This book was very hit or miss for me. As the author struggles to figure out her medical issues and all of the fall out from that you cheer for her in every way to get her life sorted. In spite of cheering her one some parts of this book drag on.

I'm not sure what to make of this book. I enjoyed some parts of it, but found others hard to get through. I sympathize with the author as she tries to define her illness, but at tbe same time it was a bit too much at times.

This memoir starts a little unevenly with each chapter feeling rather discrete however it is saved by the wry wit of the author. Once her illness manifests itself it becomes a mystery to be unravelled although her wit still peeps through.
The ultimate strength of this memoir is in the author's ability to believe in herself despite the medical system and especially when those close to her choose not to believe her.
Women in particular are often ascribed some psychological defect if their medical complaint can't be easily diagnosed. This attitude runs rife through our medical system and demonstrates how sexist it still is despite more women becoming GPs than men.
To be able to tell this story without resorting to anger and bitterness is testament to the author's prowess.

The lyric, evocative prose is the standout of this somewhat disjointed and still beautiful memoir. The book weaves Black's father's death and her chronic illness together in a fragmented story that feels fitting for the emotional material. The only drawback for me, though I am still a big fan of the book: in a memoir so otherwise wonderfully crafted, the lack of cohesion between the two narratives, which are largely explored in separate halves of the book, disrupted the overall arc of the book and left me feeling a bit as though I'd read two different books.

Hit or miss in this volume. When the Author writes about her dad she shines. When the story turns to the quest to define her illness it's easy to get bogged down in the details. Later chapters are back to being funny, often ironic, poignant, relatable. Overall, a quick easy read worth the distraction.

Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley

This has generated a divergent set of reviews. Read it for what it is- a short meditation on family and illness. It's funny in spots and sad in others. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

An engaging memoir Althea Blacks’ storytelling drew me right in .Her parents separation her love for her quirky Dad an MIT Professor.Her dads death her sudden bout with a strange illness that sends her on a journey to find healing. The author has a unique voice I will be reading her first book & looking forward to her next adventure.Thanks#littleApublishers #netgalley .