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Louise: Amended
"A massive brain trauma robbed fashionable young Louise of the shallow currency she'd banked on all her life, and the resulting struggle is a page-turner in which a person's very soul deepens before your eyes. Louise: Amended rewards a reader's time—a must read."—Mary Karr
A beautiful young woman from Kansas is about to embark on the life of her dreams—California! Glossy journalism! French boyfriend!—only to suffer a brain bleed that collapses the right side of her body, leaving her with double vision, facial paralysis, and a dragging foot. An unflinching, wise, and darkly funny portrait of sudden disability and painstaking recovery, the memoir presents not only Louise's perspective, but also the reaction of her loved ones—we see, in fictional interludes, what it must have been like for Louise's boyfriend to bathe her, or for her mother to apply lipstick to her nearly immobile mouth. Challenging the notion that one person's tragedy is a single person's story, Louise: Amended depicts a dismantling—and rebirth—of an entire family.
At age twenty-two, Louise Krug suffered a brain bleed and underwent an emergency craniotomy that disrupted her ability to walk, see, and move half her face. Now, six years later, Louise has astounded doctors and loved ones by recovering not only much of her vision and mobility, but a ferocious spirit and enviable grace. She currently lives with her husband Nick and daughter Olive in Lawrence, Kansas, where she's a PhD candidate and teacher.
A beautiful young woman from Kansas is about to embark on the life of her dreams—California! Glossy journalism! French boyfriend!—only to suffer a brain bleed that collapses the right side of her body, leaving her with double vision, facial paralysis, and a dragging foot. An unflinching, wise, and darkly funny portrait of sudden disability and painstaking recovery, the memoir presents not only Louise's perspective, but also the reaction of her loved ones—we see, in fictional interludes, what it must have been like for Louise's boyfriend to bathe her, or for her mother to apply lipstick to her nearly immobile mouth. Challenging the notion that one person's tragedy is a single person's story, Louise: Amended depicts a dismantling—and rebirth—of an entire family.
At age twenty-two, Louise Krug suffered a brain bleed and underwent an emergency craniotomy that disrupted her ability to walk, see, and move half her face. Now, six years later, Louise has astounded doctors and loved ones by recovering not only much of her vision and mobility, but a ferocious spirit and enviable grace. She currently lives with her husband Nick and daughter Olive in Lawrence, Kansas, where she's a PhD candidate and teacher.
- GenresMemoirNonfiction
200 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
June 19, 2017
*Goodreads First-to-Read Winner Copy of the Uncorrected Proof*
It is times like this that I really wish Goodreads had a half-star option, because I'd really like to give this book 3.5 stars.
Louise: Amended is the memoir of Louise Krug, who at the age of 22 suffered a brain bleed, or a cavernous angioma. The blood put pressure on her brain stem, which caused her to have difficulty with some motor functions, as well as facial paralysis and double vision.
While it is billed as a memoir, Louise: Amended does have a certain amount of fiction to it, as the author writes from the point of view of all her family members. This constantly shifting point of view was what really didn't work for me about this book. I like stark prose, but the writing was so stark it leaned towards superficial. Louise gives us her own story, using first person pronouns, and then suddenly we're thrown into her mother or boyfriend in the third person. While not confusing, the shifts were obvious since she uses the character's first name at the beginning of almost every sentence about them, it was jarring to say the least and I just couldn't get into it.
Since the point of view shifted so much, it was hard to really build a relationship with any of the characters. Louise is self-admittedly shallow at the beginning, yet by the end I didn't really feel she had come all that far. More than half the book is about her bemoaning the state of her life and the loss of her looks and boyfriend. This might have been interesting coming from her and hearing her internal thoughts on it, but all of this is seen by other people and I found myself just as frustrated with her as they were. Things finally perk up for her when she meets her husband, yet we see very little of him and the book ends without developing him much at all.
For a memoir about struggling with sudden physical limitations, there is very little material about her recovery process. This aspect was not the main focus of the book, but I thought a little more wouldn't have hurt.
Overall, I like the concept of this book. Trying to show how tragedy impacts the entire family and not just the individual is a difficult feat. In the end though, it just didn't fully work for me. Somewhere between the constantly shifting focus and the numerous mentions of how young and pretty and blonde she used to be, Louise just didn't quite manage to reel me in.
It is times like this that I really wish Goodreads had a half-star option, because I'd really like to give this book 3.5 stars.
Louise: Amended is the memoir of Louise Krug, who at the age of 22 suffered a brain bleed, or a cavernous angioma. The blood put pressure on her brain stem, which caused her to have difficulty with some motor functions, as well as facial paralysis and double vision.
While it is billed as a memoir, Louise: Amended does have a certain amount of fiction to it, as the author writes from the point of view of all her family members. This constantly shifting point of view was what really didn't work for me about this book. I like stark prose, but the writing was so stark it leaned towards superficial. Louise gives us her own story, using first person pronouns, and then suddenly we're thrown into her mother or boyfriend in the third person. While not confusing, the shifts were obvious since she uses the character's first name at the beginning of almost every sentence about them, it was jarring to say the least and I just couldn't get into it.
Since the point of view shifted so much, it was hard to really build a relationship with any of the characters. Louise is self-admittedly shallow at the beginning, yet by the end I didn't really feel she had come all that far. More than half the book is about her bemoaning the state of her life and the loss of her looks and boyfriend. This might have been interesting coming from her and hearing her internal thoughts on it, but all of this is seen by other people and I found myself just as frustrated with her as they were. Things finally perk up for her when she meets her husband, yet we see very little of him and the book ends without developing him much at all.
For a memoir about struggling with sudden physical limitations, there is very little material about her recovery process. This aspect was not the main focus of the book, but I thought a little more wouldn't have hurt.
Overall, I like the concept of this book. Trying to show how tragedy impacts the entire family and not just the individual is a difficult feat. In the end though, it just didn't fully work for me. Somewhere between the constantly shifting focus and the numerous mentions of how young and pretty and blonde she used to be, Louise just didn't quite manage to reel me in.
February 2, 2016
At times, every single person on this book annoyed me and angered me. Except for Nick. So great to know there are genuine loving people out there. I cannot imagine what Louise went through, God bless her.
November 11, 2017
The author is my friend and neighbor, so I felt a duty to read her book. I fell in love with her Amazon author's page video, but I let the book sit on my bedside table for a year before I finally started reading. I thought it would be depressing. I was so wrong!
My review for Amazon:
AGAINST ALL ODDS, I WAS CHARMED BY THIS STORY.
It is a very skilled author, indeed, who can tell a tale of ongoing difficulties — some dreary, some horrifying — in a way that made me look forward to getting back to this book to read more and more. Somehow, it isn’t sad. That’s magic in the hands of a master. Tough stuff is balanced in perfect measure with lighter points and with frank perspectives from multiple points of view. Forthright and fair, the author gives herself no breaks. I admire that. The book is utterly “readable” with interesting and inspiring points made in short vignettes. I loved that style for this story. I appreciated being given moments to take a breath between points and perspectives, time to absorb, time to think. I loved (love) the book so much that I thought of reading it again right away, but instead I came back to Amazon to look for more by this author.
It is satisfying to note that I am not alone. Publishers Weekly named Louise's dear book one of the 20 Best Nonfiction Books of 2012: https://best-books.publishersweekly.c...
My review for Amazon:
AGAINST ALL ODDS, I WAS CHARMED BY THIS STORY.
It is a very skilled author, indeed, who can tell a tale of ongoing difficulties — some dreary, some horrifying — in a way that made me look forward to getting back to this book to read more and more. Somehow, it isn’t sad. That’s magic in the hands of a master. Tough stuff is balanced in perfect measure with lighter points and with frank perspectives from multiple points of view. Forthright and fair, the author gives herself no breaks. I admire that. The book is utterly “readable” with interesting and inspiring points made in short vignettes. I loved that style for this story. I appreciated being given moments to take a breath between points and perspectives, time to absorb, time to think. I loved (love) the book so much that I thought of reading it again right away, but instead I came back to Amazon to look for more by this author.
It is satisfying to note that I am not alone. Publishers Weekly named Louise's dear book one of the 20 Best Nonfiction Books of 2012: https://best-books.publishersweekly.c...
May 13, 2012
(I got this as a First Reads book.)
As much as I admired the content of the memoir and the author's strength and perseverance, I didn't really like how the book was written. The book jumped from first-person to third-person, and although I was fine with the first-person parts, I felt awkward with really believing the parts where the book was in third-person because I suddenly felt like I was reading fiction.
I was however very glad with the author's courage to share her personal story, and I was very, very happy that she was able to find Nick, and continue life with a positive outlook and a beautiful family. The memoir was definitely not emotionally riveting, but it was very real. The author chronicles her tough times in a straightforward and honest way, that although you may initially pity her, you will end up respecting her.
As much as I admired the content of the memoir and the author's strength and perseverance, I didn't really like how the book was written. The book jumped from first-person to third-person, and although I was fine with the first-person parts, I felt awkward with really believing the parts where the book was in third-person because I suddenly felt like I was reading fiction.
I was however very glad with the author's courage to share her personal story, and I was very, very happy that she was able to find Nick, and continue life with a positive outlook and a beautiful family. The memoir was definitely not emotionally riveting, but it was very real. The author chronicles her tough times in a straightforward and honest way, that although you may initially pity her, you will end up respecting her.
December 25, 2019
A quick and interesting read, but the style of writing is very much that of a journalist. It lacks much of the depth and soul-searching that are really the glue holding stories like this together. I also expected triumph and rebirth from reading the synopsis on the back, but what I found at the end was someone who seemed to have quietly resigned herself to her fate. Right up to the very last page of the book, she seems most concerned and introspective about her physical appearance than anything else she had overcome or endured or achieved...
March 15, 2021
I love how this book is so real. No one spouts platitudes and the attitudes are real. It's a quick read and alternates between the author's point of view and others in her life. Although she can't really know how they felt, I like that she realizes that her life and attituded affected them.
Full review at: https://catherinelanser.com/2021/03/1...
Full review at: https://catherinelanser.com/2021/03/1...
January 9, 2023
A true story, I really liked it.
June 27, 2024
Louise’s true-life story of her life after brain surgery. She shares her journey of navigating family and finding friendship, while trying to re-establish herself.
December 3, 2024
Searingly honest memoir of a traumatic health incident—couldn’t put it down.
December 14, 2024
Well written - like the use of viewpoints and time.
December 22, 2013
This is a sad tale of an illness that robs a beautiful young girl of the one thing that seems to matter to her most: her looks. It tears apart her life and she is left to deal with facing life as a much different person.
It gives the views of several people, including the main character, on her recovery which is a long hard road.
I don't believe anyone could know what they would do in these circumstances and even though I thought the girl was a little too self-centered, she was young and had everything going from her. She was robbed of this and was very, very bitter. I can see why she was bitter and the intense physical therapy and operations she had to endure would challenge any of us.
It was depressing to read this book because of the suffering she was going through but I think it also gives the reader some insight to how difficult the challenges are for people who become disabled and the intense fight they have to enter into even for a smile!
The writing did not flow smoothly and was quite jerky at times but this, too, helped see the fight in clarity and without a lot of words.
It gives the views of several people, including the main character, on her recovery which is a long hard road.
I don't believe anyone could know what they would do in these circumstances and even though I thought the girl was a little too self-centered, she was young and had everything going from her. She was robbed of this and was very, very bitter. I can see why she was bitter and the intense physical therapy and operations she had to endure would challenge any of us.
It was depressing to read this book because of the suffering she was going through but I think it also gives the reader some insight to how difficult the challenges are for people who become disabled and the intense fight they have to enter into even for a smile!
The writing did not flow smoothly and was quite jerky at times but this, too, helped see the fight in clarity and without a lot of words.
April 17, 2012
Imagine that you wake up one day, go on about your usual business, but then you are struck with a debilitating brain condition. One half of your body goes numb, and you are unable to use it. That is what happened to the author of this story, Louise Krug.
Krug is able to take the perspective of the characters mostly closely involved in her life during the onset of this tragic brain condition. She writes each segment from one of these people’s perspectives: hers, her boyfriend, mom, dad, or brother. Each person tells of how the onset, surgery, and recovery effect them. They tell of guilt, sadness, hope, and a myriad of other emotions.
Switching between so many characters, one might guess this would be a difficult book to follow. However, the author is able to do this in an effective matter without causing confusion. In fact, this book is a truly easy and quick read, though the topic is less that simple.
Krug is able to take the perspective of the characters mostly closely involved in her life during the onset of this tragic brain condition. She writes each segment from one of these people’s perspectives: hers, her boyfriend, mom, dad, or brother. Each person tells of how the onset, surgery, and recovery effect them. They tell of guilt, sadness, hope, and a myriad of other emotions.
Switching between so many characters, one might guess this would be a difficult book to follow. However, the author is able to do this in an effective matter without causing confusion. In fact, this book is a truly easy and quick read, though the topic is less that simple.
March 7, 2015
First read giveaway winner.
this book was a very easy read it was very inspirational. She goes from a newspaper reporter of sorts to this woman who has to rebuild her phsyical life. She basically had to learn basic things all over again. You could tell by the way the author wrote it, that she went through a major bout with depression. She showed us how something that changed her life forever ended up working in her favor. She met a great guy that looked beyond her lack of physical abilities and showed her that he wasnt lying to her when when he said she looked beautiful. He saw what was inside. her family showed her they were never going to leave her side for one min. She made her disabilites into abilities. great book to share to inspire people to prove them they can do something if they really wanted to. great book. would read it again.
this book was a very easy read it was very inspirational. She goes from a newspaper reporter of sorts to this woman who has to rebuild her phsyical life. She basically had to learn basic things all over again. You could tell by the way the author wrote it, that she went through a major bout with depression. She showed us how something that changed her life forever ended up working in her favor. She met a great guy that looked beyond her lack of physical abilities and showed her that he wasnt lying to her when when he said she looked beautiful. He saw what was inside. her family showed her they were never going to leave her side for one min. She made her disabilites into abilities. great book to share to inspire people to prove them they can do something if they really wanted to. great book. would read it again.
January 16, 2013
I liked the story of this short memoir fine, another of the many memoirs about brain injury and the extreme difficulties in recovering from it, plus we get the uncaring and distant boyfriend in this one. But writing in the third person never works because it is annoying and childish. Much of this book is written in the third person as in: "Louise eats slowly, moving the leaves to her mouth with her one good hand, not talking, concentrating." Louise is the author of this book (the leaves are artichoke leaves)and there are many many sentences stating Louise does this and Louise does that. The author also frequently uses the same writing style when discussing her mother (Janet) and father (Warner). This is annoying. Thankfully, the book is very short.
April 8, 2013
I too have experienced a brain condition upset and had surgery for each mass. I met Louise locally and after meeting her decided to read her story. I'm too writing my story/testimony. I considered writing in her style of writing from different 'character's' perspectives, but I don't think I could appropriately explain how someone else must have felt in response to my circumstance. A few times I threw my book across the room because I think having gone to my surgeon and hospital she would have had a much better experience and better results. I'm glad she recorded and shared her story. Although mine will be longer, I hope that my book is received just as well. :)
September 8, 2013
I read Louise: Amended in one swift sitting. Brief chapters keep Krug's story moving and provide her narrative with an appropriate sense of fragmentation. The author serves her text with shifts in perspective: first-person voice conveys self-consciousness and control while third-person alludes to dissociation and helplessness. The initial switch confused me, but formatting absent in the uncorrected proof may provide the finished publication with transition. Overall, the author's mostly natural voice and consistent pacing do justice to her dramatic experience, making Louise: Amended a quick, gratifying read.
June 6, 2015
It's good if you are particularly interested in that kind of story: struggling to get better from an illness. The writing is decent, but you need good writing or a sharp approach to make most kind of topics interesting. I'm glad she managed to get better, but if you are interested in brain damage and memoir or autobiographical fiction, go for Jose Cardoso Pires (great Portuguese writer, also translated into Spanish, not yet into English) De Profundis, for instance. That's a very good book on the topic.
August 22, 2015
One of the more beautiful looking books I've read, the designer did an incredible job incorporating the certain "yellowness" of this story. More like a novella, this memoir can be read quickly because the story so interesting, the writing smart and lucid.
Louise fails to acknowledge her privilege, however, and I feel bad for saying that, but I think it's an important point. It is ultimately off-putting. Louise can be self-centered and unreasonable, understandably so, but therefore mostly unlikeable. I get that though, how can others like you if you don't like yourself?
Louise fails to acknowledge her privilege, however, and I feel bad for saying that, but I think it's an important point. It is ultimately off-putting. Louise can be self-centered and unreasonable, understandably so, but therefore mostly unlikeable. I get that though, how can others like you if you don't like yourself?
August 14, 2012
I won this book on Good reads giveaways. a good read about Louise who had to have a craniotomy after a massive brain injury. she is left paralyzed on the left side of her face and part of her body. it is a very long time recuperating. a very frustrating road to recovery.won't give away anymore plot. but give this lady a cheer for her honest account of her journey after brain surgery. a brave lady.
August 19, 2016
This awkwardly jumps back and forth from first-person to third-person speculation, and Louise was not really a very likeable person overall. It took her so long to stop moping around and finally get on with her life, and then the book ended without enough redemption. She finally gets rid of her terrible boyfriend and then moans about missing him, even though he was a POS. Then when her future husband shows up, AGAIN the book just ends.
April 28, 2012
This was an amazing story; so honest, open and unedited. I loved how it changed perspective from the different characters in the book. Kudos to Louise for having the strength and courage to write this novel, pouring her true raw emotions into the pages. I would recommend this to others. Received book free from GoodReads.com.
September 2, 2012
This book is a Memoir written by Louise, who suffers an aneurysm in her brain stem which leaves her severely impaired. Louise goes from being an attractive and active young woman to a partially paralyzed semi- invalid who walks with a cane. This is a touching story. You'll come away with much respect for Louise's courage.
April 20, 2016
A really interesting method of telling a true story with fictional interludes and viewpoints that still maintain the reality of the situation. I would only take 1/2 a star off because the end came too quickly and I didn't see the change in Louise I felt like I was supposed to by the end of the memoir.
October 1, 2012
I won this thru Library Thing and I thought it was an amazing book. It is about Louise Krug who goes thru a life changing event in which her health never fully recovered. The book also goes into detail about her family and how it affected them.
May 25, 2012
This is a moving story that shows, how strong someone that suffered a brain bleed can become. Even after losing sight, the strength to get up and move Louise never gave up. Her family helped her cope, but she forced herself to move out on her own and never give up on love.
This is a must read.
This is a must read.
June 26, 2012
This book was incredibly inspiring, so much that I was unable to put the book down until I finished it - from cover to cover. Louise's story is incredible and very uplifting despite all of the horrible things that she had to go through. Highly recommended.
August 14, 2012
An accurate account of someone living through a huge change in their life from fluffy model California girl to half paralyzed post brain surgery woman and what life really means to her.
A good book to put on a senior high school reading list?
A good book to put on a senior high school reading list?
March 11, 2013
This book is why you should pay attention to smaller publishers, in this case, Black Balloon Publishing.
Really wonderful.
I think I actually would have left the Epilogue off, but that would be a very different aesthetic decision.
Really wonderful.
I think I actually would have left the Epilogue off, but that would be a very different aesthetic decision.
July 18, 2013
I liked Louise after her debilitating cavernous angioma results in partial paralysis. Her struggle to come to terms with starting her life over are touching and very personal.
I get the feeling she was insufferable as a gorgeous, tall blonde with everything going for her.
I get the feeling she was insufferable as a gorgeous, tall blonde with everything going for her.
October 1, 2013
Interesting autobiography of a young woman's journey after having a bleed from a cavernous hemangioma. Her experiences with the healthcare system are disappointing, but her courage and eventual recovery are nothing short of amazing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews