Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Harbuck's remarkable life story is told in raw, compelling fashion. When I Grow Up I Want to be a Chair: A Memoir is an honest, emotional, and humorous reflection on how losing the use of her legs changed the author's life.
Prose: The author discusses some very dark moments in her life, most of which stem from the car accident that left her paralyzed and her boyfriend dead when they were just teenagers, but this darkness is punctuated with hope, acceptance, humor, and a smattering of small miracles that makes it a delight to read.
Originality: The author tells the story of her life up to adulthood, but the narrative is structured in such a way that the chapters are more like interlocking essays, each related to the others but also interesting on their own. This polished memoir strikes a great balance between jumping around in time, creating some narrative interest and tension, without confusing the reader.
Character Development/Execution: Overall this is an engaging, emotional read that keeps the reader's attention throughout. Readers also may wish for more discussion of the idea behind the title and how it ties into the text.
Date Submitted: November 09, 2022
Life took a new turn for Ryan Rae Harbuck when she suffered a car accident that landed her in the hospital, unable to move around like she used to. As she learned to see herself through a new lens, Ryan experienced different challenges, including having to grow up quickly, watching her mother struggle with addiction, loss, heartbreak, and more. At the other end of Ryan's trying moments are exciting, blissful days that involved trips to other countries, discovering the joy of motherhood, getting married, and getting a dream job. In When I Grow Up I Want to Be a Chair, Ryan Rae Harbuck shares a deeply compelling and inspiring story about coming to terms with being a paralytic as a teenager and growing up to become a mother with a plethora of experiences and lessons.
What an artistic, elegant, and profound memoir! Ryan Rae Harbuck is an incredibly talented writer, and I would love to see more of her works. It's the way may of the events in When I Grow Up I Want to Be a Chair are described creatively and profoundly that amazed me and kept me glued for more. An example is the part where the concept of time is described as impossible to hold but "all around you." For a nonlinear narrative, the different parts fit together quite well as it's clear to see the various factors and events that contributed to making the author the strong, wise woman she is today. You should read this treasure of a book if you enjoy true stories that touch the deepest part of your soul and motivate you to keep looking forward to the next day.
9News Colorado & Company segment-- From Athlete to Author with Ryan Harbuck
- Ryan Rae Harbuck is a new author, swim coach, speaker, wife, and mom.
- The following is an excerpt from her book, "When I Grow Up I Want to Be a Chair."
- In it, Harbuck recounts the last weeks of pregnancy and the doctor that took care of her.
- Ryan Rae Harbuck is a new author, swim coach, speaker, wife, and mom.
- The following is an excerpt from her book, "When I Grow Up I Want to Be a Chair."
- In it, Harbuck recounts putting her child to bed and getting a question about her wheelchair.
Zibby speaks to teacher, swim coach, and writer Ryan Rae Harbuck about When I Grow Up I Want to Be a Chair, a raw, humorous, and profound new memoir about her paralyzing car accident in her teens and the decision to live a life of courage, ambition, and adventure after it. Ryan shares the gut-wrenching details of her accident–the school dance and midnight bowling, the crash on the highway, the spinal cord injuries and broken bones, the loss of her boyfriend, the disintegration of her family, and a new life in a wheelchair. Finally, she explains how swimming, teaching, coaching, and paralympic competitions changed her life.
