Scan barcode
A review by cko
How We Fight For Our Lives by Saeed Jones
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.0
Saeed Jones' language is beautiful and cutting.
I probably wouldn't have picked up this book if I'd known it would contain these hospital scenes; I wasn't prepared for it, I didn't want to relive my own loss, and yet it was useful; I needed it. I should have realized earlier in that this memoir was going to be about his mother dying. All the signs were there, but I suppose I chose to ignore them.
I love novels and memoirs about writers and their urgent need to create-- it fills some need in me, some satisfaction that there is still that want for words. I imagine what my own words might be, and I am sated with the idea that maybe someday I will write fully for myself. (Spoilers? ahead)
A little suspect of the ~travel Europe, meet a perfect stranger, find closure~ ending, but it does read beautifully. I wonder how this memoir would have ended, had he given the events more time to settle and ferment.
I probably wouldn't have picked up this book if I'd known it would contain these hospital scenes; I wasn't prepared for it, I didn't want to relive my own loss, and yet it was useful; I needed it. I should have realized earlier in that this memoir was going to be about his mother dying. All the signs were there, but I suppose I chose to ignore them.
I love novels and memoirs about writers and their urgent need to create-- it fills some need in me, some satisfaction that there is still that want for words. I imagine what my own words might be, and I am sated with the idea that maybe someday I will write fully for myself. (Spoilers? ahead)
A little suspect of the ~travel Europe, meet a perfect stranger, find closure~ ending, but it does read beautifully. I wonder how this memoir would have ended, had he given the events more time to settle and ferment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders