The Middle Place

 

The Middle Place, by Kelly Corrigan, is probably my favorite book I have read this year. The book resonated with me because like Kelly, I  grew up in suburban Philadelphia and lived in the San Francisco Bay Area as a young mother. Kelly describes her journey through breast cancer while learning that her father has prostate cancer. A theme of the book is that in our 30's we live in a middle place between parent and child. Kelly's father, Greenie, is a character for the ages. He is a fun loving, optimistic, bear of a man who supports Kelly through her troubles. Beautifully written and heartfelt, this book delves into the author's world of marriage, motherhood ,friendship,and most of all family. Kelly writes in a way that you feel that your are a friend. You will feel a familiarity when she finds, Edward, her husband, has her babies, and grapples with the twin cancer diagnoses with Greenie. This book is currently on the New York Times bestseller list. Kelly has a second manuscript in production which I can't wait to read.