I Remember Running: The Year I Got Everything I Wanted – And ALS by Darcy Wakefield

Darcy Wakefield was a healthy, athletic 33-year old English professor until she was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in 2003. Darcy was a runner. She mourned not being able to run, but didn't gave up on life. She embarked on her “fast-forward” life, a life in which she left her job, applied for disability, met and moved in with her true love, bought a house, had a child and planned her own funeral. Wow.  How can you not admire her strength, courage and determination to enjoy what life she had left? This memoir is beautifully written and will surely inspire others to live life to the fullest. I read this book in 2006, and Darcy's love of life continues to inspire me.

Darcy Gammon
Wakefield, 35
CAPE ELIZABETH - Darcy Gammon Wakefield, 35, died from ALS on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2005 at her home in Cape Elizabeth.
A native of Livermore, she attended local public schools until 1986; she graduated from the Waynflete School in Portland, in 1988. She then attended Bates College and Smith College, where she graduated in 1992. She earned her MA from SUNY/Buffalo in 1996, and her MFA from Emerson in 2003. From August 1999 until January 2004, she taught English at Southern Maine Community College, where she thoroughly enjoyed her students, colleagues, subject matter, and work setting.
Before getting ALS, she was extremely active, and loved walking, running, hiking, and swimming. Throughout her life, she was a feminist, and firmly supported women's right to choice. She also enjoyed hanging out with friends and family. Her interests included reading and writing, and her stories and essays appeared on Maine Public Radio and National Public Radio, and in numerous publications. She also wrote two books, I remember Running: The Year I Got Everything I Ever Wanted - and ALS and No Flies on Bill.
After getting ALS, she was extremely committed to raising ALS awareness. She hoped that awareness would lead to a cure so that no one else would have to die from this awful disease.
She is survived by her fabulous friends; her extended family; her maternal grandmother, Billie Gammon; her parents, John and Nancy Lee Wakefield; a sister, Betsy Wakefield and brother Jonathan Wakefield; a beloved son, Sam; and her true love and partner, Dr. Steve Stout.

Published in Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram on December 12, 2005

 

 

Stitches by David Small

Stitches is the haunting, graphic memoir of the award-winning children’s illustrator, David Small. As a child, Small's health problems were treated with a series of x-rays, administered by his father. The resulting cancer went long untreated and caused the loss of one of his vocal chords. Since the surgery, he has never been able to speak in more than a whisper. In a story that could only be told graphically, Small shows how his own enforced silence was a reflection of the silence in his own family. The spare text and monochromatic illustrations reinforce the lack of dialogue.

If you have always wanted to try a graphic novel, Stitches isn't a bad place to start. It has been highly-praised by a number of reviewers and can be read in less than an hour. As a word of caution, the book does contain some nudity, language, and acts of violence. Elements such as these tend to be harder for some readers to "skip over" as you could in a novel.


Readalikes:

Persepolis and Persepolis 2 by Marjane Satrapi. Another great graphic memoir which depicts Satrapi's life in Iran, during and after the Islamic Revolution. It was adapted to film in 2007.

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. The children of Rex and Rose Mary Walls learned from a young age to take care of themselves, spurred on by their nomadic and frequently neglectful parents.

The Art of Mending by Elizabeth Berg. Laura Bartone must reconcile her sister's accusations of abuse by her mother, with her own happy childhood.

The Mighty Queens of Freeville by Amy Dickinson

Amy Dickinson, best known as an advice columnist and contributor to NPR, has written a lovely little book detailing her life as a member of a female-dominated extended family - the "queens" of her hometown, tiny Freeville, New York.

A unique feature of her family is that the few men in it tend to pack up and leave town, which was the case with both Amy's father and her husband (although her husband did maintain a relationship with their daughter, Emily.) For the most part, women in her family have had to fend for themselves. The bits and pieces that Dickinson shares regarding her female relatives are few and far between, I would have loved to hear more about them.

The book is basically snippets of a life - from her childhood to marriage to motherhood, to welcoming love into her life after a long dry spell. Dickinson does not delve too deeply, yet manages to share some deeply personal moments. I really enjoyed this book - Dickinson's voice is funny and familiar, as well as warm and inviting. Again, I would have really enjoyed hearing more about her amazing mother and other female relatives, perhaps there will be another book in Ms. Dickinson's future! For further information on "Mighty Queens," go to: http://www.themightyqueensoffreeville.com/

Crazy Love by Leslie Morgan Steiner

Leslie Morgan had it all. At the age of 22, she had already overcome substance abuse problems, graduated from Harvard and had a great job at Seventeen magazine when she met her "knight in shining armor." Conor was handsome, he was smart, and he had overcome a tough childhood to become a successful investment banker in New York City. Sure, he was a little quirky, but Leslie was sure, with a little patience and a lot of love, they would live happily-ever-after.

Before long, they were inseparable and making plans to move in together. As their relationship progressed, so did the controlling behaviors and violence. Not only did Conor talk Leslie into putting both of their student loans into her name when they attended grad school together, he also convinced her to finance her own engagement ring. Believing that their love was one for the ages, she did these things to prove her love and commitment to their relationship. Leslie finally overcame her denial and offered Conor an ultimatum - if he hits her again, that will be the end of the relationship. He agreed to this condition, and was able to live up to it...until the night he almost killed her. Although it wasn't a totally clean break, eventually Leslie realized that in order to move forward with her life she needed to take care of herself first and foremost and Conor was nothing but an impediment to that end.

This book, a memoir, was difficult to read at times, as it should be. Leslie was fortunate enough to have enough resources and education to help lift her out of the cycle of abuse, something that many women lack. I believe it took alot of courage to write this book, and whether or not the reader can relate to Leslie's situation, it is inspiring to read. It takes a hard look at love, what it is, and most of all, what it is not.