On the Ledge: A Memoir by Amy Turner Book Review

On the Ledge: A Memoir by Amy Turner Publisher:  She Writes Press, (September 6, 2022) Category: Memoir, Dysfunctional Families, Mental Wellness Tour dates: September 6, 2022-October 7, 2022 ISBN: 978-1647422257 Available in Print and ebook, 256 pages

Description On the Ledge by Amy Turner

In 1957, when Amy Turner was four years old, her father had to be talked down from a hotel ledge by a priest. The story of his attempted suicide received nationwide press coverage, and he spent months in a psychiatric facility before returning home. From then on, Amy constantly worried about him for reasons she didn’t yet fully understand, triggering a pattern of hypervigilance that would plague her into adulthood. In 2010, fifty-five years after her father’s attempted suicide, Amy—now a wife, mother, and lawyer-turned-schoolteacher—is convinced she’s dealt with all the psychological reverberations of her childhood.

Then she steps into a crosswalk and is mowed down by a pickup truck—an accident that nearly kills her, and that ultimately propels her on a remarkable emotional journey. With the help of Chinese Medicine, Somatic Experiencing, and serendipities that might be attributed to grace, Amy first unravels the trauma of her own brush with death and then, unexpectedly, heals the childhood trauma buried far deeper. Poignant and intimate, On the Ledge is Amy’s insightful and surprisingly humorous chronicle of coming to terms with herself and her parents as the distinct, vulnerable individuals they are. Perhaps more meaningfully, it offers proof that no matter how far along you are in life, it’s never too late to find yourself.

Disclosure: “As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.” Some of the links in this post are ‘affiliate links.’ This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission.

Advance Praise On the Ledge by Amy Turner

“. . . an intriguing memoir . . . that many readers will find relatable. . . . A frank and engaging portrait of one family’s struggles with mental illness.”—Kirkus Reviews “In lyrical and vivid prose, Amy Turner reckons with her family secrets and how they dug their roots deep into her psyche. With trauma as the inciting force, Turner courageously comes to terms with her past and present, showing us how choosing to lean into the scars can reveal paths forward. On the Ledge is a compelling read, told with grace, vulnerability, and depth.”—Rachel Michelberg, author of Crash: How I Became a Reluctant Caregiver

“This remarkable story of a woman’s journey toward healing after a random, shocking accident takes us back in time into the home of an unusual family and the seminal event that shaped them all. In peeling back layers of trauma and revisiting key moments from her past, Turner comes to a new understanding of what it means to be a daughter, a mother, a woman, and a seeker of truth. This is a riveting story of courage and redemption. And dare I say that parts of it are very, very funny?”—Hope Edelman, #1 New York Times best-selling author of Motherless Daughters and The AfterGrief

“On the Ledge is an extraordinary memoir of the way trauma harms both body and soul. Amy Turner’s near-miss with death at the age of fifty-seven propels her on a journey back through family history, leading to a new understanding of how her father’s attempted suicide and her mother’s determination to ‘move on’ has shaped—and limited—her since the age of four. Inspirational and beautifully told.”—Susan Scarf Merrell, author of Shirley: A Novel, now a major motion picture

“Absorbing, direct, humorous, horrific, On the Ledge explores the edge of madness as an artful memoir that also addresses two growing contemporary concerns: suicide and addiction. Timely, significant, well written, this is a courageous and engaging account, neither didactic nor sentimental, that belongs on school shelves as well as in the home.”
—Joan Baum, host of NPR’s Baum on Books

About Amy Turner

Amy Turner was born in Bronxville, New York, and is a graduate of Boston University, with a degree in political science, and of New York Law School, with a Juris Doctor Degree. After practicing law (rather unhappily) for twenty-two years, she finally found the courage to change careers at forty-eight and become a (very happy) seventh-grade social studies teacher.

A long-time meditator and avid reader who loves to swim and bike, Amy lives in East Hampton, New York, with her husband, Ed, to whom she’s been married for forty years. They have two sons. On the Ledge is Amy’s first book.
Website: https://www.amyturnerauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amyturnerauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmyTurnerWriter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyturner2000/

Pre-Order On the Ledge by Amy Turner

Amazon Bookshop.orgGiveaway On the Ledge by Amy Turner

This giveaway is for 2 print copies and is open to the U.S. only. This giveaway ends on October 5, 2022 midnight, pacific time.  Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway On the Ledge by Amy Turner

This giveaway is for 2 print copies and is open to the U.S. only. This giveaway ends on October 5, 2022 midnight, pacific time.  Entries accepted via Rafflecopter only. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Becky’s Review of On the Ledge By Amy Turner

Memoirs are one of the genres I enjoy reading. I can’t say I would enjoy every single one, but so far so good. On the Ledge: A Memoir by Amy Turner is up there in my Top 5 at this point. The main character obviously is Amy herself.

Amy flashes back from her childhood to her present-day time and then somewhere in between. Amy is one of three children. Raised in a household with two parents that lead a ‘not-so-normal’ life. Not so much in the way physically but mentally. When Amy was only 4 years old (about 1957) her father attempted to commit suicide off of a bridge. From that point on the kids were NOT to get their Dad upset or bothered in fear he may try something again.

I have always felt children should not be held to deal with their parent’s issues. Their shoulders are not strong enough to bear those burdens. Yet Amy and her siblings each come out of the ‘wreckage’ with different outcomes. You will learn a bit about her siblings’ outcomes, but since this is Amy’s memoir, it is Amy that you will learn the most about.

What I gathered the most during this memoir was Amy battled with not wanting to be like her Dad. He was always very preoccupied and didn’t want to be disturbed. Amy always felt like she wasn’t good enough in his eyes, never mind her Mother’s eyes. After the accident, she was no longer the same which made her life even harder. One thing Amy did was never give up. For that, I give Amy major cheers! To find out how it all ends make sure you grab your copy below.

Disclosure: “As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.” Some of the links in this post are ‘affiliate links.’ This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission.

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