My Life as a Body

by Norma Klein

Eighteen-year-old Augie, very bright and very tall, thinks she is never going to experience either sex or love, until she starts tutoring a boy suffering partial paralysis from an accident

Genres: Young Adult, Disability, Fiction

217 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Norma Klein was born in New York City and graduated cum laude and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa from Barnard College with a degree in Russian. She later received her master's degree in Slavic languages from Columbia University.

Ms. Klein began publishing short stories while attending Barnard and since then she had written novels for readers of all ages. The author got her ideas from everyday life and advised would-be writers to do the same -- to write about their experiences or things they really care about.

Ms. Klein died in 1989.

Reviews

[Lo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is good. There aren't too many books that tackle the topic of people with disability negotiating sexuality and desire, but there is it. I'm not saying it's the OMGBESTTHINGEVER, but it really has some moments that are pretty excellent.

[Carin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't a book I would have picked up probably if I hadn't already been in love with Norma Klein's writing. A cerebral girl who thinks she's more neuter than anything, and a physically handicapped rich boy don't sound like they're going to make a good couple, or be interesting to read about but they're both. I like how it's nearly half-way though the book before they even get together sexually. It really makes their friendship real and makes any pity elements disappear. I think it's possibly the only book of Ms. Klein's that actually has a real theme throughout (the title: "my life as a body" is the theme of course). I love how intellectual and cultured her characters always are. Augie and Sam are so real and truthful and honest. I love how she keeps coming back to the issues of pity and nursing and using people, all of which would be issues in this situation, but which a lot of authors would shy away from as difficult and frought with trouble. This book also takes place over a longer stretch of time than most of hers: two years. But it absolutely works.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eep, I'm so happy that I've finally read this Norma Klein! Klein always writes such complex, realistic characters, and Augie is another great one. She's reserved, anxious, intelligent, always has an internal debate going. Her best friend Claudia is outspoken and blunt (and an out gay teen in the 80s!), and I love their years-long friendship.

The story covers senior year, and most of freshman year of college, and I love that, that we get to follow our protagonist to college, that the story doesn't end just when a new chapter of life is beginning.

I enjoyed seeing the evolution of Augie and Sam's relationship, from strangers, to friends, to more and beyond that. Sometimes they both drove me bananas with their lack of clear communication, and sometimes I was surprised by what they did say to each other. Sam makes it pretty clear he wants to stay together after high school, and Augie makes it pretty clear she thinks they should be free to date others. She's very realistic about it. But, oh my, her jealousy. I would never have been able to have a nebulous kind of relationship like theirs. Together or not together. But Norma Klein never shies away from conflict, complexity, and uncertainty.

There's the 80s bingo card of body shaming, ableism, sexism, homophobia--it's all in there. Of course it is. There's casual smoking and drinking. There's also consent, no pressure, condoms, and the pill.

[David Kiersh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Augie is first disgusted at the thought of having to tutor a classmate that seems both mentally and physically handicapped. However, she soon falls in love with Sam, despite the fact that he is confined to a wheelchair. Her best friend Claudia, who happens to be a lesbian, is frank about sex. When the three part ways and leave New York to go to college, Augie learns more about her emotions and sexuality. Like most of Klein's books, this is not heavy on plot, but her mature, honest and original teenage characters make it definitely worthwhile reading.

[Amy Michalczyk · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first adult content book I read... found on my sister's bookshelf. I remember being very interested in the concepts at the time.

[Roxanna Usticke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread one of my favorite books from when I was a young teen. It held up well.

[Alexandra Lopez :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

she’s just like me fr

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Klein tackles lots of issues in this coming of age story. It's a shame this appears to be out of print

[Is]

2.5-3 stars? strange ya-ish book that was recommended by naomi fry in the new yorker. the writing style was okay, and it was interesting to read about the inner life of a nyc intellectual high schooler but also i would have rather been watching gossip girl probably. the premise was interesting but ultimately fell flat. fry compared klein to a judy blume type, and to that i say: she wishes