Body of Diminishing Motion: Poems and a Memoir

by Joan Sidney, Robert Cording, Bruce R. Ransom

This collection of poems and memoir is the second title from Laurel Books, CavanKerry’s Literature of Illness imprint which features poetry and prose that explores the many poignant issues associated with confronting serious physical and/or psychological illness. Sidney speaks to the author’s experiences living with multiple sclerosis for four decades, as well as her personal legacy as the daughter of a strong-willed Holocaust survivor. Body of Diminishing Motion will speak to anyone who has been touched by illness and refused to succumb to its power.

Genres: Poetry

123 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2005

Reviews

[Emily Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is particularly special to me, because Joanie, its author, was a member of one of my nonfiction writing workshops at UConn. With her grey hair, motorized wheelchair, and position as an ad-junct faculty member, she was quite the atypical member of an undergraduate course. Her essays changed the tone of our meetings for the better, and we were all lucky to have her participate in our weekly writing process. After the course ended, I bought her memoir, which awed me with its descriptions of her battle with MS over the past four decades. This book is a testament to the strength of the human spirit under difficult circumstances as well as a pleasure to read with its spare and moving prose. It will remind you to be grateful for your life, whatever stage of it you happen to be in.