Review of Growing Up Ugly
By Donetta Garman
ISBN # 978-1-60462-754-1
Publisher: Tate
Release Date: June 2008
Growing Up Ugly is a memoir of the life of the author. And what an amazing life she’s had thus far! Each chapter tells of her recollections of growing up while recovering in a hospital from a stroke at a young age. As she fades in and out of consciousness, memories spring to mind as she sleeps. Very detailed memories. Fond and not so fond memories.
Though to some her childhood would be construed as stemming from a very dysfunctional family, the family itself had a bonding between them that only love could hold. Through tragedy, mental illness, alcoholism, poverty and health issues, this family stayed together and protected each other in a way one can only admire.
Ms. Garman felt awkward, ugly and had a very low self-esteem during her childhood, experiencing many things in life at a very young age that we would hope today, no child would have to go through. And yet, it’s those very same experiences which God led her through to get her past it and to the point in life she is at now. Some would have never survived. Others would have aged with bitterness and regret. Many who experience similar experiences never emerge, but drown. But as we all know, God has a plan for all of us, if we will only open the door for Him to enter into our hearts.
Still struggling with issues, she met and married a man who had been down some of the roads she had been down and together they grew. Now he is the pastor of a small church and together, they enjoy a much different life full of the joy and the beauty God created. She learned that beauty is not an outward appearance others can see, but something which can only come from inside. Beauty is within our souls, not our physical bodies.
I felt many mixed emotions as I read her story and feel blessed to have had the opportunity to do so. Ms. Garman has a unique talent for telling a story and her memoir is a story you will not want to miss. A truly exceptional book! Garman is an exceptional writer with a unique talent and I look forward to reading more of her work.
Cindy Bauer
Author/Speaker/Reviewer
www.cindybauerbooks.com
www.cindybauer.blogspot.com