Review: Remarkable
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 11, 2012
This book isn't in my usual genre (fantasy/sci-fi) and I don't remember the last time I read a memoir, but I'm very glad I encountered this author. The years 7-18 can be stressful in anyone's life, but they clearly were traumatic in this case. The product description gives an accurate list of the problems so I won't repeat them here.I'm amazed that anyone can write with humor about such dark personal experiences. I enjoyed the humor but I was affected even more by the seriousness of his situation. From his first encounters with compulsive tics as a child to his hospitalization at 18 for medical problems caused by alcohol and sedatives, the author opens himself up to the world. For an example of his ability to inject humor into a serious moment, see his description of his constipation problem in the next-to-last chapter. I could quote many examples of touching moments, but one that for some reason affected me out of proportion to the short length of the passage involved his encounter with a girl named Kelly during middle school (what Americans call it).I recommend this book to anyone but especially to those of us who have our own issues and would like a little encouragement.