Official Review: Love & Justice

[peprica21]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Love & Justice" by Diana Morgan-Hill.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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What are your legs worth? This is the question debated in the memoir Love & Justice by Diana Morgan-Hill, after she loses both limbs in a terrible accident.

Twenty-nine year old Diana was stepping through open doors and on to a British Rail train in London, something she did multiple times a day, when the train unexpectedly lurched forward. This caused her to fall between the platform and the train. A second jolt of the train and Diana finds herself trapped below the platform, on the tracks. When Diana is finally rescued by emergency personnel, she discovers one leg is mangled and the other gone.

Diana goes through five surgeries to repair the damage done to her lower body. After her long stay in the hospital, she spends months in a rehabilitation center relearning to walk again with prosthetics. As she pushes through this difficult time, she discusses all the support she receives from friends, family and co-workers. However, she also describes the breakdown of her romantic relationship as side effect of the accident.

During her stay in the hospital she discovers British Rail is taking her to trial for trying to catch a “moving train”. Diana is beside herself. She cannot understand how British Rail could claim this accident was her fault. She decides to fight and hires a legal team to take into battle against British Rail.

Years of fighting in court causes strain on Diana, her family and her business. Her whole life is broken down, securitized and questioned. During trial, Diana is made to justify how much her legs cost her, what she could have done if she was not disabled and what type of regular medical care she needs in the future.

One of the concepts that stood out to me in this memoir was how Diana stayed strong in the face of such hell she had to endure. Reading about Diana’s struggles and strength made me evaluate my own life. Her words brought up emotions and thoughts I would have never considered. This is one of those stories that stays with you, makes you think and if you let it, changes your perspective on life.

The writing style of this tragic story is harsh and raw, which is what grabs me into the narrative and doesn’t let go. It is refreshing to read an account so true to the emotional, financial and social roller coaster one experiences when becoming disabled so suddenly. Morgan-Hill described her life events in such detail that I felt I was experiencing these events with her. Since Diana is British, her writing style and dialog in the story does contain slang that I had a hard time interpreting because I’m not British.

I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. Through Diana’s journey I cried, laughed and felt anger and happiness. This story affected me on a deeper level and was very well written. I recommend this book to anyone who loves to read non-fiction or memoirs, anyone who would enjoy an emotional journey or anyone who is looking for a story with a strong female character.

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Love & Justice
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Like peprica21's review? Post a comment saying so!

[Blackbird]

Thanks, Peprica21 for this great review.

[peprica21]

Thank you Blackbird!

[kimmyschemy06]

This sounds like my type of story. You see, when everything is going right in our lives, we have a hard time thinking or even considering that something might go wrong. So, when something indeed goes wrong, accepting is tough and living through it is even tougher.

[peprica21]

This sounds like my type of story. You see, when everything is going right in our lives, we have a hard time thinking or even considering that something might go wrong. So, when something indeed goes wrong, accepting is tough and living through it is even tougher.

Thank you for your insightful comment. I hope you do get a chance to read this book!

[bookowlie]

Great review! On top of the woman's tragic accident, that's wild that British Rail tried to blame her.

[Blackbird]

This book is on a 99c offer for a few days & is Pixel of Ink's Book of The day.

[Tanaya]

Wow. I enjoy reading emotional books from time to time, and I really like your description of her writing as being "harsh and raw." Sounds like a truly gripping book. Great review!

[peprica21]

Thank you Bookowlie and Tanaya!

[zaynab_m]

Wonderful review, peprica21! The book sounds interesting; based on reality and events thay could happen to anyone, anywhere, and also how one event leads to another, how that one event could influence your life forever. Thanks for the review

[peprica21]

Yes, as her life unfolds after the accident it is crazy and inspiring to see how everything came together and played out Zaynab_m. Thank you!