Dear Marcus: A Letter To The Man Who Shot Me (2013) - Plot & Excerpts
Through a narration of his own life stories and scenes of his past Jerry McGill was able to defend the side of the disabled. Many times we tend to categorize disabled people as anything other than "normal" and we fail to realize that they are able to do so much more than is expected of them. This book opened my eyes to the reality that a serious injury isn't a cause to stop living your life and trying your hardest if you are able to. There will always be obstacles obscuring your path but the only way to reach your goal is to cross or overcome them. There is never just one way to do something. My favorite part was when Jerry described how utterly useless it is to be angry at anything. Every action causes an inevitable reaction and we have to decide to either deal with the consequences or be overwhelmed and defeated by them. This book is very inspirational and easy to relate to. I highly recommend it. Ever wonder what a victim would say to their predator if given the opportunity? How possible would it be to poetically, dramatically, and coherently express the depth of one's angst after experiencing a tragic affair? Dear Marcus: A Letter to the Man Who Shot Me, does extraordinarily. Jerry McGill pens a poignant letter to the man he calls "Marcus" who shot him, leaving him a quadriplegic at age thirteen, but giving him more life than he'd ever imagine. In this "narrative," we are taken through the tragedy, through the course of rehabilitation, through the emotional maze that many "mobile" individuals take, undeniably, for granted. McGill tells "Marcus" about the challenges he has had to endure, the moments lost, and the triumphs gained despite his obvious tribulation. For the reader, the journey is heart-wrenching but hopeful, calloused but not condescending, dismal yet magnificent. It answers the aforementioned question, not with ease, but with clarity. If nothing else, Dear Marcus... provides a memoir of hope for the most hopeless of circumstances. It, the book, gives value to one's existence and charts the long road toward the recovery from adversity. This is a must read for both victim and predator and those curious. It is a reminder that there are two sides to the demonic ills that exist in America's larger cities (and smaller communities)and Jerry McGill guides us, painstakingly, through both sides.
What do You think about Dear Marcus: A Letter To The Man Who Shot Me (2013)?
On every level, this book was a blessing to read, and I am grateful to have enjoyed it.
—sojourn
Every word of this book is absolutely stunning. A must read.
—goldymarie
Overall it was a good book very intense kinda sad.
—nicki2016
