WALKING IN THE DEEP END

An honest, heartbreaking memoir that chronicles a pattern of tragedy and confusion.

The book begins with Parker’s recollections of father’s mental breakdown and suicide attempts, which she witnessed at the age of 11. Soon afterward, the author discovered a family history filled with dark secrets, including an uncle kept secret from the family and an aunt who was brutally raped and eventually committed suicide out of despair. As her world became increasingly complex and difficult, Parker did her best to maintain a sense of well-being, despite observing tragedies with which she was too young to comprehend. The author and her family turned to their Christian faith to guide them through the many rough patches they endured. However, they found others’ interpretations of their faith to be ill-matched with their own, and their churches and denominations were in constant flux as they searched for a fitting interpretation. Parker spent her college years using binge-eating as an emotional crutch and developed a serious case of bulimia, with which she struggled for years. The memoir’s last third is by far the most truthful and endearing segment, as readers meet the now-41-year-old mother Parker, in the process of a messy divorce triggered by the discovery that she is gay. Even in the face of endless challenges, the author remains optimistic, looking toward her spirituality to guide her through dark times. She shows a gift for storytelling, and as a result, the book is compelling and enthralling. Parker examines her psyche–and the mistakes and tragedies that mar her life–with endearing bravery. Through her honesty, Parker makes a successful argument both for faith and spirituality while somehow avoiding the pitfalls of sappiness and overt sentimentality. This is thanks in part to her sharing her beliefs, rather than preaching them.

Genuinely uplifting and inspiring.