My Time To Stand.

 

 

★★★★

In this revelatory, harrowing, and ultimately hopeful memoir, Gypsy-Rose Blanchard shares the painful realities she grew up with and the details of her life that only she knows. 

A victim of her mother’s Munchausen by proxy and child abuse survivor, Gypsy-Rose Blanchard’s unique and controversial case made headlines across the world. 

Now, she’s finally free to start living her life on her terms—and to tell her own story as only she can.
Forced to use a wheelchair in public and endure a lifetime of faux illness, fraud, and exploitation, Gypsy was subjected not only to her mother’s medical, physical, and emotional abuse, but deprived of childhood milestones. Prevented from attending school or socializing, Gypsy’s formative years were defined by pain and isolation. 

After serving 8 years in prison for the role she played in her mother Dee Dee’s murder, Gypsy is embracing her fresh start—and reminding all of us that it’s never too late.
In this revelatory, harrowing, and ultimately hopeful memoir, Gypsy shares the painful realities she grew up with and the details of her life that only she knows, including: 

The abusive cycle that began with Dee Dee’s abuse by her father Gypsy’s fear that continued unnecessary surgery would leave her truly disabled How she coped with guilt and accepted responsibility for her mother’s death Memories of her final days in prison What she learned upon reviewing her own medical records for the first time How it felt to finally see her family again as her authentic self 

 

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I didn't know much about Gypsy until the show The Act came out. I don't watch television or listen to the news very often. I only made it through two episodes of the show because it was too depressing to watch. It made me wonder how much of the series was true to what happened. Later, I conducted my own research. When I learned that Gypsy had written a book, I knew I had to read it; partly because I was intrigued about what happened. I knew Gypsy's mother was mentally ill, something I was aware of before to the show, but I had no idea how horrible things were for Gypsy. I can't image going through everything she's gone through; I'm not sure how she lived for so long. 

I didn't like Dee Dee, but she didn't deserve what occurred. I had no idea how brutal her murder was. I wonder whether Gypsy's mother would still be alive if she had never met Nick or ended her relationship with him. In my perspective, her boyfriend was nearly as awful as her mother was. There were a few parts of the book that were difficult for me to read, and I had to skim over some of what was going on. It was difficult not to feel awful for Gypsy; but, given what her mother had done to her, murder should not have been an option; she should have sought another way to seek assistance. In general, I did feel like I learned so much more than before I had read the book. I’m glad that I decided to check the book out.

By Any Other Name.

 

★★★★

 4.5 ★

Thank you to the publisher,Random House Publishing/Ballantine for providing me with copy via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review

 

Young playwright Melina Green has just written a new work inspired by the life of her Elizabethan ancestor Emilia Bassano. But seeing it performed is unlikely, in a theater world where the playing field isn’t level for women. As Melina wonders if she dares risk failure again, her best friend takes the decision out of her hands and submits the play to a festival under a male pseudonym. 

In 1581, young Emilia Bassano is a ward of English aristocrats. Her lessons on languages, history, and writing have endowed her with a sharp wit and a gift for storytelling, but like most women of her day, she is allowed no voice of her own. Forced to become a mistress to the Lord Chamberlain, who oversees all theatre productions in England, Emilia sees firsthand how the words of playwrights can move an audience. She begins to form a plan to secretly bring a play of her own to the stage—by paying an actor named William Shakespeare to front her work. 

Told in intertwining timelines, By Any Other Name, a sweeping tale of ambition, courage, and desire centers two women who are determined to create something beautiful despite the prejudices they face. Should a writer do whatever it takes to see her story live on . . . no matter the cost? This remarkable novel, rooted in primary historical sources, ensures the name Emilia Bassano will no longer be forgotten. 

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Inspiring. 

I loved this book for many reasons, including the characters, the plot, and the emotions of the characters. I've been reading Jodi Picoult since I was in college for my associate’s degree, and while there were some that I loved more than others, there hasn't been a single book of hers that I didn't enjoy reading. I've heard a lot about her recent book, By Any Other Name , and the title alone will make anyone curious enough to pick it up and check it out. I'm so glad I finally got the chance to read this book, and now that I've done so, I can see why so many people were talking about it and why it was nominated for favorite historical fiction in the Goodreads Choice Awards. This is unlike any other Picoult book I've read, and it had me up until 1:00 a.m. because I wanted to know what happened to all the characters, particularly Melina and Emilia. 

I liked how it was done in two timelines and from the perspectives of Melina and Emilia; I thought it brought the story to life more. I liked how the play's writing intertwined Melina and Emilia's experiences and how the two timelines related to each other. I liked reading about Emilia and Melina because, despite their own perceptions, they were both strong and inspirational women. Nevertheless, I found Emilia's story to be more engaging to read; I sensed that more was happening in hers. I was impressed by Emilia's determination; she never gave up and continued to write despite everything that was going on in her life. A part of me wondered if the real 'author' would be uncovered; I didn't think it was fair that she wasn't receiving credit for all her writing. Throughout the novel, I was rooting for her happy ending. I was cheering for Melina to get her play produced because I had a sense there would be problems if a real writer was discovered. 

I studied and read William Shakespeare's plays in high school. Never did it occur to me that he was not the author. That surprised me, and it motivated me to conduct my own research on the topic. Picoult's novel, By Any Other Name , reflects her deep research. It's one of the reasons I adore her books. However, I believe the book was a little too long, and some portions dragged on and were difficult to get into. Despite that, the book was difficult to put down. This is the novel that will make you think; a story that you will be unable to forget. Following this book, I'm eager to see what Jodi Picoult has in store for us next!