Book Review #36 - The Middle Place

Kelly Corrigan describes The Middle Place as "...being a parent and a child at the same time. It is about the special double-vision you get when you are standing with one foot in each place. It is about the family you make and the family you came from and locating, navigating, and finally celebrating the place where they meet."

The first line of the prologue sets the tone by announcing, "The most important thing you need to know about me is that I'm George Corrigan's daughter." By the end of the book, there couldn't be a truer statement. I admit that my own parents and siblings are still an important, almost daily part of my life. Yet, I am in the throes of my own chaotic family, filled with a husband who probably wishes I focused more on "us" and three little boys who rule my world. This is my existence and until I read Corrigan's description, I would never have given it a label. Now that I know about it, I think it's perfect. Of course! The middle place! Why didn't I think of that?

Although this is Corrigan's personal memoir about dealing with breast cancer in her thirties with two young daughters while simultaneously worrying about her father's own diagnosis with bladder cancer on the other side of the country, it never feels like non-fiction. The author is able to focus her writing on the story at hand and although there are plenty of times she veers away from the given chronology, each side story adds so much depth to her characters...real people in this case, that you're always glad for the detour.

I finished the book quickly, charmed by her Irish/Catholic family and with an almost jealous wish I had written this. Of course, I don't wish for the cancer stuff, but I loved the format using a present day reality intermixed with childhood stories full of memories including my brother and sisters and parents, who, I've learned since becoming an adult, are human beings independent of being my "Mom" and "Dad". Of course, my story wouldn't include any vulgar language, this book's only flaw, in my opinion. As much as I wish the occasional curse weren't in there, so that I could freely recommend it to any reader, it is there and she makes it so. On purpose. It's part of her. So, although I probably should have, I didn't really mind.

There are several parts of the book that had me laughing out loud, but the most memorable to me is the author's thoughts on having a large family. Her description on having four children - AP Parenting is what she calls it, made me long for one more. Being academically competitive, I agreed with her reasoning and found myself wanting AP credit! Once I finished the book, however, and removed myself from her middle place, I returned to my own middle place and realized how good I've got it with my three.

I really liked this. If you've got the mind to - go read it!