Amy Mangan

This wasn't the easiest stories to read. Party because of tendency towards being redundant. I think she was trying to remind the reader of some story points, or drive home a point. But it became hard to read. The other reason it was not the easiest to read is that the narrator is honest. No trying to paint everyone in the best light, or glossing over the not so great parts of each person. The portrait of a loving family of imperfect people trying to get through imperfect times in life is compelling.… (més)

This could have been a depressing book, certainly enough bad things happened to Amy and her family. And it was depressing at times, with a lot of detail that I could have done without. I have to admire Amy's resilience though and her ability to write all those details so unflinchingly, even when they don't paint her in the best light. Unvarnished truth...pretty rare these days. It didn't always make it the most readable, mind you. I read this a few weeks back now and what sticks in my memory is the description of the hospital stay where they were trying to induce a seizure in her epileptic daughter...absolutely horrifying.… (més)