The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan: A Journey of Love and Resilience

The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan is a poignant memoir that takes readers on a captivating journey of love, resilience, and the unbreakable bond between a father and daughter. In this deeply personal story, Corrigan shares her experiences of navigating life's challenges while straddling the line between adulthood and dependency.

Corrigan's memoir is a testament to the power of familial love and the strength that comes from facing adversity head-on. Through her beautifully crafted prose, she invites readers into her world, where she grapples with the realities of being a daughter, a mother, and a wife.

The title - "The Middle Place" - refers to the space between childhood and adulthood, when one is no longer fully dependent on their parents but still heavily relies on their support and guidance. Corrigan finds herself caught in this middle ground when she receives a devastating diagnosis of breast cancer at the same time her beloved father is also battling cancer.

The Middle Place

by Kelly Corrigan (Kindle Edition)

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1103 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	284 pages

FREE

The emotional rollercoaster that Corrigan takes readers on is both heart-wrenching and life-affirming. She recounts the challenges she faces as a caretaker for her father while also navigating her own health struggles. Throughout it all, Corrigan's narrative is filled with love, humor, and an unwavering determination to find joy in even the darkest of moments.

Corrigan's writing style is engaging and relatable, making it easy for readers to connect with her story. Her vulnerability and honesty shine through on every page, as she shares her fears, doubts, and triumphs. From grappling with the harsh realities of cancer treatment to finding solace in the everyday moments, Corrigan's words resonate with readers on a profound level.

One of the most powerful aspects of "The Middle Place" is Corrigan's exploration of the delicate dance between parent and child. She reflects on the unique bond she shares with her father, recounting the lessons he taught her and the impact he had on shaping her into the person she is today. Through her father's illness, Corrigan learns a valuable lesson about the strength of the human spirit and the capacity for love to transcend even the toughest of times.

The Middle Place also delves into Corrigan's own journey of self-discovery. As she confronts her mortality, she embarks on a quest to find her own identity and purpose. She grapples with the pressures of society's expectations while learning to embrace her flaws and celebrate her individuality. In doing so, Corrigan delivers an empowering message of self-acceptance and the importance of living life on one's own terms.

Ultimately, The Middle Place is a story of resilience and the enduring power of love. It reminds readers of the strength that can be found in the most challenging of circumstances and the beauty that can arise from the darkest of moments. It is an ode to familial love, a celebration of the human spirit, and a reminder to cherish the precious moments we have with our loved ones.

If you are looking for a memoir that will touch your heart, inspire you to appreciate the small joys in life, and fill you with a sense of gratitude, then The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan is a must-read. Through her powerful storytelling and relatable insights, Corrigan invites readers to walk alongside her on her journey of love, resilience, and self-discovery.

The Middle Place

by Kelly Corrigan (Kindle Edition)

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1103 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	284 pages

FREE

"The Middle Place is about calling home. Instinctively. Even when all the paperwork -- a marriage license, a notarized deed, two birth certificates, and seven years of tax returns -- clearly indicates you're an adult, but all the same, there you are, clutching the phone and thanking God that you're still somebody's daughter."

For Kelly Corrigan, family is everything.

At thirty-six, she had a marriage that worked, a couple of funny, active kids, and a weekly newspaper column. But even as a thriving adult, Kelly still saw herself as George Corrigan's daughter. A garrulous Irish-American charmer from Baltimore, George was the center of the ebullient, raucous Corrigan clan. He greeted every day by opening his bedroom window and shouting, "Hello, World!" Suffice it to say, Kelly's was a colorful childhood, just the sort a girl could get attached to.

Kelly lives deep within what she calls the Middle Place -- "that sliver of time when parenthood and childhood overlap" -- comfortably wedged between her adult duties and her parents' care. But she's abruptly shoved into a coming-of-age when she finds a lump in her breast -- and gets the diagnosis no one wants to hear. And so Kelly's journey to full-blown adulthood begins. When George, too, learns he has late-stage cancer, it is Kelly's turn to take care of the man who had always taken care of her -- and show us a woman as she finally takes the leap and grows up.

Kelly Corrigan is a natural-born storyteller, a gift you quickly recognize as her father's legacy, and her stories are rich with everyday details. She captures the beat of an ordinary life and the tender, sometimes fractious moments that bind families together. Rueful and honest, Kelly is the prized friend who will tell you her darkest, lowest, screwiest thoughts, and then later, dance on the coffee table at your party.

Funny, yet heart-wrenching, The Middle Place is about being a parent and a child at the same time. It is about the special double-vision you get when you are standing with one foot in each place. It is about the family you make and the family you came from -- and locating, navigating, and finally celebrating the place where they meet. It is about reaching for life with both hands -- and finding it.