Doss’ memoir removes the veil from disease and survival in a
fashion similar to Lucy Grealy’s Autobiography
of a Face, allowing readers an important, intimate look at the complexities
of family, seen through the lens of a clear-eyed narrator. Her voice may be quiet, but it rings steady
and true.
As Cynthia sits by the side of her desperately ill sister, she attempts to give her the strength to recover by telling stories of their childhood. The trauma of her sister’s illness casts a bright light on the dynamics of their family. Eventually, Doss is forced to confront her own long-held trauma, one she has never shared with anyone. The book is written with loving honesty, and bears witness to what can be overcome when it can finally be revealed.
-Josephine Fitzpatrick, published author/editor/memoir
instructor
