Official Review: This Is Me by gary wilson
Posted: 16 Jun 2020, 22:06
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "This Is Me" by gary wilson.]
Has your life turned out how you imagined it? In his memoir, This Is Me, Gary Wilson recounts his experiences from his birth as the fourth son of a single mother to the present day. Readers observe how experiences that were beyond his control shaped his life.
Gary was the youngest of four boys born to a single mother. When the twins (Gary and David) were born, she realized that she could not care for all four of her children. To keep the boys together, they were all placed in an orphanage for six months and then went into foster care. After eight years, the Wilson’s adopted the twins. Gary went to school, got several part-time jobs, and helped around the house. His shaky relationship with his adopted mother led her to call the police to issue an arrest warrant for Gary.
To avoid prison time, Gary went into the Navy at only seventeen years of age. He studied to be a Radioman and enjoyed this work until an accident with a saw damaged his finger. After having surgery, the doctor informed him that he would no longer be able to fulfill his duties as a Radioman. The Navy issued him a medical discharge. Gary’s life plans changed as he searched for a job and married Kristi. Work and family occupied his time until the day of the accident. Gary’s world was, once again, turned upside down.
The one thing that impacted me about all of Gary’s experiences was his extraordinarily positive mindset. He shared his philosophy about life. “It’s not the things that happen to us that make us. It is what we do ABOUT it that makes us who we are” (loc. 36). His erratic childhood could have made him angry. The volatile relationship with his adopted mother could have hardened into a bitter disposition towards life. Losing his Navy career could have sunk him into despair. Gary decided to adopt a different attitude. His forgiving spirit and resilient personality helped him to develop a friendly and outgoing demeanor that accepted everything life threw at him.
Gary included one photo at the beginning of the book. I wished that the picture had been titled and placed in the chapter where this event occurred.
After the accident, Gary was in a coma for two and a half weeks. He had difficulties with his memory and with numbers. The book had many misspelled words. I believe these were purposely left uncorrected as a reflection of his ongoing health challenges. I also would have enjoyed a photo of Gary’s twin brother. There are some episodes of heavy drinking with friends, a brief reference to a sexual act, and one mention of light profanity.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. A professional proofreader could have corrected the misspelling of simple words like “bur for but” and “hiss for his.” This book would be an inspiring read for anyone who feels that they have been dealt a bad hand in life. People who have had negative experiences with their family or work situation would benefit from Gary’s positive attitude and decision to look for the good in every situation. Gary inspires readers to look at life as a constant stream of possibilities. We have a choice every day to feel sorry for ourselves or to do something about our situation. “I remember that I am in control of my body and situations.” (p. 102)
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This Is Me
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Has your life turned out how you imagined it? In his memoir, This Is Me, Gary Wilson recounts his experiences from his birth as the fourth son of a single mother to the present day. Readers observe how experiences that were beyond his control shaped his life.
Gary was the youngest of four boys born to a single mother. When the twins (Gary and David) were born, she realized that she could not care for all four of her children. To keep the boys together, they were all placed in an orphanage for six months and then went into foster care. After eight years, the Wilson’s adopted the twins. Gary went to school, got several part-time jobs, and helped around the house. His shaky relationship with his adopted mother led her to call the police to issue an arrest warrant for Gary.
To avoid prison time, Gary went into the Navy at only seventeen years of age. He studied to be a Radioman and enjoyed this work until an accident with a saw damaged his finger. After having surgery, the doctor informed him that he would no longer be able to fulfill his duties as a Radioman. The Navy issued him a medical discharge. Gary’s life plans changed as he searched for a job and married Kristi. Work and family occupied his time until the day of the accident. Gary’s world was, once again, turned upside down.
The one thing that impacted me about all of Gary’s experiences was his extraordinarily positive mindset. He shared his philosophy about life. “It’s not the things that happen to us that make us. It is what we do ABOUT it that makes us who we are” (loc. 36). His erratic childhood could have made him angry. The volatile relationship with his adopted mother could have hardened into a bitter disposition towards life. Losing his Navy career could have sunk him into despair. Gary decided to adopt a different attitude. His forgiving spirit and resilient personality helped him to develop a friendly and outgoing demeanor that accepted everything life threw at him.
Gary included one photo at the beginning of the book. I wished that the picture had been titled and placed in the chapter where this event occurred.
After the accident, Gary was in a coma for two and a half weeks. He had difficulties with his memory and with numbers. The book had many misspelled words. I believe these were purposely left uncorrected as a reflection of his ongoing health challenges. I also would have enjoyed a photo of Gary’s twin brother. There are some episodes of heavy drinking with friends, a brief reference to a sexual act, and one mention of light profanity.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. A professional proofreader could have corrected the misspelling of simple words like “bur for but” and “hiss for his.” This book would be an inspiring read for anyone who feels that they have been dealt a bad hand in life. People who have had negative experiences with their family or work situation would benefit from Gary’s positive attitude and decision to look for the good in every situation. Gary inspires readers to look at life as a constant stream of possibilities. We have a choice every day to feel sorry for ourselves or to do something about our situation. “I remember that I am in control of my body and situations.” (p. 102)
******
This Is Me
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Great job!