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The Camera My Mother Gave Me
The Camera My Mother Gave Me
Author: Susanna Kaysen
The Camera My Mother Gave Me takes us through Susanna Kaysen’s often comic, sometimes surreal encounters with all kinds of doctors—internists, gynecologists, “alternative health” experts—as well as with her boyfriend and her friends, when suddenly, inexplicably, “something went wrong” with her vag...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780679443902
ISBN-10: 0679443908
Publication Date: 10/2/2001
Pages: 176
Rating:
  • Currently 2.9/5 Stars.
 35

2.9 stars, based on 35 ratings
Publisher: Knopf
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback, Audio Cassette, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

Dartha avatar reviewed The Camera My Mother Gave Me on + 102 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
The 'boyfriend' pissed me off. I think this book raises a lot of interesting points that would make for wonderful discussions. How, for instance, most of us are defined by our 'parts' and are never considered as a whole, when it gets down to the nitty-gritty truth-telling, how do you really feel about me. Once you can no longer supply that other person's 'needs'(wants), should that relationship end, or was it ever truly a relationship to begin with? At what point do I as person begin? Or should we all be considered as commodities, and who is the best bargain. I think this book was very interesting. Would probably never have requested it on its own, but was taking advantage of an offer in the Book Bazaar and I am so glad that I did get it! Of course, Girl Interrupted was a much better book, but this one did not disappoint me at all!
reviewed The Camera My Mother Gave Me on + 26 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
The book is about Kaysen's vagina. Seriously, that's it--her vagina. It hurts. And hurts. And hurts some more. No one knows what's wrong. She tries wacky things like sitting in tea and she tries antidepressants (and a million other things). Nothing really works. The whole book is her complaining about her vagina. It was not interesting to me. It reminded me of the worst (in my opinion) monologue in the Vagina Monolgues--the my vagina is me one. I am more than my vagina; Kaysen is apparently not. I feel for the poor trees that were sacrificed for this.

Believe it or not, I didn't actually hate this. It was just okay. Turns out I just don't care that much about Kaysen's vagina.
reviewed The Camera My Mother Gave Me on + 103 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I thought the first half was really good, but then it dwindled a bit and I didn't like the ending a lot. It's an interesting story and concept, but it could've ended better.
reviewed The Camera My Mother Gave Me on + 55 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
By the author of "Girl, Interrupted," Kaysen is witty and insightful about the travails of having "something go wrong" with her vagina, which sends her on a series of encounters with gynecologists, alternate health healers, internists, her boyfriend and her wonderful circle of friends. This writer is wry, precise and delightful. I'd read her grocery lists.
reviewed The Camera My Mother Gave Me on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
this is by the author of girl, interrupted, but is basically about her vagina. a quick read.
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roach808 avatar reviewed The Camera My Mother Gave Me on + 155 more book reviews
This is fun, funny, and also really serious. It touches on relationships, fine lines, opinions, and her own gynecological medical anomaly.

Kaysen is the author of Girl, Interrupted and mostly she pulls no punches in this short memoir about a specific period in her life. Worth the audiobook fun it brought me.


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