Every once in a while I read a book that is at once extremely thought provoking and engaging and equally upsetting to experience. This is one of those books. I’m not sure how I feel about it just yet, but I know that the feelings are strong. I don’t even know how to satisfactorily put my thoughts and feelings into words yet, but I feel compelled to share them nonetheless.
I really enjoy the character of Joanne Madsen. I think it is very interesting that despite the payments she receives for having been hit by a bus which allow her to not be homeless and live a life of (relative) luxury, she still is affected by her disability. Before she forced herself to work, without even needing to, she was essentially confined to her apartment, where, even though she has the privilege of a motorized wheelchair, because it is simply more convenient not to leave, she never had to. While, yes, the fact that she was capable of never leaving her apartment and having food delivered to her is a fact of privilege, the way in which she is still disconnected from the world provides an interesting look into the fact that regardless of class, disability will always affect others.
Tiny bit for the end but I hate Michelle Volkmann and the way she dehumanizes the people around her for a paycheck and I especially hate that the people she has go to the ILLC don’t always even necessarily want to but she coerces/manipulates them for the sake of $300 dollars. The (TW) sexual assault scene made me throw up.
