through hearing or balance loss, but through physical and invisible disability, coupled with chronic pain. I know that grief. I know the painful re-evaluation of self. I know the silent scream of “Why me?”—and the slow, often difficult shift to “Why not me?”
I rarely highlight passages in books (I’m not a monster!), but this one? I found myself highlighting so many (perhaps feeling freer to do so on Kindle!).
My favourite line? “Who you are is as vast as the ocean.”
Being disabled doesn’t make you less. Nor does loss, grief, or struggle. We are all vast and infinite, whether able-bodied or not. Mok doesn’t sugar-coat her experience with toxic positivity; she embraces the pain, the mess, the questions. And that honesty is what makes this memoir so powerful.
Suddenly Silent and Still is both grounded and uplifting. A must-read for anyone navigating life-altering change—or for anyone who loves someone who is.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
📖 Book Review 📖
𝕋𝕚𝕥𝕝𝕖: Suddenly Silent and Still Finding Joy and Meaning through Sickness A Memoir
𝔸𝕦𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕣: Nin Mok
𝕄𝕖𝕕𝕚𝕦𝕞 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕚𝕟: eReader
𝕊𝕪𝕟𝕠𝕡𝕤𝕚𝕤: In an instant, Nin’s world is turned upside down by sudden hearing loss and debilitating vertigo. As a high-achieving project management executive, she’s used to controlling every detail—but now, she faces the unpredictable nature of chronic illness.
Determined to rebuild her life for the sake of her children, she navigates grief, medical trauma, and the stark shift from career-driven independence to life as a stay-at-home parent. Along the way, she wrestles with profound questions: Is security an illusion? What defines a person’s worth? How do you accept an unwanted reality?
With honesty and humor, Nin shares her journey of resilience, self-discovery, and purpose in a changed body. Uplifting and deeply personal, her story is a beacon of hope for anyone facing loss, chronic illness, or unexpected life challenges.
𝕄𝕪 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤: This book is a powerful and deeply moving reflection on the unpredictability of life and the resilience of the human spirit. It’s a reminder that everything can change in an instant and encourages readers to embrace life with gratitude and mindfulness. One of the most impactful moments in the book is the “letter to yourself” concept—a truly inspiring message that resonates on a deeply personal level. It’s the kind of wisdom that could be shared with students embarking on new journeys or anyone facing uncertainty.
Through Nin’s journey, the book beautifully highlights the strength that comes from enduring life’s storms. It’s a testament to how challenges can shape us, leading to unexpected growth and transformation. A truly inspiring read!
A huge thank you to @ninmokauthor for sending me a copy of your incredible book to review. Your story is deeply moving, inspiring, and a powerful reminder of resilience in the face of life’s unexpected challenges. I feel so grateful to have read it! 🤍✨
Happy reading x
#Resilience #Memoir #InspirationalRead #ChronicIllness #MustRead
reflective
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced