Amanda Boyden

I can't help but think of excerpts from Maya Angelou's memoir(s) as Boyden relates in such detail experiences that brought her to the brink of death. You might think that her four intense near death experiences and discussion of the Swedish death cleanse would bring a true melancholy over the reader's psyche--- but no, this is a strident book that pours out hope and shows page after page, the seductive and real power of resilience. Boyden has a natural way with words and for an avid reader her memoir can be readily devoured in a few short hours. Doing this I admit, I felt exhausted, pushed and pulled through a tumultuous life in which I found myself falling deeply for Fry (the adorable, aging, and VERY brave chihuahua), Meg and the host of "characters" that make up Amanda's life. I even poked through the acknowledgements to see how she might address the people clearly so beloved. I was disappointed to learn of Boyden's own infidelity early in her marriage amidst what would become egregious cheating on the part of her husband, but as with many good reads, people are not (gasp!) perfect. Boyden allows herself to be vulnerable and therefore approachable and a source of strength for women who have walked this very path themselves.… (más)

At turns Boyden is tender and sweet, sassy and sarcastic, funny and melancholy. There is heartache and humor underneath the solid layer of honesty. She twists and turns from childhood memories to adult turmoil with as much ease as I imagine she does swinging on her beloved trapeze. I loved her fierce attitude. It's a bit rambling in places. You get the general idea she is heartbroken over her divorce, but at the same time celebrates breaking free while remembering seemingly unrelated bits of her past.
Here's the strange thing - out of all the Early Review books, this is one of my favorites. For some reason I have a hard time articulating why.… (más)