It truly touched my heart in some many ways...

books:

	• The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down Anne Fadiman Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1998 - 352 pages average customer review:based on 215 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Great book

Definitely a one of a kind. Well researched, complete, balanced, and actually interesting. Good for you whether you're clueless about medicine or about history. It's a great story.

A Story of Unconditional Love

There are many themes in this book-unconditonal love, cultural clashes and misunderstandings. The author does an excellant job of telling both sides of the issue-the medical establishment's frustration at what they perceive as noncompliant parents and the parent's frustration at what they perceive as people trying to take their child away. Fadiman alternates between the story of a family trying to do what they believe is right for their child and the medical care the child receives, and the history of the Hmong. The history is very well done, as is the entire book.

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WOW!

This is quite a true story, which incorporates the history of the Hmung people's past in SE Asia to their relocation to the U.S.

The book creates a feeling of frustration because of the Hmungs refusal to assimilate as well as with the medical and social welfare professionals who expect a western response to a problem from an eastern people.

The Hmung are shown as loving and caring parents and family members. In many ways they are very strong, admirable people. The problem is that they are no longer in SE Asea. They don't understand our ways, and we don't understand theirs.

It's a case of culture clash, and at the base of it all is the little girl who has epilepsy. There was no one conclusion one could draw from the story. Only that even with all people involved being well-meaning that things can go awry.

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It truly touched my heart in some many ways...

I was very moved by the detailed narrative in the story of Lia, her Hmong family, their culture and their immersion in the American culture. As you read it, you feel truly sympathetic with both sides on their struggles to understand each other. Even today, with the customary use (and availability) of interpreters, it is painfully clear that translating goes beyond so much more than mere words and when it comes to cultures, there can be quite a bit lost in translation.
This book and its author, somehow managed to breech the gap between the two cultures with much more objectivity, non-judgement, cultural respect and professionalism than many of the people involved in the actual story. Anyone in the medical and social service arena should read this book!

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reviews: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, page 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

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