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This Side Up
“A story of a fighter and fixer. An inspiration to us all.” –Southern Living
This Side The Road to a Renovated Life is a home and garden editor’s story of a life constantly under construction, none by design. Written with candor, humor and grace, Amy Mangan shares her own home tour, but this one deftly sheds light on job loss, financial shame, home displacement, marital discord, illness and caregiving. Faced with one crisis after the next, Amy discovers how to cope, hope and rebuild, finding a new way home to a stronger way of life.
This Side The Road to a Renovated Life is a home and garden editor’s story of a life constantly under construction, none by design. Written with candor, humor and grace, Amy Mangan shares her own home tour, but this one deftly sheds light on job loss, financial shame, home displacement, marital discord, illness and caregiving. Faced with one crisis after the next, Amy discovers how to cope, hope and rebuild, finding a new way home to a stronger way of life.
- GenresNonfictionMemoir
211 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 2, 2018
243 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 26, 2018
An honest and brave book, with bits of dappled, personal humor. Amy Mangan has opened herself up and written something about persevering through life's storms, which came to her one after another, and another, and another. Intensely personal and real; overall, I enjoyed this book. If I could sum up the book's essence, I would say, "Someone, somewhere, once told me, 'God only gives you what you can handle!'... Well, it turns out that God's estimation of what I can handle and mine are, um, a disparate matter..."
Now that said, there were two things that kind of bothered me. First, the deeper meaning imparted by the author gets a little muddled. Somehow, all the trials just seemed to work themselves out thanks to personal strength, perseverance, and a heaping helping of love from family and friends. The book ends, and we're left with the image of a loving sitcom family. I applaud her candor and willingness to open up about the tremendous challenges she had to face, but please understand that I have a child who has had seizures since he was a baby, and he was also a patient of Dr. Carney's. Her vivid description of what it's like having a child with a severe medical malady was really poignant, but the end result seemed to be that "thanks to our friends and our family's intense love, we got through it, and everything is fine now.".. It just struck as hollow somehow. For me (and this is JUST MY OPINION BASED UPON MY EXPERIENCE OF HAVING A CHILD WITH INTRACTABLE SEIZURES FOR DECADES... I realize we all deal with life's trials differently!), I had to turn to greater, more philosophical approaches to life (i.e., GOD), because the trials my family faced were too big for me, my awesome friends, or even my ideal marriage. We got through it, but we all had to look for something far greater than just the people in our lives to make things better. It was just too big. Again, I'm coming at this from my own experience (two decades of seizures with my son)... I just was hoping for something more philosophical or spiritual; I realize I'm biased because this is what got me through my challenges. I just came away feeling kind of depressed. If our trials are all to be overcome by merely having plenty of friends and loving family, that's somehow a terribly depressing thought... What if your family sucks? What if you're introverted, or new to town?... I did love the parts of the book where her trials seemed to magnify the point that "trials suck, but they can also be a "bad-people filter" and a great reason to let go of the meaningless people/stuff that we once worried about". I appreciated her anger at the CEO of Merrill Lynch, and CAN TOTALLY RELATE, only my anger was at specific politicians who contributed to the splintering of my family's healthcare (and later, my hubby's job); I CAN TOTALLY RELATE. I like how she resolved this matter and decided to let go. If I knew the author, I'm sure we would have a great deal to talk about. There were moments when I wanted to reach out and hug her, coming from a corner of total empathy. Having one child with a severe medical malady (let alone TWO!) is hell on earth for a parent. That, combined with devastating financial storms (we've had those, too), is beyond miserable! For some reason, I was just hoping for a spiritual angle.
The second matter of criticism... And it's a wee, little, itty, bitty one... I wish I could've helped her with one minor editing issue; and I'M SURE IT'S JUST ME, but referring to a person who has seizures as "an epileptic" just makes me cringe. I do get it; for brevity's sake, it's easier to say "an epileptic" rather than "a person with epilepsy" or "a person with seizures".... Fewer syllables, less verbose; I really do get it... It just made me wince every time she used the word "epileptic/eplieptics" to describe people who have seizures. Aside from the term being fairly outdated, it just came off as cold and "other". Again, that's just me, likely being a crazy, hypersensitive mom of a SNiK (special needs kid) who has suffered with seizures since the late 1990s.... The author and many people everyday are adapting to the "new normal" of just having a child diagnosed with seizures, so it may be unfair to expect someone to understand that this term can come off, um, just cold. Some people with seizures are okay being called "an epileptic" and some are not (there are many online discussions about it, along with terms like "hemopheliac" or "paraplegic"!), because it can seem limiting, labeling and isolating, while connoting a sense of affliction or victimhood. I.e., "I am a PERSON, not a disease/disorder." A gentleman with seizures summed it up like this: "I prefer 'he has seizures' or 'I have epilepsy' over 'epileptic' because the term 'epileptic' is closed, and not likely to create any conversation. It's like a taboo word that people whisper. If you tell someone 'I'm epileptic,' they sort of apologize, look sorry, or embarrassed. If you tell someone 'I have seizures', they are more likely to ask, 'what meds do you take?' or 'what kind of seizures?' I don't know why this is, but if you say 'I have seizures', people seem to feel more comfortable talking about the (generally very!) uncomfortable topic of epilepsy."
In sum, if there's one word I could use to describe the book, it's "HONEST". And, having lived in Ocala since the mid-90's, I loved the local descriptions and references. Well-written and honest; overall, I would recommend the book, along with a big slice of BettyCake.
Now that said, there were two things that kind of bothered me. First, the deeper meaning imparted by the author gets a little muddled. Somehow, all the trials just seemed to work themselves out thanks to personal strength, perseverance, and a heaping helping of love from family and friends. The book ends, and we're left with the image of a loving sitcom family. I applaud her candor and willingness to open up about the tremendous challenges she had to face, but please understand that I have a child who has had seizures since he was a baby, and he was also a patient of Dr. Carney's. Her vivid description of what it's like having a child with a severe medical malady was really poignant, but the end result seemed to be that "thanks to our friends and our family's intense love, we got through it, and everything is fine now.".. It just struck as hollow somehow. For me (and this is JUST MY OPINION BASED UPON MY EXPERIENCE OF HAVING A CHILD WITH INTRACTABLE SEIZURES FOR DECADES... I realize we all deal with life's trials differently!), I had to turn to greater, more philosophical approaches to life (i.e., GOD), because the trials my family faced were too big for me, my awesome friends, or even my ideal marriage. We got through it, but we all had to look for something far greater than just the people in our lives to make things better. It was just too big. Again, I'm coming at this from my own experience (two decades of seizures with my son)... I just was hoping for something more philosophical or spiritual; I realize I'm biased because this is what got me through my challenges. I just came away feeling kind of depressed. If our trials are all to be overcome by merely having plenty of friends and loving family, that's somehow a terribly depressing thought... What if your family sucks? What if you're introverted, or new to town?... I did love the parts of the book where her trials seemed to magnify the point that "trials suck, but they can also be a "bad-people filter" and a great reason to let go of the meaningless people/stuff that we once worried about". I appreciated her anger at the CEO of Merrill Lynch, and CAN TOTALLY RELATE, only my anger was at specific politicians who contributed to the splintering of my family's healthcare (and later, my hubby's job); I CAN TOTALLY RELATE. I like how she resolved this matter and decided to let go. If I knew the author, I'm sure we would have a great deal to talk about. There were moments when I wanted to reach out and hug her, coming from a corner of total empathy. Having one child with a severe medical malady (let alone TWO!) is hell on earth for a parent. That, combined with devastating financial storms (we've had those, too), is beyond miserable! For some reason, I was just hoping for a spiritual angle.
The second matter of criticism... And it's a wee, little, itty, bitty one... I wish I could've helped her with one minor editing issue; and I'M SURE IT'S JUST ME, but referring to a person who has seizures as "an epileptic" just makes me cringe. I do get it; for brevity's sake, it's easier to say "an epileptic" rather than "a person with epilepsy" or "a person with seizures".... Fewer syllables, less verbose; I really do get it... It just made me wince every time she used the word "epileptic/eplieptics" to describe people who have seizures. Aside from the term being fairly outdated, it just came off as cold and "other". Again, that's just me, likely being a crazy, hypersensitive mom of a SNiK (special needs kid) who has suffered with seizures since the late 1990s.... The author and many people everyday are adapting to the "new normal" of just having a child diagnosed with seizures, so it may be unfair to expect someone to understand that this term can come off, um, just cold. Some people with seizures are okay being called "an epileptic" and some are not (there are many online discussions about it, along with terms like "hemopheliac" or "paraplegic"!), because it can seem limiting, labeling and isolating, while connoting a sense of affliction or victimhood. I.e., "I am a PERSON, not a disease/disorder." A gentleman with seizures summed it up like this: "I prefer 'he has seizures' or 'I have epilepsy' over 'epileptic' because the term 'epileptic' is closed, and not likely to create any conversation. It's like a taboo word that people whisper. If you tell someone 'I'm epileptic,' they sort of apologize, look sorry, or embarrassed. If you tell someone 'I have seizures', they are more likely to ask, 'what meds do you take?' or 'what kind of seizures?' I don't know why this is, but if you say 'I have seizures', people seem to feel more comfortable talking about the (generally very!) uncomfortable topic of epilepsy."
In sum, if there's one word I could use to describe the book, it's "HONEST". And, having lived in Ocala since the mid-90's, I loved the local descriptions and references. Well-written and honest; overall, I would recommend the book, along with a big slice of BettyCake.
January 14, 2020
An honest portrayal of a family in crisis, this could be a depressing book and yet, it is not. It is instead a hope of triumph over adversity and a family who dealt with everything life through at them. A superb book which I am glad I read.
September 19, 2018
I enjoyed 1/3 of this book which she wrote in an enjoyable way. However, the book somehow became redundant and depressing. Along with the horrible details of all the bad stuff that was happening in her life, maybe it would have helped for her to talk more philosophically regarding her thoughts and feelings. It was more so like a reporting of events and facts that were almost unbelievably horrible.
June 18, 2022
The author shares her story before, during, and resulting from the economic crisis of 2008. Their lives are full, their dreams coming true, and their family has attained happiness, but then the crisis begins. Job losses, losing their home, moving every year to try and stay ahead of financial ruin, it seems every time they are about to break even, another tragedy strikes. Through it all, the author learns that it wasn't the material wealth that brought them happiness, but their family togetherness, sharing in the ups and downs of life. That was the real pot of gold.
The book is not too lengthy, is quick-paced, but covers in depth the choices made and their consequences, plus the many lessons learned. An effective story citing one example among the many who suffered likewise after 2008. The only happily-ever-after comes from appreciating what you have, knowing it could always be worse.
The book is not too lengthy, is quick-paced, but covers in depth the choices made and their consequences, plus the many lessons learned. An effective story citing one example among the many who suffered likewise after 2008. The only happily-ever-after comes from appreciating what you have, knowing it could always be worse.
January 2, 2020
I don't know what to say about this book. I was about half way through when k started to tell my husband about it, and as I read on, he kept asking me for an update on the family. (Reading isn't his favorite hobby.)
"What's happened to them now?" He'd ask, Xbox controller in hand, eyes not moving from the television. After one of the updates, he said "These are REAL people?"
My heart broke when Amy begins screaming at God in her car, begging for just one thing to go right. For just one medical test for one of her children to come back with positive results.
If I could say something directly to the author, I'd thank her for sharing this story with the world.
"What's happened to them now?" He'd ask, Xbox controller in hand, eyes not moving from the television. After one of the updates, he said "These are REAL people?"
My heart broke when Amy begins screaming at God in her car, begging for just one thing to go right. For just one medical test for one of her children to come back with positive results.
If I could say something directly to the author, I'd thank her for sharing this story with the world.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2020
The upside
This book started out fairly well but as it went on it seems like a lot of whining about how hard lifeless. The caricature were well-developed and you got to know the family very well. Amy seem to be very controlling of her family and her life to the point of being overprotective. The theme of the story of being a good mother was a little over powering. She was obsessed with house decorations and material things but as a story moves on she becomes aware that material things don't really matter.
This book started out fairly well but as it went on it seems like a lot of whining about how hard lifeless. The caricature were well-developed and you got to know the family very well. Amy seem to be very controlling of her family and her life to the point of being overprotective. The theme of the story of being a good mother was a little over powering. She was obsessed with house decorations and material things but as a story moves on she becomes aware that material things don't really matter.
April 30, 2019
Worth a Read!
I'm glad I took a chance on this book! I kept thinking, "I don't even know her!" But, I was sucked into her story, nonetheless. It sounds like she's found the recipe for happiness, for her anyway, and that's a one in a million for happy endings. I can relate to all the sentimental attachments we have, and the almost humorous ways we reflect on them, realizing they couldn't hold a flame to what really matters.
I'm glad I took a chance on this book! I kept thinking, "I don't even know her!" But, I was sucked into her story, nonetheless. It sounds like she's found the recipe for happiness, for her anyway, and that's a one in a million for happy endings. I can relate to all the sentimental attachments we have, and the almost humorous ways we reflect on them, realizing they couldn't hold a flame to what really matters.
June 12, 2021
Strugglers, winners
A real story. A heartfelt story of struggle, injustice, anger, pain, hope, love and personal growth. Too many times I have struggled thru ‘the abyss “ of of despair. Played the “why me” game. And came out on the other side not better, not worse, just with more determination to find joy in each moment. Good story.
A real story. A heartfelt story of struggle, injustice, anger, pain, hope, love and personal growth. Too many times I have struggled thru ‘the abyss “ of of despair. Played the “why me” game. And came out on the other side not better, not worse, just with more determination to find joy in each moment. Good story.
May 3, 2019
Calm, kind, whole-hearted. Admist chaos, I find serenity. She wrote as if the story was a fiction. Her acknowledgment is like no other.
This brought to me another layer of understanding on financial crisis, diabetes, epilepsy, so much that a typical American family had to go through.
This brought to me another layer of understanding on financial crisis, diabetes, epilepsy, so much that a typical American family had to go through.
April 7, 2021
Beatiful story of love and grace
Beatiful story of courage love and Gods grace in difficult circumstances. When depression hit the economy life became extra hard. Learning how to cope wirh 2 very sick children and no being able to pay the bills.But love wins out in the end.
Beatiful story of courage love and Gods grace in difficult circumstances. When depression hit the economy life became extra hard. Learning how to cope wirh 2 very sick children and no being able to pay the bills.But love wins out in the end.
May 15, 2019
Well Written
This is the kind of book that helps you to get your priorities right. There are always people who are struggling worse then you.
This is the kind of book that helps you to get your priorities right. There are always people who are struggling worse then you.
May 24, 2019
Loved this book
Sad and happy.A life well lived and raw.I had years in my eyes often while reading because I know too how many curves life can throw at us.Beautifully done.
Sad and happy.A life well lived and raw.I had years in my eyes often while reading because I know too how many curves life can throw at us.Beautifully done.
June 8, 2019
I appreciate the author's honesty and courage in telling her story. A true testament of a family's resilience and strength in times of difficulty.
September 24, 2019
Compelling
Richly written. Painfully honest account of struggles that are real-- financial stress, parenting, marriage, health issues, aging parents and more. Beautifully written.
Richly written. Painfully honest account of struggles that are real-- financial stress, parenting, marriage, health issues, aging parents and more. Beautifully written.
January 19, 2020
An engaging memoir
Very engaging, easy to read. I quickly became attached to this family. Lots of ups and downs to keep me going to the end.
Very engaging, easy to read. I quickly became attached to this family. Lots of ups and downs to keep me going to the end.
Read
May 18, 2020It was a bit depressing but I could not stop reading it. Did not realize that it was a story of her life until the end. It was a story of those years and, I am afraid, of the current year.
June 18, 2019
Hang in, hang on & hold up
Good study in life happening. If it hasn't yet it will. So when we think we are a lone, we really arn't...just lookup and hang on.
Good study in life happening. If it hasn't yet it will. So when we think we are a lone, we really arn't...just lookup and hang on.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews