Grealy shared with us her thoughts and feelings, not Ann Patchett's. I don't think that is the point, however. Some reviewers seemed to find this troublesome. Ann's book talked about many things that Grealy's left out. Her memoir reads like poetry and the words she chooses to use serve her well.Īfter reading this, I read Ann Patchett's "Truth and Beauty" to get a fuller picture of Grealy. Lucy Grealy considered herself a poet first, then a memoirist. Grealy learned everything through such negative experiences, also. And, she had to relearn things the rest of us take for granted when she grew up. She grew up terribly obese, taunted and teased also. The criticism of that book was similar to this. I'm reminded, now, of Frances Kuffel's "Passing for Thin". I think anyone who went through that would be the same. At such a young age, her self-image was distorted. It is easy to see, with what she went through, why she became so needy. That said, even if she was a selfish and spoiled woman, this book is STILL good. In Grealy's case, though, she left behind so many people who really had bad personal experiences with her, that there are a lot of people to dispute or criticize her, as well. Most memoirs most likely leave certain elements out or elaborate others. Although it is true, according to so many who knew Lucy Grealy, that she is spoiled and selfish, it is also true that this book is excellent and thoughtfully written.
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