North Of Normal: A Memoir Of My Wilderness Childhood, My Unusual Family, And How I Survived Both (2014) - Plot & Excerpts
This book was a definite page-turner. I enjoyed the narrator's voice and appreciate how honest she was with the somewhat brutal experiences she had growing up. This must have been tough to write about! The only reason I did not give it 5 stars was because I disliked the obsession with being "normal." This is a very personal thing for me as I do not believe that any family is normal, nor do I like to strive for normalcy in my life (again, this is a personal thing for me). I do understand why the author chose that title, but the theme around being normal, while totally understandable, seemed to still be thematic of the author's current desire in life. I could be wrong, but my opinion is that Cea Person still strives to be "normal". For me, I kind of cringe when I think of people who strive for that. It's like striving for mediocrity. Again, I totally get where she's coming from because, geez! What a roller coaster of a life she had growing up!!!!! However, I think, while there were many low points in her life, there were many beautiful things about it as well! I wish there was even more emphasis on the positives, that's all.Otherwise, great great read! Well done!!!! Would highly recommend to anyone looking for an interesting, honest story about a very different life. Loved every minute of it! Raised off the grid in the wilderness of Alberta, BC and the Yukon, Cea Sunrise Person tells a somewhat shocking story of life with her counter-culture grandparents and her young mother. Although she certainly lives a crazily unconventional life with her Grandparents, her story turns horrendous when Cea leaves the camp of her grandparents to follow her pot-smoking mother in and out of various dysfunctional relationships. An unconventional upbringing turns abusive and neglectful. Cea finds understanding, if not total forgiveness for her mother and, in the end, chooses to dwell on her Grandfather's strength and wisdom rather than his terrible failures. If you are a fan of Jeanette Walls' The Glass Castle, this book should be interesting to you
What do You think about North Of Normal: A Memoir Of My Wilderness Childhood, My Unusual Family, And How I Survived Both (2014)?
What a great book. I loved the writing style a lot. I hope Cea is going to write many more books.
—Raoull
Good, but tons of cringe=worthy sections. I can't imagine growing up like this.
—jilliank87
I do love me a good memoir. Maybe 4 1/2 stars but I couldn't put it down.
—buscador030
