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A review by kayliesbookshelf
Fifteen Thousand Pieces by Gina Leola Woolsey
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Fifteen Thousand Pieces is a raw, heart wrenching biography about Dr. John Butt, a Canadian medical examiner and his role during the recovery and identification of the Swissair Flight 111 tragedy in 1998. This real life story goes deeper than just looking at Dr. Butt’s role though, the reader is shown his life before and during the tragic event while providing insight into this fascinating and complex man.
Gina Leola Woolsey has written an incredibly well researched biography filled with firsthand accounts, compassion, action, and emotion. Truly a skilled writer, Woolsey weaves together a strong narrative that is respectful, balanced, and compelling. Woolsey also brings the reader’s attention to different themes throughout Fifteen Thousand Pieces including mental health, mental illness, and questioning one’s sexuality. Readers will go back and forth in John’s story from his personal life and budding career to the events surrounding Swissair Flight 111. This provides a much needed respite when reading about the devastation of Swissair Flight 111.
I couldn’t put this down. I needed to know more about the curmudgeonly yet compassionate Dr. John Butt and his life just as much as I wanted to know about his role during the aftermath of Swissair Flight 111. I recommend this to anyone who is intrigued by forensic pathology, appreciates Atlantic Canadian history, or just wants to read a fascinating and emotional story.
Fifteen Thousand Pieces at its heart was about learning to live life in spite of death. I was moved in a way that hasn’t happened in a long time from reading a biography, this was an eloquent and fantastic read. I highly recommend.
Thank you @river_street_writes and @guernicaeditions for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review of @ginaleola’s Fifteen Thousand Pieces.
Gina Leola Woolsey has written an incredibly well researched biography filled with firsthand accounts, compassion, action, and emotion. Truly a skilled writer, Woolsey weaves together a strong narrative that is respectful, balanced, and compelling. Woolsey also brings the reader’s attention to different themes throughout Fifteen Thousand Pieces including mental health, mental illness, and questioning one’s sexuality. Readers will go back and forth in John’s story from his personal life and budding career to the events surrounding Swissair Flight 111. This provides a much needed respite when reading about the devastation of Swissair Flight 111.
I couldn’t put this down. I needed to know more about the curmudgeonly yet compassionate Dr. John Butt and his life just as much as I wanted to know about his role during the aftermath of Swissair Flight 111. I recommend this to anyone who is intrigued by forensic pathology, appreciates Atlantic Canadian history, or just wants to read a fascinating and emotional story.
Fifteen Thousand Pieces at its heart was about learning to live life in spite of death. I was moved in a way that hasn’t happened in a long time from reading a biography, this was an eloquent and fantastic read. I highly recommend.
Thank you @river_street_writes and @guernicaeditions for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review of @ginaleola’s Fifteen Thousand Pieces.