I'm not much for reading memoirs, but this one piqued my interest for personal reasons. The author's story is tremendously inspirational; Sara Seager is truly a superwoman in my eyes. Her superpowers: an incredible, genius-level intellect, complemented by strength, fortitude and persistence that I can only imagine. Sara's brains carry her to the heights of her field, Astrophysics, overcoming the barriers forged by a male-dominated profession. Her body transports her on canoe trips into the wilds of northern Canada, not to mention (mostly) single motherhood of two boys. And her spirit allows her to overcome the tremendous tragedies that punctuate her life.
The prose of the memoir is well-written, occasionally soaring when Sara comtemplates the beauty and complexity of her work with the stars. It can also be brutally honest, as when discussing the moral and technical deficiencies of the medical professions, especially some of the doctors. Sara knows what dedication consists, of not thoroughly investigating any unknown, of not being the best in class. She finds the doctors lacking in all regards.
The writing sometimes falters, in my opinion, when trying to explain or elucidate the complexity of her emotions and relationships, although the passages regarding the Widows of Concord are rewarding. All in all, this memoir is well worth the read.
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