Review of By Accident

[Jennifer Mettert]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "By Accident" by Joanne Greene.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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The memoir written by Joanne Greene titled By Accident is a story that takes you on a roller coaster of every emotion you can think of. The incredible journey of Joanne Greene is filled with hardships that have a life-altering change for the author. It makes Joanne realize that maintaining constant control is a façade and learning to lean on others isn't a terrible thing. That struggle is not without beauty.

Joanne starts off her memoir By Accident about getting hit by a moving vehicle while walking on a crosswalk. How it was like a dream she couldn't wake from. Although severely injured by the hit, Joanne survives and goes through a tough recovery. During this time, Joanne had no choice but to accept her vulnerabilities. For example, on page 161 "I am enough. And I acknowledge to myself that it's good that I'm strong because, inevitably, life will dole out more surprises, more opportunities to gather all my resources and survive intact." She finds the will within herself to not give up and accepts that she doesn't have to do it alone.

Joanne learns that her husband Fred truly is her rock and that he can step up and handle the hurdles that face their way. For example, on page 166 "Fred opens his arms to envelop me, and while I'm not fully ready to be held, I melt onto his chest. That old pattern of pushing him away when I was hurting never served me. He's here to go through this with me, and it's happening to him too. Letting him in feels good." It showed her that her family and friends truly care for her, even when times are rough. As Joanne heals, she faces other hardships that try to take her down. But with therapy, hard work, family, friends, religion, and an open mind, Joanne can face these challenges with a strong mind and heart.

I was deeply moved by Joanne's story and even felt myself tear up here and there. I resonated with so many things Joanne has gone through in her lifetime and respect the author for sharing her story. The only setback I had when reading By Accident was that the jump from past to present could sometimes be jarring. However, it was a minor issue and easily ignored. I enjoyed Joanne's life story and how introspective she was.

I rate By Accident by Joanne Greene 4 out of 5 stars. I would recommend this memoir to anyone ready for a heart-wrenching story.

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By Accident
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