About Us is a compilation of essays from the Disability Series of the New York Times. I found so many of these essays thought-provoking and inspiring About Us is a compilation of essays from the Disability Series of the New York Times. I found so many of these essays thought-provoking and inspiring conversation with others. I loved that they're so short, allowing the book to contain a lot of them, showing a range of experiences. As the book states, the essays presented here both normalize and exceptionalize disability. "Disabled lives are as valid as nondisabled lives, but they are not the same."
The essays are grouped under different topics: justice, belonging, working, navigating, coping, love, family, and joy. I read them in order; as such, I was able to see various experiences relating to one specific topic in the span of 15 minutes. The different authors often seem to be in conversation with each other, despite having a variety of backgrounds and perspectives.
This is a book I am certainly glad to have read and am grateful it exists.
Thank you to W. W. Norton & Company and NetGalley for a free e-arc of this title for review.
Content warning: recollection and discussion of ableism throughout, suicide in the last essay...more
It is truly commendable how open Carrie Fisher was with her addictions and her bipolar disorder. Both are on center stage in Wishful Drinking, though It is truly commendable how open Carrie Fisher was with her addictions and her bipolar disorder. Both are on center stage in Wishful Drinking, though much of the book also focuses on her upbringing and family. She writes in a biting style throughout - it's clear she wants the reader to laugh with her.
I'm not sure I'd recommend this memoir to anyone who's not already a fan. But I think we can all agree with this excerpt from the author's note: "At times, being bipolar can be an all-consuming challenge, requiring a lot of stamina and even more courage, so if you're living with this illness and functioning at all, it's something to be proud of, not ashamed of. They should issue medals along with the steady stream of medication."
Here's to destigmatizing both addiction and mental illness, and supporting each other....more
I love a lot of different book genres - nonfiction, literary fiction, and memoir are my top three, but I'm also into mysteries and romance. I eat up wI love a lot of different book genres - nonfiction, literary fiction, and memoir are my top three, but I'm also into mysteries and romance. I eat up women's fiction, especially if the gal's got a full-time job. But if I could only read one type of book for the rest of my life, I think I'd define my absolute favorite as: Books that make me a better human.
Which brings us to this beautiful, heartbreaking book that made tears simply stream down my face. Susan, the author, was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) at 44. In addition to deciding to live her last healthy year with joy, she wrote this book. With her thumb, on a smartphone.
I think this book was even easier for me to love because she largely stays away from dispensing advice. She just tells of her year, and her relationships, and what brings her joy. What a treasure Susan must have been to those around her - as well as those who benefited from her journalistic efforts.
I loved this book for being part travel memoir, part a life well lived, and part reminder how freaking short life is - and how we don't know what's to come. All the more reason to love it all today....more
Loading...
