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maddis_must_reads 's review for:
The Beauty in Breaking: A Memoir
by Michele Harper
This was powerful, and the author wrapped up her message well in the epilogue. There were some sad, uplifting, gruesome, and ultimately inspiring stories. Not just from the wounds each patient experienced, but by how they did/did not act, how they shaped the caretakers around them, and how policies and laws impacted them. I thought that the book ultimately did a good job of proving its point: there is good to come from darkness, there are lessons and growth in every opportunity. The sections regarding her experiences at the VA hospital were especially impactful to me.
I saw other reviews and they noted that the book felt too preachy at times. While I slightly agree with this, I also see that this is her memoir, her life, and her interpretations of what has been thrown at her and those around her. I think her recognition of these points such as racism, inadequacies of care, etc needed to be mentioned. However, at times I had a hard time connecting them to her ultimate message other than that she needed them to be acknowledged.
I wish there was a little bit more time spent on some of the life-pivoting circumstances that she opened with in the beginning, but otherwise I thought this was a powerful collection of tales.
I saw other reviews and they noted that the book felt too preachy at times. While I slightly agree with this, I also see that this is her memoir, her life, and her interpretations of what has been thrown at her and those around her. I think her recognition of these points such as racism, inadequacies of care, etc needed to be mentioned. However, at times I had a hard time connecting them to her ultimate message other than that she needed them to be acknowledged.
I wish there was a little bit more time spent on some of the life-pivoting circumstances that she opened with in the beginning, but otherwise I thought this was a powerful collection of tales.