Riva Lehrer is a young Jewish girl from Cincinnati, who doesn't know a life without physical handicap. This memoir takes us from her birth with spina bifida through her adulthood and all the surgeries and interventions in-between. Lehrer recounts her life with humor and wryness- a winning combination. She allows us to see her as any girl, but also as those among us who want to be seen and treated as 'normal.'

Publisher sent me ARC
Golem - Hebrew for "shapeless mass"

April 25, 1958- baby born with spina bifida
Starting at age 2, mother teaches her to be seen to survive. Age 4, gets to come home for first time.

Condon School - bus 100% visible driving around
describing going on field trip and being the field trip spectacle
changed my viewpoints to her viewpoint.

Disability Culture spotlight
Need to spread awareness, understanding, equality, and visibility!

A sprawling memoir by artist Riva Lehrer, who has spina bifida. Lehrer writes with gusto about her life and the lives of her family members, lovers, and friends, and while the writing is often interesting, it could have used a good, strong edit for clarity of chronology and other issues. And while Lehrer sets up the memoir by connecting herself with the mythical Golem, she only returns to this theme sporadically, making it feel like an add-on in many places. Lehrer does a good job of explaining the challenges she has face because of her disabilities and how she has incorporated disability and identity into her work, but unfortunately she also comes across as demanding, often unpleasant, and dismissive of others' concerns or needs.

I love memoirs and this one did not disappoint! It covers topics that are not usually addressed like disabilities and how this woman used her artistic abilities to overcome obstacles with her circumstance. It was eye opening and very insightful, but above all inspiring! Highly recommend for those struggling with what's normal for them and how to come to terms with their own unique version of normalcy.

This book is not a light read, but not all books are meant to be easy. Riva Lehrer's illustrated memoir of her life with spina bifida is illuminating. As Riva is one of the first children to survive with the diagnosis, she has a unique perspective to share.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

This is a very complex biography of a women who is born with Spina Bifida. The book details her entire life from the time her parents found out they were pregnant and to the time she was born and throughout her life. Riva Lehrer, the author is very detailed on all the medical history and medical procedures of spina bifida and all she went through. This is one of the most detailed medically books about one’s physical impairment I have ever read. I have grown up with my own bone disease and I couldn’t imagine all that she went through and how much it encouraged and empowered her to take the intiative to educate herself in medicine and learn about what she had. She had to advocate for herself like her parents tried to do for herself but they didn’t have the knowledge so it was difficult but they did push for great doctors and didn’t just put her in an institute as a baby like doctors insisted. This book is a good read if you are into medical biographies. There is a lot of medical language and talk of procedures but it shows how she perseveres through it.

Riva is nothing short of a survivor. Her story is heartbreaking, but Riva is resilient and a force to be reckoned with. She is an inspiration for trauma survivors everywhere, if I personally would say. I definitely had to take breaks from the book and practice self care, because it can be overwhelming and triggering, especially if you can relate to what’s going on, but I encourage readers to continue with the book and see to the rainbow at the end of all the grey. Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for a review.

There is no denying that Riva Lehrer has lived an extraordinary life. Her illustrations are striking and show skillful imagination & talent. Her writing is equally evocative however, I don’t have the fortitude to continue reading her tragic family story. At 33% I’m mentally exhausted. I’m sorry for all that Riva has experienced and I hope this book offered her a creative release but as a reader I am not able to continue.
I will not be leaving any reviews as I did not finish the book and feel inadequate in properly offering a review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for offering me an ARC of Golem Girl.