Pathologies: A Life in Essays

by Susan Olding

In these fifteen searingly honest personal essays, debut author Susan Olding takes us on an unforgettable journey into the complex heart of being human. Each essay dissects an aspect of Olding’s life experience—from her vexed relationship with her father to her tricky dealings with her female peers; from her work as a counsellor and teacher to her persistent desire, despite struggles with infertility, to have children of her own. In a suite of essays forming the emotional climax of the book, Olding bravely recounts the adoption of her daughter, Maia, from an orphanage in China, and tells us the story of Maia’s difficult adaptation to the unfamiliar state of being loved.

Written with as much lyricism, detail, and artfulness as the best short stories, the essays in Pathologies provide all the pleasures of fiction combined with the enrichment derived from the careful presentation of fact. Susan Olding is indisputably one of Canada’s finest new writers, one who has taken the challenging, much-underused form of the literary essay and made it her own.

Genres: Essays, Canada, Memoir, Nonfiction

264 pages, Perfect Paperback

First published September 10, 2008

Reviews

[Gisela · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very insightful collection of essays based on the author's personal life experiences and written in a very unique and interesting format. There is lots of raw and honest emotion portrayed in these wonderful short story-like essays and the writing is riveting and beautifully eloquent. Highly recommended.

[Tracey Ormerod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Think back to high school and the dreaded five-paragraph essay. It had its purpose, but there was rarely any joy in the writing or the reading of it. (I know it well as a former English teacher.)
Now read "Pathologies" and fall in love with the essay, perhaps for the first time. This was a joy to read and an inspiration for me as a writer.

[Lynn Tait · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a bit to really commit to this book of essays, but once I focused on each chapter, the more immersed in Susan Olding's honesty, her trials, and tribulations regarding her and her husband's adoption of an Asian child, raising her incredibly interesting daughter and the difficulties of parenthood.

[Gili · Rating 4 out of 5]

Begins better than it ends, but still interesting and gives in depth look into childhood, motherhood and adoption. the essays format - sometimes works and sometimes not so much.

[Sarah Tun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written and engaging, it is encouraging to read eloquence from one so modest.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Olding takes the personal essay to new heights of lyrical style, multi-layered structure and lucid candor. I have discovered a new favourite Canadian writer.