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Excess Baggage
Kelly Carmichael can't seem to find her niche in life. Her father pushes her in one direction while her mother pulls her in another. Now almost thirty, she grows weary of pursuing someone else's happiness. But just when she believes she has found the perfect career and the love of her life in Memphis, her father dies. Now she is forced to give up her dream job to take care of the mother she doesn't understand and deal with the harsh reality of a father she thought she knew.When she is finally ready to resume her life in Memphis, she is set back once again, this time with ulcerative colitis and the horrible changes in her body she must deal with as she fights to keep her boyfriend, gets to know her mother, and adjusts to her changing life in a small southern town.
EXCESS BAGGAGE was a featured novel at the 2010 Pulpwood Queens' Girlfriend Weekend.
EXCESS BAGGAGE was a featured novel at the 2010 Pulpwood Queens' Girlfriend Weekend.
200 pages, Paperback
First published March 5, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 6, 2009
Excess Baggage is a book about a 29-year-old woman who ends up with Ulcerative Colitis and requires ostomy surgery. On prinicple, this book is a great concept because it brings Inflammatory Bowel Disease out into the open and attempts to show readers how people live with this disease and disability.
I had several issues with the novel, mainly the main character, Kelly Carmichael. She's old enough to know better but still depends on Daddy to provide her money for rent, utilities, clothes, etc. huge pet peeve of mine! She spins through life, unable to finish college and find a decent job. Finally settling in a paralegal job and finding a boyfriend, you think she's starting to get her life pulled together and to be a responsible adult. Ultimately, however, I found Kelly difficult to relate too.
Kelly eventually realizes that she is sick, with blood and mucus in her stool, and is diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. This part makes sense. When I had Ulcerative Colitis, I didn't acknowledge it right away either. It's something that you think is just stress and will go away. Kelly is put on Prednisone to try and control the disease and is disappointed with the weight gain and moon face. Unfortunately, she spends most of her time on her mother's couch watching the Weather Channel. Not very endearing.
Kelly eventually has ostomy surgery because she hates being fat...so does her boyfriend, who's pretty dispicable himself.
The book didn't really explain UC or ostomies at all, so unless you are already aware of them, you might be confused. I also thought Kelly bounced back and accepted such a life changing operation a little too quickly to be believable. But then again, I had my surgery over 25 years ago so I may not remember it quite right :)
My biggest issue with the book was not the author or the story. It was the editing. Lots of grammatical errors and spelling errors threw me off. Unfortunately, misspelling the word "ileostomy" everywhere except in the author's bio was the final nail. The editors should have caught that one.
I had several issues with the novel, mainly the main character, Kelly Carmichael. She's old enough to know better but still depends on Daddy to provide her money for rent, utilities, clothes, etc. huge pet peeve of mine! She spins through life, unable to finish college and find a decent job. Finally settling in a paralegal job and finding a boyfriend, you think she's starting to get her life pulled together and to be a responsible adult. Ultimately, however, I found Kelly difficult to relate too.
Kelly eventually realizes that she is sick, with blood and mucus in her stool, and is diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. This part makes sense. When I had Ulcerative Colitis, I didn't acknowledge it right away either. It's something that you think is just stress and will go away. Kelly is put on Prednisone to try and control the disease and is disappointed with the weight gain and moon face. Unfortunately, she spends most of her time on her mother's couch watching the Weather Channel. Not very endearing.
Kelly eventually has ostomy surgery because she hates being fat...so does her boyfriend, who's pretty dispicable himself.
The book didn't really explain UC or ostomies at all, so unless you are already aware of them, you might be confused. I also thought Kelly bounced back and accepted such a life changing operation a little too quickly to be believable. But then again, I had my surgery over 25 years ago so I may not remember it quite right :)
My biggest issue with the book was not the author or the story. It was the editing. Lots of grammatical errors and spelling errors threw me off. Unfortunately, misspelling the word "ileostomy" everywhere except in the author's bio was the final nail. The editors should have caught that one.
March 29, 2011
As a woman who just recently received an ostomy, I found this book to be both inspiring and informative. It put things in perspective for me and made me realize how thankful I am just to be alive. This book made me lose the anger I had and realize that I am still a beautiful person despite the ostomy. I can now laugh without crying. She brought the subject home for me. It was such an easy read and I found myself getting totally absorbed into the plot. Great read. Loved it.
April 19, 2011
I loved this book! Bought it on a whim at a used bookstore. It was such a fun and easy read that I couldn't put it down. It grabbed me from the first page. I really liked the struggle the main character was going through, especially with her mother. And the grandmother character, Mimi, was a hoot. That woman cracked me up. Really like it.
April 19, 2011
This book was very interesting. I don't think I've read a book like it before. Reminded me of a Lifetime movie.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews