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katie_g's review against another edition
2.5
Got whiplash from the amount of changing of tense in this book.
I felt like this book didn't really know what it was trying to be.
I felt like this book didn't really know what it was trying to be.
rosie_fraser's review against another edition
3.0
Beautiful description of a remote upbringing and interesting insights into the history of the understanding of epilepsy.
Short and sweet.
Short and sweet.
caroparr's review against another edition
3.0
A tender, quiet memoir of growing up in a 15th century castle (Broughton Castle, Oxfordshire) in a family whose oldest son, 11 years older than the author, suffered brain damage from epilepsy. If this sounds dreary, it's the fault of my summary. It's a contemplative book that repays slow reading.
robynhl's review against another edition
4.0
A unique memoir in many ways. William grew up in a castle, so one aspect is about the experience of growing up in with people visiting your home or using it for films or festivals, and exploring the moat. Another aspect is that of his older brother Richard, who developed epilepsy at a young age, and detailing the hardships associated with that, but also the many joys he brought to the family’s life as well. Finally the book details the progress in research, understanding and treatments for epilepsy over the past few centuries - as a neuroscience student this was particularly interesting.
The memoir reads almost as a stream of consciousness, bouncing back and forth between the three components. Some people haven’t gotten on with the interjection of scientific history but I quite enjoyed it. It is well written and paints a lovely picture of growing up in a beautiful place, and an insight to a unique childhood.
The memoir reads almost as a stream of consciousness, bouncing back and forth between the three components. Some people haven’t gotten on with the interjection of scientific history but I quite enjoyed it. It is well written and paints a lovely picture of growing up in a beautiful place, and an insight to a unique childhood.
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