The Center Of The Universe: A Memoir (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
When someone tells me that a book is nonfiction "but reads like fiction" my skeptic-meter goes way up. In this case, the story Nancy Bachrach tells flows easily across the pages, though it is not necessarily an easy read. It begins with a horrible accident -- carbon monoxide poisoning of her parents on their boat, which leaves her father dead, and her mother in a coma. The backstory of Nancy's childhood and family history is not any easier, riddled with mental illness, abuse, and what today would get the social workers to the front door for child endangerment. Yet it is told through good writing, by a daughter trying to understand her complex mother, and her equally complex relationship with that mother. The neruologica journey on which Nancy and her siblings embarked was chronicled quite well (my professional interested was engaged for this bit.) This is not an easy journey, and while there were some moments that I suppose someone could call "funny", to me they were more bittersweet, and not a humor that would make me laugh out loud. Still, I'm glad my friend recommended the book to me and I'm glad I read it. If you've got someone with bipolar diagnosis in your family, it might be tougher to read.(PS this book got put aside in order for me to read two books that came in from publishers for review. That's the only reason it took so long to read.) Very witty and well written. I found myself liking the author so much. I was spellbound. It's true that the events aren't funny at all, are tragic, in fact. And sometimes I thought the author related them with a bit too much emphasis on the seeming comedy. Personally, I'd have liked a bit more information about the medical/scientific aspects of Lola's memory, brain damage, and recovery -- though probably most readers would not. But overall, really enjoyed this book. Would love to see what this author might do in another genre.
What do You think about The Center Of The Universe: A Memoir (2009)?
I think I have hit my limit on memoirs involving mothers with mental illness.
—michellejane
Super compelling, sad and thought provoking memoir. Read it in a couple days.
—registerkate
