Autobiography of a Face

By: Lucy Grealy

Narrated by: Coleen Marlo

Length: 5 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

"I spent five years of my life being treated for cancer, but since then I've spent 15 years being treated for nothing other than looking different from everyone else. It was the pain from that, from feeling ugly, that I always viewed as the great tragedy of my life. The fact that I had cancer seemed minor in comparison."

At age nine, Lucy Grealy was diagnosed with a potentially terminal cancer. When she returned to school with a third of her jaw removed, she faced the cruel taunts of classmates. In this strikingly candid memoir, Grealy tells her story of great suffering and remarkable strength without sentimentality and with considerable wit. Vividly portraying the pain of peer rejection and the guilty pleasures of wanting to be special, Grealy captures with unique insight what it is like as a child and young adult to be torn between two warring impulses: to feel that more than anything else we want to be loved for who we are, while wishing desperately and secretly to be perfect.

©1994 Lucy Grealy (P)2016 Tantor

Critic reviews

"This harrowing, lyrical autobiographical memoir...is a striking meditation on the distorting effects of our culture's preoccupation with physical beauty." ( Publishers Weekly)

Heartwrenching, but perspective building...

This is a tale that reminded me to appreciate the gifts of childhood that I squandered and recognize the impact my parents insecurities had on my judgment of myself. Powerful recollections from a human with awe inspiring strength.

Worth reading twice

I read this when it came out and put it on the shelf for rereads and favorites. Listening to it again after a couple of decades it still holds up as a beautiful telling of what it is like to try to navigate this world when you look different from everyone. (and that’s is everyone to differing degrees.) Though her deformity was extreme I could really empathize with her anxiety just going through normal life. Whether you identify with that or not, I believe her experience can expand our humanity to include everyone and treat them accordingly whatever their appearance. After listening to it again I’m reading it from a point of wholeness and health while before I was broken and struggling. Her courage is still striking. Though she later ended her life, she fought the good fight and if you like to read about survivors you will love this. To me she is still a survivor for every day that she fought through, and that was every day. Let her show you another example of the human spirit to overcome dreadful circumstances. I hope this book keeps her story alive.

Fascinating memoir

Moving account of an extraordinary journey. But it's one we can all see ourselves in to some extent.

I never knew...

I was a high school classmate of Lucy and never knew the struggles she went through in her life...

Not at all how I remember this book

I read this book a decade ago and it has always stayed with me as a rebuttal (even though it came first) to Ann Patchetts memoir Truth and Beauty. In my mind it demonstrated how completely differently two people can experience the same thing. Ann P’s beautiful tribute described Lucy’s procrastinating on submitting her book and meeting deadlines. I remember that Lucy’s book contained a multitude of justifications for delaying her work and the opposite ways of looking at the same situation was interesting and human.

However, upon listening to it now, it was simply a long list of the surgeries and misery that Lucy Grealy endured and I didn’t find it at all interesting, surprising or enlightening. I’m a bit bewildered that the things I most loved about this book and remembered… are simply not there.
This isn’t a great listen unless you like to more yourself in surgical tales.

Rewarding listen even if memoir is not your thing

I hesitated thinking it might be an unbearably sad memoir but glad I went ahead and used my credit. Beautifully written, Lucy Grealy became a lauded poet and taught at Bennington College. I was hooked from the prologue. Also looks at the medical advances or not in reconstructive surgery and the failings of our medical profession.. A wonderful narrator which made listening a pleasure. Don't hesitate. Get this.

Pathos and Resilience

I read the memoir by her friend first, but couldn't resist going back to read this. Her resilience is amazing. Her honesty truly surprising and she details her life very matter-of-factly I high recommend it, especially if you enjoy memoirs from unique voices.

Endurance. Grace.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Autobiography of a Face?

The sight of the woman in the sun porch. And the tour of the house where the author's Birth mother labored with her.

What about Coleen Marlo’s performance did you like?

That she spoke of so many deep issues on experiences and feelings with a tone that exuded example. Example on how to acknowledge and own feelings but not to react in negative ways. it's so easy to jump into anger but the tone stopped that before it ever happened.

Any additional comments?

I loved that this book is a real picture of real feelings throughout. It never fluffed anything up as far as what really happens in the hearts and minds of a child with no real say in the matter. I feel like it's a good story for those who have been there to hear-if only to validate the effects of all of it. I'll surely keep Lucy in my heart for a very long time as a reminder that my feelings are very real, and that I can gather strength in the most positive ways during my own upcoming reconstructive surgeries (again). Thank you, Lucy, for sharing. For all of it. Thank you.

Honest without drama

Soul bearing telling of an experience that gives great insight into what it feels like to struggle with an overwhelming medical problem and how hard it is to bear both personally and also deal with others thoughtless reactions.

autobiography of a survivor

She survive the many years from childhood to adulthood with all the traumas, physically and emotionally, as a consequence of having cancer diagnosed at an early age. She wrote with such eloquent precision about her journey of challenges and healing, though childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.