Book Report

[stormkeeper_lovedoris]

 
Well, I had 4 days where I was unable to do much other than lay on the sofa and read, so.....

 

Smile: The Story of a Face by Sarah Ruhl – Why are some memoirs so approachable and engaging and others are not? I still don’t know. The author writes of her time as a mother. During pregnancy, she gets Bell’s palsy and is told she likely will recover within three months – but she doesn’t. She can barely move her face, can’t smile at her babies. In this short-ish memoir, Ruhl weaves in so much: spirituality, the medical system, being a mother and a playwright, sexism….and her thoughts are always worth reading. Grade: 7

 

The Lioness by Chris Bohjalian – Another novel by the writer who is known for centering women and for having engaging storylines. In this book, a famous 1960s actress and several close family and friends head off for an African safari, but they get a lot more than they bargained for when gunmen ambush their party. Are the gunmen just after ransom money, or is there more going on than that? There’s a nice plot twist at the end but otherwise the novel was a bit slow-going. And kinda pointless, sorry to say. (Also, spoiler alert but I think it’s ok since I don’t think anyone reading this report will read the book. The only Black member of the party and the only gay member of the party both get killed. Uh, no thank you Chris?) Grade: 3

 

Without Children: The Long History of Not Being A Mother by Peggy O’Donnell Heffington – History books can be a bit of a slog, but this one was really really good. I wanted to use my own words to say why I liked this so much, but failing that, I will quote from a review: “….(the author) shows that many of the reasons women are not having children today are ones they share with women in the past: a lack of support, their jobs or finances, environmental concerns, infertility, and the desire to live different kinds of lives. Understanding this history—how normal it has always been to not have children, and how hard society has worked to make it seem abnormal—is key, she writes, to rebuilding kinship between mothers and non-mothers, and to building a better world for us all.” Extra shoutout to the author really getting DEI right; she was careful to not just make this about white, middle-class women's lives. Grade: 7 

The Risk It Takes to Bloom by Raquel Willis – Memoir by the Black trans activist and writer. I love that Willis’ book is never dull, and she keeps it moving along briskly, much as her own life seems to move. A lot of her prose is really clunky though. (Oh my god if she uses the word “gaggle” one more time, I am going to drink. I truly hate that word. I’ve only ever seen it used to describe groups of women, girls, or queers and it’s so trivializing. And Willis uses it no less than 7 times). Also, I know that this is a memoir but Willis seems truly self-absorbed. Like she’s describing leading a march and thinking that everyone watching the march is trying to clock her. Come on, most of the people watching the march aren’t going to give any given participant more than a glance or two. The whole book is full of moments like that. But maybe I am being too hard on Willis, and putting anything else aside, I know that I can always be a better ally to Black and trans people. And as for this book, well I needed an engaging, solid read for the days when I was stuck at home sick, and this one delivered. Grade: 7

 

How I Became a North Korean by Krys Lee – This novel tells three people’s stories: two are escapees from North Korea and one is an alienated Chinese-American teenager. It’s absorbing and sad, and it has themes of found family and hope even in the face of hopelessness. Definitely drew me in and was worth reading. Grade: 8

Comments

[nytshd3]

You wouldn't think 'a woman writes about her experience with Bell's Palsy' would be a compelling book, so I think it's really cool that it is! I agree with you, sometimes memoirs are SO good and engaging, and something it's like... meh. Even if they have a really interesting story to tell!

I swear, I feel like Chris Bohjalian books are either fantastic or awful with no in-betweens.

I love that there is more openness about choosing not to have children. Maybe someday people will be able to have kids only when/if they want them.

I've heard that the risk it takes to bloom is good! How weird that she used gaggle that many times! Maybe she made a bet with a friend 'for every time i get them to let me use the word 'gaggle' in this book you'll give me a grand' lol. Glad it was a solid read!

Thanks for sharing as always!

ALso glad you're feeling better!

[stormkeeper_lovedoris]

Haha so true on Chris! I feel his career started out strong but didn't stay strong.