Assessment:

Idea: The memoir’s premise is quite unique: the situation of having a stroke at 20 years old, as well as experiencing multiple brain surgeries, is unusual and generates interest.

Prose/Style: There are some graceful metaphors throughout the text, but also some clichés. This book would benefit from a professional copy edit, as the narrative tends to break into expository reminiscence to events far in the past when it should be moving forward; such digression detracts from the momentum. The description of the writer's out-of-body experience during his first brain surgery is the kind of excellent writing the book needs more of in order to fulfill its potential.

Originality: The narrator is something of an Everyman – an otherwise “normal” millennial, a college student and an athlete, placed in a very not-normal situation by a life-threatening medical condition.

Character Development/Execution: Many of the characters here would benefit from more development, rather than only being names on the page. The romance with Sydney is sweet and has moments of great charm and nostalgia.

Date Submitted: December 05, 2020