I know a book is good if it leaves me stumped. The book, "Autobiography of a Face," by Lucy Grealy, left me thinking even a month after I had finished turning it's pages. This story is heavy, not in the physical state, but the contents. It's a hard thing to describe to someone that hasn't read the book. I think that is why I am still thinking about it, the book has a complexity to it's story. Any story about pediatric cancer, disfigurement, the concept of beauty, and a yearning for self acceptance will have layers upon layers to it's story.
There are very few books that I have read that have caused me to underline, highlight, and tab the pages. There are so many things in books like these that come to my attention. I was very impressed with the book, because while it is truly non-fiction, it didn't seem like it. It is a very beautiful work of literature that was written very well. In the afterword, written by her very good friend, Ann Patchett stated, "She wanted her book to be judged on it's literary merit and not its heartbreaking content." She also made it very clear that while she is writing about her life, she didn't remember it to every minute detail. She made her point, "She was making art, not documenting an event." Maybe I haven't read much non-fiction, but I do know that most non-fiction books document something, not tell a story. She didn't want to be an inspiration, she wanted to write.
It is clear that she spared the readers a lot of pain and suffering. A story about one's life can never be fully written. If all of the details about her life were included in the book those that read it would be crushed by it's weight; this is what I mean by saying that the book is heavy. When Lucy Grealy added a note that she found her disfigurement more of a hardship than a cancer that was essentially terminal, you knew her life was a difficult one. It is very clear that one of her greatest joys is the publication of this book.
Greetings Madeline,
ReplyDeleteAutobiography of a Face sounds like a very interesting read, I might have to read it after the season is over. I liked your writing choice to actually react to the style and story of the book, rather than just provide a summary. Additionally, you not only gave a reaction to the book, but you went into the writer’s motivation for writing the book. This sounds like a book that could have the same effect on people as Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle in that it has one purpose but accidently achieves another. It seems like you went beyond the sadness of her story to see a statement she intended to make about Western culture. I wonder if you would agree with that presumption. Maybe she intentionally, as you say, “Saved the readers a lot of pain and suffering,” to avoid too much of the reader’s energy taking form as pity directed at herself instead of as analysis of her intended message on the concept of beauty.
I enjoyed reading your post, it was well-written and very informative. It makes me want to give the book a try.