At first, I thought it would be a replay of "Women Talking," which I enjoyed but wasn't sure I wanted to relive. Then, a few pages in, I almost put it down because the opening essay is about Polley's scoliosis, a condition that runs in our family and about which I have a fair amount of guilt.
But it is not about "Women Talking" and I pressed on through the scoliosis parts, and less than two weeks later I finished the book, wanting more.
Honesty is endearing, and Sarah Polley is not only scrupulously honest, but honestly funny, even when she's describing sexual abuse, placenta previa and a concussion. The book's title and theme, "run towards the danger," come from her neurologist, who not only heals her brain but gives her a motto to live by — don't shy away from what frightens you, embrace it instead. Not a bad message for this (or perhaps any) stage of life. So here's to books loaned by friends — and friends who loan books. Sometimes they know what you need better than you do.
(It's telling I had to hunt for a photo to illustrate this post. Are the "Exorcist Stairs" as close as I come to danger?)