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Walk It Off: The True and Hilarious Story of How I Learned to Stand, Walk, Pee, Run, and Have Sex Again After a Nightmarish Diagnosis Turned My Awesome Life Upside Down
Furiously Happy meets Elaine Lui in this truly original—and surprisingly hilarious—memoir about one woman’s journey to learn how to walk after a debilitating diagnosis turned her life upside down.
Learn How to Walk (Again) To-Do List:
Step 1: Stand
Step 2: Step
Step 3: Pee (Yes!)
Step 4: Walk with walker
Step 5: Walk with sticks
Step 6: Walk without props
Recreational interlude for sex
Step 7: RUN!
Ruth Marshall—power mom, wife, actor, and daughter—was in great health, until one day, her feet started to tingle. She visited doctors and specialists for tests, but no one could figure out the cause of her symptoms. Was she imagining those pesky tingles? She tried to brush it off, even as she tripped over curbs and stumbled into people. Clumsiness is charming, right?
But when Ruth suddenly couldn’t feel her legs at all, she knew something was terribly wrong. Her fears were confirmed by an MRI revealing a rare tumour that had been quietly growing on her spine for more than a decade. Within days, surgery was scheduled, and after the intense eight-hour ordeal, Ruth woke up to find her legs and feet had forgotten how to do...well, everything. The question that burned in her mind was, “Will I ever walk again?”
What Ruth thought would be three days in the hospital turned into months of rehabilitation as she relearned not only how to walk, run, pee, and even have sex again, but how to better appreciate everyone around her—including her devoted husband, her two young sons, her worried parents, her sisters, her loving friends, and the caring staff at the rehab center who help her tackle her recovery head-on.
Laugh-out-loud outrageous and searingly honest, this is a memoir that not only entertains but inspires readers to put their best foot forward and walk off anything life throws their way.
Learn How to Walk (Again) To-Do List:
Step 1: Stand
Step 2: Step
Step 3: Pee (Yes!)
Step 4: Walk with walker
Step 5: Walk with sticks
Step 6: Walk without props
Recreational interlude for sex
Step 7: RUN!
Ruth Marshall—power mom, wife, actor, and daughter—was in great health, until one day, her feet started to tingle. She visited doctors and specialists for tests, but no one could figure out the cause of her symptoms. Was she imagining those pesky tingles? She tried to brush it off, even as she tripped over curbs and stumbled into people. Clumsiness is charming, right?
But when Ruth suddenly couldn’t feel her legs at all, she knew something was terribly wrong. Her fears were confirmed by an MRI revealing a rare tumour that had been quietly growing on her spine for more than a decade. Within days, surgery was scheduled, and after the intense eight-hour ordeal, Ruth woke up to find her legs and feet had forgotten how to do...well, everything. The question that burned in her mind was, “Will I ever walk again?”
What Ruth thought would be three days in the hospital turned into months of rehabilitation as she relearned not only how to walk, run, pee, and even have sex again, but how to better appreciate everyone around her—including her devoted husband, her two young sons, her worried parents, her sisters, her loving friends, and the caring staff at the rehab center who help her tackle her recovery head-on.
Laugh-out-loud outrageous and searingly honest, this is a memoir that not only entertains but inspires readers to put their best foot forward and walk off anything life throws their way.
272 pages, Hardcover
Published January 2, 2018
About the author
Ruth Marshall
1 book9 followersRuth Marshall, an actress for over twenty years, is probably best known for playing Clare's mom on Degrassi: The Next Generation and Billy Ray Cyrus's boss on Doc. She continues to do voice work for radio and television. Ruth lives with her family in Toronto. Walk It Off is her first book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
December 13, 2017
This book started out well. Loved the humor Marshall brought to the situation.
The writing was informative and fun and she managed to make me feel engaged in a memoir on a scary subject.
Why am I rating this 3 stars? I felt that after the operation, as the author was making us more familiar with rehab and who she had become as a person, post surgery, I started losing interest. All of a sudden the tone of the book changed. It became a heavy handed story, with a "heroine" that was really unlikable. The tone turned diva and shrill and gone was the humor that was such an important part of the story.
Of course, I am conscious of how scared Marshall must have been, but her writing just turned to "listen to me" "me, me, me" that I found myself skipping entire pages. I do realize that a memoir lends itself to lots of "me, me" sentences, but there was a lack of gratefulness towards all the people who supported her - her hubby, her parents, her kids, the medical profession that it really turned me off.
Imagine the poor people who had to go through this same medical event and were not lucky enough to have the sound support system Marshall was lucky enough to have.
I will give her props for writing her story. That took guts. I just wish I could have loved this book and its heroine more.
The writing was informative and fun and she managed to make me feel engaged in a memoir on a scary subject.
Why am I rating this 3 stars? I felt that after the operation, as the author was making us more familiar with rehab and who she had become as a person, post surgery, I started losing interest. All of a sudden the tone of the book changed. It became a heavy handed story, with a "heroine" that was really unlikable. The tone turned diva and shrill and gone was the humor that was such an important part of the story.
Of course, I am conscious of how scared Marshall must have been, but her writing just turned to "listen to me" "me, me, me" that I found myself skipping entire pages. I do realize that a memoir lends itself to lots of "me, me" sentences, but there was a lack of gratefulness towards all the people who supported her - her hubby, her parents, her kids, the medical profession that it really turned me off.
Imagine the poor people who had to go through this same medical event and were not lucky enough to have the sound support system Marshall was lucky enough to have.
I will give her props for writing her story. That took guts. I just wish I could have loved this book and its heroine more.
January 27, 2018
I too had a meningioma removed from my spine days before I heard about this book and immediately ordered it from my local book store. I was full of anticipation and trepidation while waiting for the book to arrive and was hopeful that the 'humour' would make this an uplifting book that would encourage me on my recovery. Boy was I mistaken. Instead of being humorous it was whiney. She has failed to recognize how fortunate she was to have doctors who listened and to have money to pay for a private MRI so that she didn't have to wait years and years for a diagnosis. Instead of focusing on how lucky she was to have a speedy diagnosis and celebrating a surgery covered under Canadian healthcare she whined about not having a female nurse to insert her catheter and complained about not getting the physiotherapist she wanted. More important than figuring out how to make her 'new' life meaningful she focuses on worrying about not being able to have mutually satisfying sex. I am glad I read the book just because it made me more grateful for the life I will now be able to have even if it isn't the one I had 10 years ago.
June 10, 2020
A Witty Medical Drama:
What began for this busy wife, mother, actress as an annoying pesky little symptom of tingling of the feet, mostly ignored at first, turned in to an alarmingly serious malady that required immediate spinal surgery with an uncertain outcome that was dubious at best – in fact could easily have ended in her being in a wheelchair for life.
Her journey through surgery and months of rehab is told with a wit that is admirable considering the seriousness of her condition. “My body was a stranger to me, a scary stranger…” (Pg. 51)
It is an uplifting story of one feisty woman making the best of a bad situation and in the midst of crying jags that lasted seemingly forever managed to make it out of darkness into the light – accepting what cannot be changed and walking it off.
What began for this busy wife, mother, actress as an annoying pesky little symptom of tingling of the feet, mostly ignored at first, turned in to an alarmingly serious malady that required immediate spinal surgery with an uncertain outcome that was dubious at best – in fact could easily have ended in her being in a wheelchair for life.
Her journey through surgery and months of rehab is told with a wit that is admirable considering the seriousness of her condition. “My body was a stranger to me, a scary stranger…” (Pg. 51)
It is an uplifting story of one feisty woman making the best of a bad situation and in the midst of crying jags that lasted seemingly forever managed to make it out of darkness into the light – accepting what cannot be changed and walking it off.
November 6, 2019
I love a good memoir. A good memoir should be a story of a time in the author's life where he/she overcame a struggle and how the experience changed them (and often times bettered them as a person). A good memoir should inspire you, it should give you new perspective on life. This book, was not a good memoir.
Ruth Marshall told the story of being diagnosed with a rare spinal tumor that could have left her paralyzed or dead on the operating table. She went into detail of her struggles learning to do things we take for granted everyday. Such as walking, going to the washroom by ourselves, and making love to our partners. I was expecting a heroine tale of overcoming this obviously very traumatic time in her life.
Instead it was page after page of her crying to anyone that would listen and being a complete ungrateful, selfish and self centered "celebrity". Her selfless husband took so much of the burden from her and reading how ungrateful and selfish she was was absolutely heart breaking. It took her teenage son to have the nerve to finally give her a reality check - that the entire universe did not involve around her and that she was not the only one suffering after her procedure.
I'm glad I clenched my teeth and finished this book. It's given me new appreciation for my own health, my family and friends, and life in general. I hope I never have to be in a position that entitles me to be that level of self centered, especially to the point that I write a book because I want more attention.
Ruth Marshall told the story of being diagnosed with a rare spinal tumor that could have left her paralyzed or dead on the operating table. She went into detail of her struggles learning to do things we take for granted everyday. Such as walking, going to the washroom by ourselves, and making love to our partners. I was expecting a heroine tale of overcoming this obviously very traumatic time in her life.
Instead it was page after page of her crying to anyone that would listen and being a complete ungrateful, selfish and self centered "celebrity". Her selfless husband took so much of the burden from her and reading how ungrateful and selfish she was was absolutely heart breaking. It took her teenage son to have the nerve to finally give her a reality check - that the entire universe did not involve around her and that she was not the only one suffering after her procedure.
I'm glad I clenched my teeth and finished this book. It's given me new appreciation for my own health, my family and friends, and life in general. I hope I never have to be in a position that entitles me to be that level of self centered, especially to the point that I write a book because I want more attention.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2018
Like a few other readers, I found this book as a result of dealing with a spinal tumor myself (24 years and counting...). They are exceedingly rare, usually with lingering after effects that can be a challenge to deal with. Therefore I was looking forward to reading about how someone else had handled the issues I deal with.
The book started well, and the writing is pretty good. I was hooked quite quickly, but after the first few chapters the feel of the book became very self centered, I felt uneasy at her attitude to people around her that were trying their best to help. I expected by the end of the book there would be some redemption, she would realise she'd been a bit of a drama queen... but no.
Spinal tumors are such a long game - after 20 plus years I'm still recovering a few deficits - or maybe learning to live better with what I have. I feel this book was written while still in quite a raw state, maybe if it had been written after a few more years the perspective may have mellowed.
A little more gratitude for all the positives she had would have gone a long way to evening out the dramas.
The book started well, and the writing is pretty good. I was hooked quite quickly, but after the first few chapters the feel of the book became very self centered, I felt uneasy at her attitude to people around her that were trying their best to help. I expected by the end of the book there would be some redemption, she would realise she'd been a bit of a drama queen... but no.
Spinal tumors are such a long game - after 20 plus years I'm still recovering a few deficits - or maybe learning to live better with what I have. I feel this book was written while still in quite a raw state, maybe if it had been written after a few more years the perspective may have mellowed.
A little more gratitude for all the positives she had would have gone a long way to evening out the dramas.
January 3, 2018
I received a free advance copy of this book from Simon&Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review. Ruth Marshall is an actress, mother, and wife who is very happy with her life. Sadly it all comes crashing down when she finds out she has a debilitating tumour on her spine. The surgery to remove the tumour is more involved than the surgeons originally thought and she comes out of surgery unable to walk. Ruth describes the gruelling rehabilitation that takes place in the months after the surgery. Not only does she have the anguish of not knowing if she will regain partial or full mobility but she also is dealing with the heartbreak of not being able to care for her children. Throughout this she has the ongoing and full support of her husband, family, and friends. She is also very fortunate to have had great medical care. Ruth perseveres through her rehab and leaves the hospital able to walk, although not quite 100%, and is able to carry on with her life. I was impressed with the author’s resilience and determination as well as her amazing support network.
October 9, 2018
After seeing Ruth do a reading of her first book I knew I needed to read it. I was hooked from the first frightful pages. Ruth is a likeable and relatable heroine who has to go through an awful surgery and dreadfully long stay in rehab. Yes of course, there are people who are less fortunate, who are diagnosed later and suffer longer. However, this is not their story. Ruth owns every insecurity and worry and her gratitude is evident without her laying it on thick.
I appreciated the humor and honesty in every page.
Bravo on your first book. Wishing you success with many more.
I appreciated the humor and honesty in every page.
Bravo on your first book. Wishing you success with many more.
November 11, 2018
A funny read but could have done without the swear words!
March 30, 2018
This was an enjoyable read, but left me feeling less involved with the author than I wanted to be! While I really appreciated her candor and her ability to share this very traumatic event with her readers, I wanted more depth than her journal afforded. Her humor was much appreciated, but I felt she had less appreciation for her support team than I imagined would have been established. Perhaps the realism of the situation is that she was very much more alone in her journey than I as the reader was expecting. If so, then bravo for telling her story as it really was, without any artificially creation of the family and friends surrounding her.
December 8, 2017
"Hilarious" is a definite oversell here; amusing perhaps, certainly good-natured, but at no point did hilarity ensue. In fact, the only time I laughed out loud was when the narrator acknowledged her weak acting ability. Ultimately, I wasn't even interested enough to finish the book (although, based on the title, I'm assuming she got better and everybody was very proud and told her repeatedly brave she was and they all lived happily ever after.) The characterizations are weak, the dialogue tedious, and there's no dramatic tension to be found for miles.
Free review copy blah blah blah.
Free review copy blah blah blah.
May 30, 2019
Few books have made me laugh out loud (the only other I can think of is A Walk in the Woods), but for the first few chapters in this book I was giggling uncontrollably, often. I am truthfully in awe of Ruth Marshall's way with words and her ability to get a laugh. But about halfway through, once she moved from the hospital to the rehabilitation facility...well, she must have left her funny bone behind.
I've cheated a bit and marked this as "read", but I think maybe I will find my way out before the close of the book. I'm done.
I've cheated a bit and marked this as "read", but I think maybe I will find my way out before the close of the book. I'm done.
November 26, 2017
First off, let me say that I ADORE the title of this book. I generally am averse to book covers with long subtitles, however this book would not have caught my eye without it.
I was lucky enough to win an ARC (Advance Reader Copy) from GOODREADS and I am very glad I did.
This memoir chronicles one woman's journey to find out what was causing the bizarre symptoms she was experiencing, through surgery, rehab and beyond.
I suppose I should tell potential readers right away that this is NOT a self-help book. Instead, it is the unflinchingly honest memoir of a woman who goes from leading something closely akin to a charmed life, to discovering that no life is perfect.
I have never met Ruth Marshall, but after reading her story, I feel confident in stating that she is an amazing woman. This is not due to the fact that she is famous (or as famous as any Canadian television actress can be), nor is it because of her health issues. My opinion of Ruth as an amazing woman is based on her honesty.
It could not have been easy to chronicle her medical condition and her efforts at recovery, and yet she has done so while managing to be surprisingly honest. She does not shy away from the "icky" stuff. She talks about everything from poop to sex to shoes.
It's human nature to want to 'put your best foot forward' (yes, pun intended) and to present yourself to the world as close to perfect as possible. However, if this memoir had been written that way, it would not have been authentic. Nor would it have been such a compelling read.
Ruth has been able to tell her story in such a way that instead of pitying her, you will find yourself following her journey with rabid interest. You will want to cry at times, yet at others, you will be laughing along with her - and a few times you just might find yourself laughing at her antics.
It may not have been her intention, but this memoir also has lessons to teach us all. Firstly, even though Ruth looked perfectly healthy and happy, she was struggling with a wide variety of symptoms. Not yet diagnosed, and working at a voice acting gig, Ruth says: "I was able to stand for the entire voice session, ignoring the temptation to rest on the stool behind me. Neither the producer nor my voice partner seemed to notice the effort it took for me to remain perfectly upright, making me wonder for the thousandth time: If no one else was noticing, was anything wrong with me." This is something that many people struggle with. But, as Ruth proved, it is important to listen to your body and to be your own healthcare advocate.
By all accounts, Ruth Marshall was a terrific actress, but I believe she was always meant to be an author. Judging by the readability of WALK IT OFF, I am sure others will agree. This memoir is destined to become a Bestseller and I would bet money that Ruth Marshall's name will be on literary lips everywhere in 2018.
I rate WALK IT OFF: THE TRUE (AND ODDLY HILARIOUS) STORY OF HOW I LEARNED TO STAND, WALK, PEE, RUN, AND EVEN HAVE SEX AGAIN, AFTER A NIGHTMARISH DIAGNOSIS TURNED MY PERFECTLY AWESOME LIFE UPSIDE DOWN as 5 out of 5 Stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I was lucky enough to win an ARC (Advance Reader Copy) from GOODREADS and I am very glad I did.
This memoir chronicles one woman's journey to find out what was causing the bizarre symptoms she was experiencing, through surgery, rehab and beyond.
I suppose I should tell potential readers right away that this is NOT a self-help book. Instead, it is the unflinchingly honest memoir of a woman who goes from leading something closely akin to a charmed life, to discovering that no life is perfect.
I have never met Ruth Marshall, but after reading her story, I feel confident in stating that she is an amazing woman. This is not due to the fact that she is famous (or as famous as any Canadian television actress can be), nor is it because of her health issues. My opinion of Ruth as an amazing woman is based on her honesty.
It could not have been easy to chronicle her medical condition and her efforts at recovery, and yet she has done so while managing to be surprisingly honest. She does not shy away from the "icky" stuff. She talks about everything from poop to sex to shoes.
It's human nature to want to 'put your best foot forward' (yes, pun intended) and to present yourself to the world as close to perfect as possible. However, if this memoir had been written that way, it would not have been authentic. Nor would it have been such a compelling read.
Ruth has been able to tell her story in such a way that instead of pitying her, you will find yourself following her journey with rabid interest. You will want to cry at times, yet at others, you will be laughing along with her - and a few times you just might find yourself laughing at her antics.
It may not have been her intention, but this memoir also has lessons to teach us all. Firstly, even though Ruth looked perfectly healthy and happy, she was struggling with a wide variety of symptoms. Not yet diagnosed, and working at a voice acting gig, Ruth says: "I was able to stand for the entire voice session, ignoring the temptation to rest on the stool behind me. Neither the producer nor my voice partner seemed to notice the effort it took for me to remain perfectly upright, making me wonder for the thousandth time: If no one else was noticing, was anything wrong with me." This is something that many people struggle with. But, as Ruth proved, it is important to listen to your body and to be your own healthcare advocate.
By all accounts, Ruth Marshall was a terrific actress, but I believe she was always meant to be an author. Judging by the readability of WALK IT OFF, I am sure others will agree. This memoir is destined to become a Bestseller and I would bet money that Ruth Marshall's name will be on literary lips everywhere in 2018.
I rate WALK IT OFF: THE TRUE (AND ODDLY HILARIOUS) STORY OF HOW I LEARNED TO STAND, WALK, PEE, RUN, AND EVEN HAVE SEX AGAIN, AFTER A NIGHTMARISH DIAGNOSIS TURNED MY PERFECTLY AWESOME LIFE UPSIDE DOWN as 5 out of 5 Stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
May 8, 2018
Тяжелая история удачливой женщины, Настоящий happy end современных реалий. Рус пишет довольно вскольз, пропуская самые страшные детали. Мне понравилось, что она упоминает о том, как часто она плакала, не зацикливая на этом внимания, а наоборот, фокусируется на восстановлении, пишет о своих целях и долгом пути к физической свободе. Она усердно и настойчиво делает то, что ей кажется нужным в трудные времена - мне кажется, это отличный пример в хорошей упорности.
Мне максимально непонятно, как вскоре после возвращения домой ей разрешили водить машину?!? Человек не чувствует свои ноги и не может контролировать их в пространстве, какая вообще может идти речь о вождении?
Что мне не понравилось, хотя за автора я рада, так это что она настолько привилегированная. У нее огромный дом, ей не приходится ждать своей очереди у доктора или, например, эксклюзивную личную комнате в рехабе она получает почти сразу. Еще мне не понравилось, что она все время пишет только о том, как ее надо всем поддерживать, но при этом по вот таким правила. Толпы народа носятся вокруг нее потакая разным прихотям, но она ни разу не упоминает о том, что подумала каково ее семье, как справляются ее родители и ее муж. Конечно я очень хорошо понимаю, как нелегка для Рус эта ситуация и что в первую очередь думаешь о себе, но можно после рассказа о себе задавать вопрос "а как ТЫ?".
Между "it was OK" и "liked it". Читается легко - правда вначале лучше, а потом Рус становится entitled нытиком. Мне бы хотелось прочитать гораздо больше о том, как изменились ее приоритеты и что стало новым в ее ее обычной жизни после того, как она вернулась к нормальному движению, про ее новый карьерный путь. Эпилог слишком мал и не хватает последней части книги.
История эта для меня в какой-то степени урок в правильном упорстве, а так же лишний толчок искоренять из себя те качества Рус, которые мы с ней разделяем (так же отчетливо прослеживаются в книгах Гретхен Рубин).
Мне максимально непонятно, как вскоре после возвращения домой ей разрешили водить машину?!? Человек не чувствует свои ноги и не может контролировать их в пространстве, какая вообще может идти речь о вождении?
Что мне не понравилось, хотя за автора я рада, так это что она настолько привилегированная. У нее огромный дом, ей не приходится ждать своей очереди у доктора или, например, эксклюзивную личную комнате в рехабе она получает почти сразу. Еще мне не понравилось, что она все время пишет только о том, как ее надо всем поддерживать, но при этом по вот таким правила. Толпы народа носятся вокруг нее потакая разным прихотям, но она ни разу не упоминает о том, что подумала каково ее семье, как справляются ее родители и ее муж. Конечно я очень хорошо понимаю, как нелегка для Рус эта ситуация и что в первую очередь думаешь о себе, но можно после рассказа о себе задавать вопрос "а как ТЫ?".
Между "it was OK" и "liked it". Читается легко - правда вначале лучше, а потом Рус становится entitled нытиком. Мне бы хотелось прочитать гораздо больше о том, как изменились ее приоритеты и что стало новым в ее ее обычной жизни после того, как она вернулась к нормальному движению, про ее новый карьерный путь. Эпилог слишком мал и не хватает последней части книги.
История эта для меня в какой-то степени урок в правильном упорстве, а так же лишний толчок искоренять из себя те качества Рус, которые мы с ней разделяем (так же отчетливо прослеживаются в книгах Гретхен Рубин).
May 2, 2021
Walk It Off by Ruth Marshall is designated a memoir; but from start to finish, (and I loved it, by the way) I felt like I was reading a Harry Potter book--a forgivable exaggeration (It wasn’t as heavy). Elements: adventure, suspense, danger, drama, fear, fun, odd friends, best friends, Wizards (Physicians, Nurses and Rehab Specialists), rescues (sometimes by complete strangers), love and survival. Marshall, a busy actress at the time of her diagnosis, is most definitely in touch with her feelings. She chronicles a bravely candid (flaws and all) response to a scary, ever shifting, frustrating, enormously painful attack on her body—a rare spinal tumor, which threatened to leave her unable to walk, with the added frustration of losing nerve sensations from the waist down. For those looking for a saintly protagonist, look elsewhere. For those looking for a medical diary, look elsewhere. (Though I was fascinated by the usually untold details of time spent in the hospital bathroom after surgery!) This feels like the real deal to me. Ruth Marshall tells her very personal story with courage and humour. I, for one, identified completely with her roller coaster of emotions as she winds her way through the post surgical changes in her body. Her determination to outsmart those changes is inspiring. Marshall acknowledges her good fortune: Access to excellent care. Loving, supportive family. A ‘doesn’t get better than this’ husband who steps up to the plate from the get-go. But she also lets us in on the darker sides of recuperation. This book has really stayed with me.
December 4, 2017
-4/5. I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via the Goodreads giveaway.
"Walk it Off" is a memoir written by Toronto based actress Ruth Marshall, detailing her diagnosis with a large, non cancerous tumour and her subsequent surgery and recovery. Waking up after spinal cord surgery, the author realizes that she has lost the ability to do many things that so many take for granted, including walking. Weeks in the hospital followed by days in a rehabilitation centre, the author details her worries about her health and her family, and her step by step recovery.
This book is incredibly honest, and the author doesn't shy away from revealing anything. This makes it tough to read at times, but also makes everything far more rewarding. As well, the author is includes a lot of humour, which will keep readers laughing even despite some of the heavy content.
For me personally, I also loved the references to Toronto and the authors career. Living in Toronto, I always enjoy reading about the city and its people; as well, having grown up in Toronto, I watched Degrassi for years and loved the references.
Overall, I would recommend this honest and moving memoir to anyone looking for their next non-fiction read once this book is released in January.
"Walk it Off" is a memoir written by Toronto based actress Ruth Marshall, detailing her diagnosis with a large, non cancerous tumour and her subsequent surgery and recovery. Waking up after spinal cord surgery, the author realizes that she has lost the ability to do many things that so many take for granted, including walking. Weeks in the hospital followed by days in a rehabilitation centre, the author details her worries about her health and her family, and her step by step recovery.
This book is incredibly honest, and the author doesn't shy away from revealing anything. This makes it tough to read at times, but also makes everything far more rewarding. As well, the author is includes a lot of humour, which will keep readers laughing even despite some of the heavy content.
For me personally, I also loved the references to Toronto and the authors career. Living in Toronto, I always enjoy reading about the city and its people; as well, having grown up in Toronto, I watched Degrassi for years and loved the references.
Overall, I would recommend this honest and moving memoir to anyone looking for their next non-fiction read once this book is released in January.
June 1, 2024
Realized I never actually marked this as a read, and then I debated about whether I should even log it on Goodreads, cuz I read it for school and not pleasure LOL. Ultimately decided to log it (obviously) cuz I have a reading challenge that I need to get through!
Enjoyed this read way more than I thought I would! I loved Marshall’s tone throughout this memoir; her personality really shone through and there were some moments when I actually chuckled to myself. I will say that sometimes the memoir felt choppy, jumping between events without them feeling fully resolved, but that wasn’t a big concern. Other than that, Walk It Off was a very “easy” read, even when heavier topics were being discussed. I especially loved Marshall’s willingness to address so many different elements of her life, even more “taboo” ones like intimacy, when coming to terms with her acquired disability.
Enjoyed this read way more than I thought I would! I loved Marshall’s tone throughout this memoir; her personality really shone through and there were some moments when I actually chuckled to myself. I will say that sometimes the memoir felt choppy, jumping between events without them feeling fully resolved, but that wasn’t a big concern. Other than that, Walk It Off was a very “easy” read, even when heavier topics were being discussed. I especially loved Marshall’s willingness to address so many different elements of her life, even more “taboo” ones like intimacy, when coming to terms with her acquired disability.
December 13, 2017
The title gives you a good sense of what’s coming. Ruth Marshall had a nightmarish tumor on her spine. The lengthy, complicated surgery to remove the tumor disrupted the nerves controlling pretty much everthing from her chest down. She had to learn to stand, walk, pee, and have sex again. As tough as it all was for her and her family, she tells her story without undue self-pity. Sure, she cries every day, but who could blame her. But overall this is a funny, heartwarming book, not a depressing one. Ruth refers to her uncooperative legs in the third person, as if they have lives of their own and don’t really belong to her. Reading the book, I laughed at the antics of her wayward feet, and rooted for Ruth as she made tiny steps toward a more normal life.
June 5, 2024
Wow what a roller coaster that was. It certainly brought up some memories for me. Health scares are emotional for everyone and how we deal with them and the outcome can take it's toll. Ruth tells her journey with all the emotions I expected . Denial, humor, denial, fear and did I say denial. And that was just the diagnosis . Then comes surgery and rehabilitation . Thats another journey that hit close to home. Told with again humor and disbelief, rage and fear. Finally joy.
What a great story. Glad I read it when I did.
What a great story. Glad I read it when I did.
March 17, 2018
As a very close family member went through a very similar experience, this book has provoked all memories related to that rough period. I am happy that Ruth has markedly improved. Take home message, don’t forget that a happy ending doesn’t always mean being almost as healthy as before. I guess the question is how to learn to accept what you can’t do anymore, and enjoy your life without that being an obstacle.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2019
Hilarious, raw, honest, and brave, WALK IT OFF is a fantastic memoir. Ruth Marshall doesn't hold back, bringing the reader along on every step of her, at times, excruciating journey, and she does so with wit and warmth. From her friendships with the doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists to her beautiful relationship with her family, Marshall invites us into what was very clearly a terrifying and life-altering period of her life. I highly recommend this book!
February 20, 2021
This was a very eye opening memoir- how quickly a life can be changed. I admire the authors honesty, and her writing style is great, easy to read. I wanted so badly to give it 4 stars, but i cringed in every chapter- she may have tried to be funny, but im sorry to say she came off as selfish, stubborn and demanding.... and maybe i would be too if life as i knew it was taken from me. ... but her character still irked me nonetheless
October 24, 2023
Bittersweet story about actress Ruth Marshall and her struggles and triumphs after being diagnosed with a tumour and having to deal with the consequences of that.
There are so many things we take for granted in our day to day life; using the bathroom, standing, walking, knowing where our limbs are and having control over them. When something happens to put that all at risk, we are left floundering. Ruth Marshall tells a compelling story as she deals with all of that and more.
There are so many things we take for granted in our day to day life; using the bathroom, standing, walking, knowing where our limbs are and having control over them. When something happens to put that all at risk, we are left floundering. Ruth Marshall tells a compelling story as she deals with all of that and more.
July 14, 2018
Certainly an interesting memoir of a horrible situation, but I was distracted by her simplistic writing and frequent grammatical mistakes (why do people think that 'me' is wrong and use 'I' when the word is clearly objective?). I read it all, and fairly quickly, but it wasn't a page-turner by any stretch, and I kept reading out of a feeling of duty and guilt about quitting.
August 17, 2019
ARC won though GoodReads giveaways
I find this hard to rate, as I want to respect the author and her experience. But i was very put off by the amount of (unexamined) classism and ablism in this book. She does talk about wanting this experience not to change her, and to "go back to being shallow", so there's that.... I dunno, I wish her well.
I find this hard to rate, as I want to respect the author and her experience. But i was very put off by the amount of (unexamined) classism and ablism in this book. She does talk about wanting this experience not to change her, and to "go back to being shallow", so there's that.... I dunno, I wish her well.
March 10, 2018
Awesome! I laughed, I cried, I wanted to give Ruth a hug. There are very few books that I finish in two days, but I just wanted to keep reading to the end. Ruth is a strong and determined woman. A great book club recommendation!
March 14, 2018
an inspiring story - and it underlines how your entire life can be turned upside down in a moment
It also makes me appreciate living in Canada where a diagnosis like this does not mean astronomical doctor and hospital bills.
It also makes me appreciate living in Canada where a diagnosis like this does not mean astronomical doctor and hospital bills.
October 4, 2020
Interesting enough memoire. The author went through a lot of trauma with her spinal tumour, surgery to remove it, and long recovery. She writes about her life in a compelling way, and even though some details could have been glossed over, that was what concerned her at the time.
December 13, 2021
As someone who works in the field of rehabilitation, I lived this book! I have definitely worked with people who experiences similar situations in their rehab so it was fun and relatable to read about Ruth's journey. Loved it!
September 26, 2023
Quite simply one of the best books I have had the pleasure of reading. I can identify with a lot of the author's experiences and it was well written with a sense of humor and hope. I look forward to reading another by this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2018
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with a review copy of this book.
The first half of this book is great and really gets into the terrifying nature of sudden illness. I felt connected with Ruth Marshall's quirky, conversational style of writing from the outset. However, around the halfway point, I'm not sure what happened, but the book shifts in tone and quite rapidly the author comes across as a bit bratty and even ungrateful at moments so I ultimately had mixed feelings about this one.
Also... I can't stand the cover, it's hideous.
The first half of this book is great and really gets into the terrifying nature of sudden illness. I felt connected with Ruth Marshall's quirky, conversational style of writing from the outset. However, around the halfway point, I'm not sure what happened, but the book shifts in tone and quite rapidly the author comes across as a bit bratty and even ungrateful at moments so I ultimately had mixed feelings about this one.
Also... I can't stand the cover, it's hideous.
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