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angie_reading's review against another edition
Heartrending. Orr is a poet: the writing in his memoir is beautiful. He artfully weaves references to mythology which lends to his story an epic quality--Orr and his father each taking turns at being the tragic hero. I loved the beginning for its language and the characterization of his parents. I thought the pacing was strange in the section about his teenage/college years--maybe this was deliberate: a sort of metaphor for those years (?).
I wish that he would have spent more time reflecting on how the horrible accident and sad details of his childhood shaped him as an adult. Like other reviewers, I wish he would have written more about his siblings. However, this would all be outside of the scope of his tightly, but beautifully wound narrative.
I wish that he would have spent more time reflecting on how the horrible accident and sad details of his childhood shaped him as an adult. Like other reviewers, I wish he would have written more about his siblings. However, this would all be outside of the scope of his tightly, but beautifully wound narrative.
earlyandalone's review against another edition
4.0
Beautifully written. Orr manages to render a tragic accident with grace and self-awareness.
taratuulikki's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful commentary on the saving grace of art. How it heals us from the grief and trauma and indifference of the world. How it helps us create or cultivate or interpret meaning out of life.
Some favorite excerpts:
“‘In my beginning was my end.’ But ‘end’ is also purpose, your essential intention in life—that aim toward which you direct your energies and talents. I didn’t die in Hayneville, and my beginning in trauma and violence led me on to a lifetime of creation rather than destruction.”
“I could choose instead the artist’s kind of death that is part of being reborn a hundredfold.”
“Here in this field, arrayed in long lines, was an army of art. This army was engaged in a war against the nothingness and indifference of the universe.”
Some favorite excerpts:
“‘In my beginning was my end.’ But ‘end’ is also purpose, your essential intention in life—that aim toward which you direct your energies and talents. I didn’t die in Hayneville, and my beginning in trauma and violence led me on to a lifetime of creation rather than destruction.”
“I could choose instead the artist’s kind of death that is part of being reborn a hundredfold.”
“Here in this field, arrayed in long lines, was an army of art. This army was engaged in a war against the nothingness and indifference of the universe.”
senid's review against another edition
5.0
What do you make of tragedy and trauma?
This is an incredibly beautifully written book. I frequently wonder how to redeem my past and make my life about more than my trauma. This book gives me one example. Beautifully written and will be one of my favorite books this year.
This is an incredibly beautifully written book. I frequently wonder how to redeem my past and make my life about more than my trauma. This book gives me one example. Beautifully written and will be one of my favorite books this year.
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