She May Be Lying Down But She May Be Very Happy: A Micro-Memoir

Billed as a micro-memoir, this book may be brief, but it packs a lot into every chapter. Broadway actress Gelb has mastered the balance between matter-of-fact terse prose and tenderness when describing the most vulnerable moments of her life and that of her daughter’s. Her daughter’s brain was injured during her birth, and the author takes readers through the ups and downs of her daughter’s short life. She chronicles her own complex feelings, behaviors, and experiences throughout this difficult period, which builds a deeply varied picture of a mother, woman, and human that readers will be able to connect with on some level. Her use of brevity and language is astonishing for a first-time author. Her narrative and storytelling do not include prescriptions or clichés. Readers may feel compelled to cry as they peruse the book’s gut-wrenching final chapters, but it’s a book they will remember for a long time.