Title: Thorny Life (2nd Edition)
Author: Gurinder Abrol
Publisher: Diamond Media Press Co.
ISBN: 978-195130292-4
Genre: Memoir
Pages: 80
Reviewed by: Gabriella Harrison
Hollywood Book Reviews
Gurinder Abrol provides valuable insight about cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis in her memoir, Thorny Life (2nd Edition). In this memoir, she shares what it’s like to be an Asian woman with a disability and how to some, that means having a contagious disease. However, there is enough evidence in this book that life doesn’t end with a medical diagnosis as she details her wins amidst the constant battles with her health. Also, the importance of a determined mind is highlighted.
This book is divided into two parts. Part One, deals with her early life spent in the United Kingdom, India, and Germany. It was during her first visit to India that she experienced an allergic reaction to an insect bite and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at fifteen months old. This section also offers a glimpse into her teenage years in boarding school, in which she essentially had to learn independence, as her parents were extremely busy with work. She also expresses the excitement she felt going to Germany to meet her soon-to-be husband and becoming a newlywed, albeit short-lived. Eventually, she welcomes a baby boy who she cherishes. Gurinder’s determination spurs her to earn a degree from the University of Birmingham and switch career paths while raising her son as a single mom with the help of her mom after her husband walked out on them.
Part Two focuses on her health challenges and their drastic impact on her life. Here, she expresses how dangerous poor communication and lack of sensitivity can be in the health sector. For example, she was initially given the wrong prescriptions, which proved unhelpful to her condition and didn’t alert her to the seriousness of what she had to face medically early enough.
In this book, Gurinder gives an open account of her life by adequately conveying her emotions and reactions through her expressive writing style. Her creativity and perseverance are reflected in the pages of this concise book, and one can’t help but admire and be inspired by the courageous life she has lived, even with all the limitations thrown in her path. Her eagerness to always try new things and live an active life was simply fascinating. She didn’t let her condition or what the doctors were saying stop her from living. She travelled to foreign lands to seek knowledge and grow in her chosen career path, and she maintained a friendly demeaner and constantly mentioned the new people she was able to befriend. This definitely wouldn’t have been possible if she allowed herself to feel inferior or sulk. Her active involvement in sports and various forms of exercise was also nice to read. There are also some really lovely pictures in the book, which help bring her story to life. Another beautiful addition is her poetry.
This book would suit anyone who enjoys memoirs, biographies, and autobiographies. Also, anyone interested in reading about an overcomer and how life doesn’t have to end with a medical diagnosis will find this book insightful. Anyone wondering about cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis and what it means to live with them will find this book a valuable resource on the subject. People living with chronic illnesses can also draw inspiration from this book.
Overall, this is an insightful and inspiring memoir that serves as a reminder to treat people with kindness because everyone is facing battles in varying degrees.