Riding Standing Up: A Memoir

by Sparrow Spaulding

Sparrow Spaulding was born into the perfect family. Two loving parents, a beautiful home, and grandparents that doted on her. Life was a dream until the day that changed everything. Sparrow's perfect life was ripped away at age three in one tragic moment that would forever change her. Follow her on her journey as she tells the story of her traumatic childhood and how she fought hard to stay strong despite her circumstances. In Riding Standing Up, Spaulding’s compelling storytelling will have you on the edge of your seat. Get ready to laugh out loud and cry more tears than you’d like as you follow her on her journey to empowerment, never knowing what’s around the corner. Brutally honest, truth-teller Sparrow Spaulding has been an unsung antiheroine…until now. She shows us we don’t have to be perfect to be worthy and that there’s power in being real.

Genres: Memoir

267 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 30, 2018

About the author

Sparrow Spaulding is a retired therapist, coach, author, and nutritionist. She is also a trauma survivor. She has spent her career championing for the less fortunate. Through her writing, coaching, and speaking she teaches people how to "uncage" themselves from the bondage of the past, and how to soar into new horizons. In her free time she loves to sing, dance, play music and take care of animals.

Reviews

[Kimberly Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in one sitting. As the story of Sparrow’s childhood and adolescence went on, I became very attached to her and was sad for the book to end. Yet, in truth, Sparrow’s life story is just beginning, and in spite of all the challenges she has faced, I am happy and hopeful for her future.

Memoirs such as this one are so special to me for the writer’s sheer honesty in the telling of great hardships and difficulties experienced. It must take great courage to convey the feelings of unworthiness, the raw depths of pain which led to self-destructive decisions made for a time.

To see a young person like Sparrow begin to take the first courageous steps in her life journey toward a positive future and self-validation is extremely heartwarming.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the first part of this book: dysfunctional family; heroic kid trying to make her way...but by the middle of the book it was just like a diary written from one girl to another--how many times I smoked a blunt, whom I had sex with and what it was like, what positions we used. It just got to be a recitation of her smart-mouth comments and every boy she met who was dreamy (almost all of them). I skipped to the end and saw that she finally left her dysfunctional family, but she didn't strike me as much of a hero or dedicated person or somebody I wanted to admire. I was as glad to finish the book as she was to leave her family. The part that really disturbed me was when her brother had his first wet dream and she convinced him that he was getting his period. He wore pads in his underwear for the next week. That's too cruel for me.

[Megan Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book hit me in my trauma riddled soul. It was a very easy and fluid read, I simply couldn’t put it down. Sparrow did a fantastic job of putting her spunky and humorous story telling skills on display to lighten,without sugar coating, some raw and all too familiar experiences. Her story telling captivated me chapter by chapter while still leaving space for my own stories come through and breathe. I feel like so much of me related to Sparrow’s experience, some of it due to my own history and the rest simply because I felt like I was riding shot gun in all of her life stories. Thank you for sitting with the darkness of your youth and authentically sharing such vulnerability with us all. I truly feel as if reading her story really helped me put some of my own past traumas to rest knowing that someone else went through it all and came out determined to be anything but her past. Hats off to the work, both physical and emotional, that had to be done to share this much needed memoir with us.

[Margaret Sargent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

I am always interested in memoirs . A persons journey of how one gets from here to there. Sparrow's 70's trip mirrors much of what we see today, kids just trying to survive poverty and lower middle class. Children stressing about money , addictions,and abuse every day. Education was pretty near the bottom of her list til it was almost too late. Lucky for her that she is very bright and she seems to have avoided the addiction trap. Bravo!

[Juli Blasiname · Rating 3 out of 5]

Falls flat

The authors childhood was interesting enough that this could have been a really good book, but her writing is just not colorful enough to make for a compelling story (think Rick bragg).

[Sue Summerill · Rating 2 out of 5]

So so

This book reads so slow, I did not finish the book. The family is so dysfunctional, and somewhat tragic. I kept losing interest in the book as it seemed to repeat itself over and over each chapter.

[Jay Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

I literally couldn't put this book down. This memoir was fast-paced and engaging. I fell in love with the main character early on. She tells the truth about her world and leaves nothing out. Even though she's been through many traumatic experiences, she's still full of hope. What I liked most is how she stuck up for herself when no one else would. Whether she's making you laugh or breaking your heart she digs deep and makes you feel. I highly recommend this page-turner!

[Ariana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riding Standing Up is a raw and honest memoir that formulates into words the thoughts and emotions that a lot of us dealt with as we were growing up. The witty writing is refreshing and I was laughing out loud quite a bit as I devoured the book. I always appreciate a female author who holds nothing back in her writing and I appreciate her pouring out her sole into this memoir. Best book I've read in a long time.

[Bruce · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sparrow is a pistol, that's for sure. She grows up in a class . . . out of her class. She seems to be more mature and smarter than her family and friends . . . at all stages of her life. But she has a great sense of humor . . . and nothing gets her down. It's a quick read, but it's just TOO transparent and graphic for me. I took the two-star rating literally -- It was OK.

[Nancy durnal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Riding Standing Up: A Memoir was not my cup of tea. I was glad to finish it. Too much talk about shaging. I grew up in the 70s and my friends and We did not shag every guy we met. Seriously? Did all of these experiences really happen to the author? and if so, then she really is a survivor of a troubled childhood.

[Chill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling and heart gripping story that will have you laughing and crying and at times wondering “what the heck?!”. This beautiful book although a memoir reads like a fiction. Highly recommended to anyone- good childhood or bad, you will find comfort in this book!

-C

[Ami Bastian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book about a girl looking for herself. I felt as though this were a friend of mine by the end of the book and I cannot wait to continue this journey with Sparrow in her next memoir.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strength!

I really enjoyed reading this book from Sparrow Spaulding. I love the strength she found to continue to move forward in spite of her family challenges.

[Haley Longshore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book so fast. It is very relatable and REAL. The tone of the book is great, it really puts you in the author's shoes. It shows a lot about growth and is inspiring through that.

[joan l taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not as it seemed

A bit over the top at first but quite believable after getting it all figured out. We may not be comfortable with this truth, however we must accept that many families are not what they seem to be from the outside. It teaches us to see beyond the obvious and be sensitive to clues. Also if we come from an experience of disfunction/ abuse or dysfunction we should not hide it, as a child we were powerless over it, not Sparrow though, good for her.

[Renee Antoniou · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has it all. There’s humor, sadness, danger, love, loss, family and friendship. All this presented in a style that flows with ease across the page. Find a block of time because once you’ve started, it’s hard to put down . There are twists and turns throughout. I could feel all the emotions of Sparrow’s experiences as she describes them in details that make them so relatable. I’m keeping my hard copy so I can read it again.

[Elaine R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not for serious readers.

Riding Standing Up was an ok read. It did not, however, read particularly true. It would be a very relatable novel for older teens. I didn’t feel as if the author presented an honest, truthful look at her life in this memoir. I think the writing was acceptable but it was all a bit stilted.

[judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice and easy read.


Was able to jump into the story very easy and become a spectator of Sparrow. Enjoyed over a weekend in the cabin.

[Susan Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Crazy family ,crazy life. Tons of choices,some bad some good. Loved this book looking for the next one. Read it

[AudReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

She’s real, she’s interesting, and she’s funny, even during tough times. The book moved quickly for me because I could relate to Sparrow and her life.

[Caroline · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing - perhaps it was meant for a younger audience?

[Julie Bateman]

Riveting and such a good read. Well written, a must read that is hard to put down and leaves you wanting more when done.