4 out of 4 stars
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Where Fairy Tales Go by Annette Ross is a memoir about a woman dealing with a serious physical impairment caused during the birth of her second child. An anesthesiologist makes a catastrophic medical error while giving the author an epidural shot. As a result, the author’s legs become paralyzed. She has to adjust to being wheelchair bound, even as she continues to hope she might be able to walk again someday.
The book explores the various physical and emotional effects of this serious injury. The unwavering support of Annette’s husband and father, in particular, helps in countless ways, but the challenges are huge. It’s hard enough being the mother of two young children in the best of circumstances, but taking care of them from a wheelchair is a huge challenge. As overwhelming as this sounds, Annette goes on to have three more children – yes, you heard me, three more children.
I was very moved by this emotionally raw and inspiring book. The subject matter is difficult to read about at times. I am well aware of the risks of having any type of anesthesia, but this book made me think about the real possibility that terrible things can happen during a routine procedure. Women are given epidurals during childbirth and no one thinks twice about it. I will never view local anesthesia in the same way after reading about Annette’s experience.
I quickly became absorbed in this very personal account of the initial pain and shock, and the aftermath – intensive physical therapy and the adjustment to a completely different way of life. I had a “there but for the grace of God, go I” feeling many times while reading. The medical terms are explained in an easy to understand manner, which made the information even scarier. If this could happen to Annette, it could happen to anyone.
The story is well written in a natural, flowing style. It felt like we were old friends chatting over coffee. The descriptions are top-notch; I was able to get a clear picture of everything, whether it was the setting or Annette’s emotional state. Discussions about the author’s religious faith are sprinkled throughout the book and have a more philosophical tone. There is one chapter about Annette finding her biological mother that feels unnecessary and out of place, even though the scenes are interesting.
Annette, her husband Bill and her parents are given clear backstories through childhood reminiscences and the earlier days of her marriage. Bill’s journey throughout the story is fascinating as he copes with the emotional toll of being the primary caregiver, as well as financial and career issues.
One of my favorite parts of the book is the relatable theme about the meaning of home. The author is very attached to the rambling Connecticut house the couple bought shortly before her injury. Due to financial and job issues, the concept of home becomes a frequent topic of discussion.
There are a few noticeable grammatical errors that I found surprising, given the high quality of the writing. There are two words that are incorrectly capitalized in the middle of a sentence, an apostrophe that doesn’t belong, and two instances of missing words (e.g. - “Am I bad mother?” instead of “Am I a bad mother?”). An extra round of editing would easily fix these errors.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It is a thoughtfully written read that I won’t soon forget. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy memoirs and basically anyone who wants to read a very inspiring book.
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Where Fairy Tales Go
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