I am deep in memoir season, it’s literally a memoir a week over here. I just love reading about the life and times of people from different walks of life, who have been on very different journeys to my own and who have been through very different trials… because we have all been through trials. Learning and discovering along the way.
Unleashed is the journey of Caitlin Venniker as she navigated her way through veterinary school at South Africa’s only institution for becoming a veterinarian, Onderstepoort in Pretoria. I had friends who studied there, when I was at varsity, and seems like not a lot has changed. The “ups and downs” of her life lead us through the highs and lows of student life on a very different campus to the usual one… one interspersed with animals and animal classes… and often times hilarious situations. If you have kids who are away studying and young adults launching into the world, then this read will be especially delightful. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
When you live in the limelight and your life falls apart… this is the story of Rachel Kolisi, and what a brave story it is. It’s honest, it’s difficult and she is one brave heart. She is not afraid to tell it how it is and at the same time, in no way telling anyone else’s story either. This is her story, her journey and her path to recovery… it’s a fast read, it’s inspiring… and a clear example of respecting those around you, while maintaining boundaries. This is a great read, packed with hope for folk going through personal trials, while having to put on a brave face for the world around them.
Paul Kalanithi spends the first part of the book training to be a neurosurgeon, and the overwhelmingly hard work of being a medical intern. As he trains long and difficult hours and has to come to terms with treating patients that don’t have a good prognosis. And then he receives his own cancer diagnosis and in a moment he crosses over from medical professional to patient. This second part of the book is devoted to his journey… and the epilogue, written by his wife, Lucy Kalanithi, is the part of the book I enjoyed the most. You know from the start that this book is going to be sad, it was… for so many reasons. This is poignant book and if you enjoy memoirs, it is a must read.