I know what you’re thinking: “Two reviews in two days, this chick is on a role!” Actually, not so. I started The Middle Place before Pope Joan arrived in my mail box and was already about half way through it before I was side tracked by the Catholic church. 😉
First, this is something I NEVER do – read two books at once. And I’m not sure that this even counts, because I didn’t go back and forth between them. I read half. Put it down. Read the other completely. Finished the first. Whatever, I never do this.
And for the record, I didn’t put The Middle Place away because I wasn’t engaged. It was just I was so darn excited about Pope Joan – I’ve been waiting to read that one for years, literally.
On to The Middle Place. This is a non-fiction memoir-of-sorts by Kelly Corrigan. She’s a thirty-something mother of two, daughter of two. And, oh yeah, she has cancer. So does her dad. The middle place refers to that in-between state of being a parent and needing a parent.
She’s funny and honest – often at the same time. Corrigan talks about her husband, her parents, her children and her brothers, and I found myself relating so much to her, so often thinking, “Thank goodness. I thought I was the only person who thought like that” – that I forgot the book was about cancer. Can’t relate to that. Knock on wood.
But then I realize, The Middle Place isn’t about cancer. It is about life. Kelly Corrigan’s just happens to have cancer in it. I don’t have children, but I can imagine that when I do, regardless of whether or not I go through something as terrifying as cancer, there will be a moment or moments, where I am in the middle place of needing, wanting, to be both parent and child – at the same time, separately.
In fact, even just as an adult it happens. I want to be both grown and not. Independent and taken care of. Responsible and irresponsible.
And that is why The Middle Place is a good read. It reaffirms that whatever your battle, you are not alone.
And the family was SO your family–but, yes, glad you do not mirror her with the cancer!
Yeah, the families are very similar! Good read – good suggestion.
Weird, my friend, weird…we are mind melding on the books we are reading. This is the third or fourth time I've checked your blog to see a review of a book I just finished. I'm starting to think we have great taste in books – HA! I really liked "The Middle Place". It was a very fast read that reminded me to slow down and focus on the important things in life. Well worth the read!
Tiff, I knew within minutes of meeting you we 'synced'with books! You aren't by any chance reading "Ava's Man" by Rick Bragg? Have you read any of his?
Already read it. I enjoyed it! "All Over But the Shoutin'" was better, but this was good too. I actually think "Shoutin'" was one of our first book club books back in the early days.