Plot Summary

A Whole New Life

Reynolds Price
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A Whole New Life

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1981

Book Brief

Reynolds Price

A Whole New Life

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1981
Book Details
Pages

224

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

North Carolina • 1980s

Publication Year

1981

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

A Whole New Life by Reynolds Price is a memoir detailing the author's journey after being diagnosed with spinal cancer in 1984, which led to surgery that left him partially disabled. Seeking rehabilitation, Price utilized hypnosis and biofeedback, and though the ordeal altered his view on identity and mortality, he found new meaning in life through writing and the support of his loved ones. The memoir includes themes related to living with a disability and chronic pain.

Inspirational

Contemplative

Emotional

Melancholic

Hopeful

Reviews & Readership

4.1

473 ratings

75%

Loved it

19%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Reynolds Price's memoir, A Whole New Life, garners praise for its candid and eloquent portrayal of his battle with a spinal cord tumor. Reviewers commend Price’s resilience, humor, and poetic writing style. However, some critique the memoir's pacing and occasional verbosity. Overall, it offers an inspiring yet nuanced look at overcoming life's unexpected challenges.

Who should read this

Who Should Read A Whole New Life?

Readers who appreciate inspirational memoirs and narratives of personal resilience, such as When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi or The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby, will find Reynolds Price's A Whole New Life profoundly moving and uplifting. This book is ideal for those drawn to stories of overcoming life's immense challenges.

4.1

473 ratings

75%

Loved it

19%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

224

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

North Carolina • 1980s

Publication Year

1981

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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