Review of My Brave Face

[Fredrick Felix Mnjala Maneno]

[Following is a volunteer review of "My Brave Face" by Heather Simpson.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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When I picked My Brave Face by Heather Simpson I have to admit that I was resigned to the fact that it would just be another run-of-the-mill memoir giving facts in a dispassionate and alien manner as some are wont to do. I was happily dispossessed of the notion that this was just another memoir to get the author's story out. A really compelling read that will take the reader on a rollercoaster of emotions as they get to know Heather Simpson and her family intimately. This six-part memoir of their lives from infancy is a detailed recounting of how a disease that as terrifying as it was unknown at the time shaped their lives and led them on an unforgettable journey.

My Brave Face starts off with the author narrating her early life and how Osteogenesis Imperfecta, also known as Brittle Bones, affected her personally. The book has very detailed recollections of her own harrowing experience with the disease. Heather also includes some really engaging anecdotes that helped to relive the tension for the reader. Like the time she and her brother, Tom, were hungry and Tom decided to make snail sandwiches by removing the snails from their shells and wrapping them up in bread! I really liked how the book contained pictures giving a clear progression of the disease in Stephen, the author's son, and also their travels around the world. The pictures give the reader a chance to get to know the family and friends and see what they went through firsthand. There are also excerpts of letters from the author's mother to her and a couple to and from Stephen and his father, Ray, which give the book a personal touch.

I have to mention that the book does not just dwell on the disease and how it affected the family but also follows them on their life journey and what they went through to make a living. A case in point was when they ran a business renting out water bikes in Hawaii. A gang of locals wanted in on the business on very unfair terms and Ray had to outwit them before leaving Hawaii to open up shop in the Caribbean. It also details their move to America from Australia and back all in an attempt to get employment and the major historical events that they witnessed including the moon landing and J.F.K's assassination to name a few.

There was nothing to dislike about the book. The storyline is well laid out and one can follow the timeline easily enough. The book seems to have been professionally edited as I found only two errors and this made it quite an easy read. This prompts me to give the book a rating of 5 out of 5.

I would recommend the book to anyone who has a soft spot for memoirs. I would also highly recommend it to anyone who suffers from or has a loved one who suffers from Osteogenesis Imperfecta. This book can go a long way in giving them hope for living a full a fulfilling life even with the obvious limitations that the disease brings about. Stephen's positive outlook on life and his thirst for living life on his own terms is a true statement to his courage.

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My Brave Face
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