Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

Somebody's Daughter: A Memoir by Ashley C. Ford

21 reviews

crybabybea's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

4.5

A thoughtful, intimate look at the complexity of human relationships, especially of those closest to us. Ashley C. Ford's writing is pensive and poignant as she details how her childhood experiences shaped the way she views the people she loves, as well as how she views herself. I found the writing to be incredibly human and I found myself relating to much of her story despite its differences. 

I especially found the writing similar to other memoirs such as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Dr. Maya Angelou and I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy, in the way that Ashley C. Ford is able to capture her own childhood voice and mix it with her reflection as an adult. She painted a full picture of the events that shaped her, as well as the people closest to her.

I appreciated especially the portrayal of her mother, who was imperfect in every way; abusive but loving, joyful but full of fear and stress, neglectful but caring, and overall just a woman trying her best with what she was given. As well, her father, incarcerated for 20+ years for a crime unknown to Ashley for the majority of her life (and unknown to the reader until the memoir reaches that point in Ashley's timeline) is a full figure of doting and adoration, while Ashley has to reconcile with the reality his crime and what it means to herself and her family. I found the exploration of familial relationships relatable and touching.

Definitely a standout memoir.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Rape, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Death, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, Grief, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Stalking, and Violence

hannahcstocks's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Rape, Grief, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Cancer, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Physical abuse, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Gaslighting, Eating disorder, Body shaming, Stalking, Sexism, and Misogyny

Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death

lipstickitotheman's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Grief, Rape, and Sexual assault

Minor: Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Medical content, and Panic attacks/disorders

stephmcoakley's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Cancer, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Cursing, Death, Grief, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Abandonment, Physical abuse, and Stalking

switt713's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Terminal illness, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Rape, Death, and Sexual assault

Minor: Cancer

marigold_faye's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Violence, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Body shaming, and Child death

Minor: Terminal illness, Death, Cancer, Eating disorder, Fire/Fire injury, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, and Grief

twilightfan420's review against another edition

dark funny inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

5-star memoir alert! I enjoyed every page of this so much I risked getting horribly carsick to finish reading it on a road trip. The relationship with the author’s mother was so complex and expertly-detailed. I think Ford examined the multiplicity of what it means to be family in an enlightening way; the concept of unconditional love shone through the entire narrative and manifested very different through Ford’s individual relationships. I think Ford writes sexual trauma in an extremely conscious yet evocative way. I could feel her pain through  the writing but I could also feel her strength. As a survivor myself, I felt seen and empowered at the same time as Ford reckoned with her own experiences and the narrative she’d been told about her father throughout the work. Also, the way it the story was told starting and ending at the same point was so beautifully done. It felt wrapped up but still realistic in a way that many narrative nonfiction cannot capture.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Miscarriage, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, Adult/minor relationship, and Violence

Minor: Animal death

donnique's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

5.0

Some of the best memoir writing I've ever seen. A perfect encapsulation of a life filled with heartbreak, trauma, and triumph. I cried. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism

tbose22's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Rape

Moderate: Grief

Minor: Terminal illness, Pedophilia, and Cancer

radfordmanor's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Stalking, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Bullying, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Racism, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship