WALK

An 80-year-old author reflects on her life’s many challenges in this memoir.

The author, a spiritual, nature-loving mother of four and a former early childhood educator, offers her life story as a testimony of the power of perseverance. Born and raised in the Fraser Valley region of British Columbia in Canada, she grew up with a younger brother and a younger sister—and many farm animal friends—on 17 acres of farmland tended by her mother and her handy father who built their home. Both lived through the Great Depression and carried with them a history influenced by the tragedies of the era. Christensen notes how, as a child, she observed the relationship between her parents and realized the impact that their differing temperaments and personalities had on her own life. She recalls adoring her father as a child, but also increasingly being affected by his unpredictable behavior, which could be callous and emotionally abusive; when he abandoned the family when she was 14, the author writes, she promised her mother she would become “the husband.” She suffered many other hardships as a child, including hospitalization for an infection. Another time, a man her mother dated abusively kissed her on multiple occasions; he was later convicted of sexually molesting a girl she knew. Later, when she was in her 20s, her father completely disowned her, and she would face many more trials as a wife and mother. The author, anchored by her mother’s “example of resilience, courage, and strength,” writes about her life in a way that lucidly illustrates all those tenets. The narrative lacks a clear structure; there are accounts of mental health scares, drug addiction, marital separation, and job loss, but there’s no clear, defining moment around which the memoir revolves. There are also instances of unpolished free-form poetry about God, nature, and the author’s loved ones. However, Christensen’s candor regarding each moment of adversity in her life ably underscores her commitment to using her memories “to connect with others who encounter life challenges.

A straightforward account of a woman who faces difficulties with self-awareness and defiance.