Dwarf: A Memoir Of How One Woman Fought For A Body-and A Life-She Was Never Supposed To Have (2012) - Plot & Excerpts
I found this book interesting, but also frustrating to read at the same time. I found myself feeling a lot of compassion for her father as the book went on. He seems to be the dog everyone likes to kick, and take for granted. I found her mother very harsh, unsympathetic, and at times horrifyingly caustic. I understand that facing the long term medical care needs of Tiffanie meant that a certain level of toughness was required, but her mother took things too far many times. It seemed that the mother and daughter were more of a family themselves and the father was just orbiting them like a sad, neglected little moon. Situation after Situation, I found myself just cringing at how he was blown off, shoved aside, ignored, belittled, and treated like an accessory. I realize he did not handle things well soon after his daughters birth, but it seems that he was to be punished for the rest of his entire life for this by his ex-wife ; despite bending over backwards to try and make up for this. The fact that it took until she was getting married for Tiffanie to be encouraged or allowed to have some sort of relationship with her paternal grandparent and relatives was also very tragic. I've no idea what they may have said or done, but it appears her mother was ready to cut them off En Masse with no explanation . Some back story might have helped the reader understand exactly why this was her option. No back story makes it appear that, once again, her mother is quite cold hearted and selfish. The writing was good, and I was glad that she shared her very intense experiences with the world. I hope she is a happy person in her new life as the parent of a small child and wife of a marine. I look forward to other works created by Ms. DiDonato. She is one tough cookie, for damn sure. It was an interesting story about a woman who underwent a series of grueling surgeries to increase her height in an unprecedented manner after having been born a dwarf. The narrator had help with a co-author, I found the overall voice to be a little off-putting. I recommend googling her story to learn more about her story as well as the controversy that surrounded her and her parent's decisions to increase her height.
What do You think about Dwarf: A Memoir Of How One Woman Fought For A Body-and A Life-She Was Never Supposed To Have (2012)?
very excellent
—minimax
just an excellent inside story about a life that most of us will never live.
—domennitta
Excellent book! Life's struggles take on new meaning.
—stevelen
