Truth and Beauty by Ann Patchett
This book left me in wonder. I had to wonder at the depth and strength of Ann Patchett's friendship with Lucy Grealy, a fellow writer, but more than that I had to wonder that Lucy didn't give up sooner.
They are both writers. They meet in grad school. Oh, and Lucy is missing a big chunk of her face.
As a child she suffered from a cancer that destroyed her lower jaw. Her life becomes a battle to restore her face. Her appearance and her battle do not take away her spirit, nor is she lacking for friends. But she struggles -- "Will I find someone who loves me?" she'll ask often. "Do you love me?"
Ann Patchett surely does. This is a non-fiction account by Ann of their days together and their struggles to become published authors. They love each other, need each other and have wonderful times together. Lucy's memoir, "Autobriography of a Face" becomes a best-seller, but her battle takes its toll not only on her body, but finally, on her spirit. When, after 38 surgeries she is not better, she sinks into depression and despair.
Soon she is dead.
Patchett's achievement is that, even while we try to imagine what Lucy looks like, we know she is beautiful.
I loved "Autobiography of a Face." I'll have to check this one out!
I'll definitely add this to my "must read" list!