Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
The Beauty in Breaking
The Beauty in Breaking: A Memoir | Michele Harper
"A series of connected personal stories drawn from the author's life and work as an ER doctor that explores how we are all broken--physically, emotionally, and psychically--and what we can do to heal ourselves as we try to heal others"--
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
blurb
Eggs
post image

“Brokenness can be a remarkable gift, if we allow it. Through illness, a death, a breakup, a breakdown of any kind, we get the chance to look beyond the rubble to see a whole new way of life.”

#Memoir

#AboutABook

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🧡🤎🧡 3mo
Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🧡🍁❤️ 3mo
50 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
Eggs
post image

“Speak these truths aloud, for it is only in silence that horror can persist. The courage to call a thing by its true name galvanizes the human spirit to address it.”

#BreakInTitle

#SpringSkies

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🧡💚🧡 7mo
49 likes2 stack adds1 comment
review
Eggs
post image
Pickpick

“There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in.” Leonard Cohen

Harper‘s memoir combines philosophy, personal experiences in urgent care, humanism, forgiveness, awareness and existentialism - to illustrate humans‘ similarities and differences. And to inspire us to follow a path to #peace and ethical decisions within our lives. Everyone is broken in some way…

#DecemberDreams
#Rushathon Day 10

DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 11mo
Eggs @DieAReader 🤗🙏🏻❤️ 11mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks So pretty 😍 11mo
Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you 🙏🏻 11mo
60 likes4 comments
blurb
Susanita
post image

I took a break from the mysteries I‘m reading in order to finish this month‘s book club selection before Libby snatches it back. Sometimes it‘s a little woo woo, but the stories are moving and insightful.

review
JenReadsAlot
post image
Pickpick

I really enjoyed this. Hard stories at times, but hopeful as well. #bookspin for April @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2y
45 likes1 comment
blurb
JenReadsAlot
post image
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2y
33 likes1 comment
review
S3V3N
post image
Mehso-so

This was just so-so to me.🤷🏽‍♀️

blurb
SqueakyChu
post image

One clinical episode in this book I found upsetting was about a young infant being brought to the emergency room as a code (i.e. the baby‘s heart and breathing had spontaneously stopped at home). I know the family was not identified, but I find it unkind to have a child‘s traumatizing death be fodder for this book. Even more, to learn that resuscitation efforts at the hospital were for show and to prevent litigation was even worse.

6 likes1 stack add
blurb
SqueakyChu
post image

I found it annoying that in this memoir the author stated, “I won‘t go into my college experience. Much has been written...”. Okay. So the author has already decided that I wouldn‘t be interested in reading about her college experience (which was completely wrong), but why write about what one is not going to write about??

blurb
SqueakyChu
post image

Something is missing in the beginning of this book. The only things we learn from the opening chapters about the author‘s childhood is that this black woman had a spirit who whispered to her, her father had been physically abusive to her brother and mom, she grew up in the Gold Coast neighborhood of Washington, DC, and she attended The National Cathedral School. A bit more background information about the author would have been appreciated.

blurb
SqueakyChu
post image

It‘s such fun to finish a good book (Born a Crime by Trevor Noah) and start a new book. The book pictured here was my choice. I just started reading it this evening. It‘s a book that two of my friends have already requested after I finish it. By the demand, I guess it must be a good read. Well, I‘ll soon find out.

TEArificbooks I have heard nothing but good things about this one 2y
TEArificbooks I have heard nothing but good things 2y
SqueakyChu @mdm139 Great! I hope it‘s as good as others think! 2y
11 likes3 comments
review
peacegypsy
post image
Pickpick

This book is beautiful. Told by an ER doctor, she makes stories of life and death meaningful. Each story is engaging, and she teaches readers and patients alike how to heal, often without medications. She‘s inspired me to start meditating and to truly care for myself. Amazing. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

39 likes2 stack adds
review
alisiakae
post image
Pickpick

An interesting memoir, and I loved all the case studies. I like straight non-fiction more than memoirs, so I probably would have enjoyed this more if it was medical non-fiction without the memoirist bits. I actually felt this book was trying to be too many things at once. But I still enjoyed the read, ans my criticism is more due to my personal taste than the book itself, which I definitely recommend!

#booked2021 #covidheroes
#bookspin

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3y
BarbaraTheBibliophage I had similar feelings about this one. Kinda all over the place, but she is inspiring for her achievements. 3y
Cinfhen Me too!! I liked it but not sure I “LIKED” it. Good choice 👍🏽 3y
See All 6 Comments
alisiakae @BarbaraTheBibliophage @Cinfhen Did either of you figure out the Philly hospitals that she gave pseudonyms for? We‘re pretty sure Andrew Johnson is Washington Jefferson Hospital. Aaron actually did a rotation there at the end of med school! (edited) 3y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @4thhouseontheleft I definitely think one was Jefferson. I googled and found a connection to her at the VA hospital in NE Philly. 3y
Ddzmini in my tbr stack 🤣📖 3y
67 likes6 comments
blurb
alisiakae
post image

Waiting on a teenager to get ready for the day to join her parents outside on a short hike = a lot of extra reading time while I wait. 🤣🤣

Bookzombie 😂 3y
74 likes1 comment
quote
AuthorEliseManion
post image

Haven‘t read it but love this quote.

quote
Kayla8
post image
review
Kayla8
post image
Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“…after letting go, there is forgiveness; after forgiveness, there is faith. My key now was a radical alignment with truth, a radical faith that in leaning into love and letting go of everything else, the path unfolds as it should.”

Full GoodReads Review ⤵️
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3828019736

#memoir #medicine #healing

review
Veenie
post image
Pickpick

I usually avoid memoirs in general and definitely medical ones but this was very nicely written.

review
NikkiKey94
post image
Pickpick

This book was very beautifully written. It is told in the format of stories that impacted the author during her medical career as an ER physician. There were some stories that really had me tearing up. 🌟🌟🌟🌟!

review
elisebarker
post image
Pickpick

This was a good book, but honestly a few chapters were hard to read. It also felt like the author was trying really really hard to convey to the reader that she is “okay”. I would have loved her to talk about her own brokenness a little bit more.

review
Smrloomis
post image
Pickpick

This was far more philosophical than I anticipated but it was lovely nonetheless. Really glad I read this. Just a heads up on content because this mentions abuse, rape, and violence - all tough subjects handled sensitively I thought.

quote
Smrloomis
post image

Such a clear explanation …

review
Karmapen
Mehso-so

I love books about the medical profession because truthfully I probably should have been a doctor. This one wasn‘t bad… in fact there were a lot of super interesting parts of it. But it felt impersonal? I always felt at an arms length from the action, if that makes sense.

review
beaconhillbooks
post image
Pickpick

A little bit about her patients per chapter and how they relate to Harper. Found it calling to be read.

review
Jovy
post image
Pickpick

A beautiful memoir! Harper‘s insights on life and patient care is inspiring and thought provoking. At the end of the day, that‘s what I call a good read.

#Booked2021 #COVIDHEROES

alisiakae Great review! (edited) 4y
Cinfhen Agreed/ beautiful storytelling with enough humility and humor to lighten the tougher moments 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage I definitely appreciated this one! 4y
36 likes3 comments
review
Gryffleclaw95
post image
Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.5/5)

As an ER nurse, I definitely connected to this book and the many medical scenarios, stories, emotions, and revelations that she shares. This book explores persevering through trauma and being your best self while giving you an inside look to the everyday life in an ER. This book was heartbreaking, eye-opening, and inspirational. Thank you Dr. Harper for sharing your story 🧡

quote
Gryffleclaw95

“Forgiveness condones nothing, but it does cast off the chains of anger, judgement, resentment, denial, and pain that choke growth. In this way, it allows for life, for freedom. So that‘s what‘s at stake when it comes to forgiveness: freedom. With this freedom we can feel better, be better, and choose better next time.”

- Michele Harper

quote
BittersweetBooks
post image

All deserve the chance to speak and be heard and be touched. If we‘re lucky, we‘re touched at every station along the journey, and if nothing else, then at the end 🩺🏥💫

23 likes1 stack add
review
BarbaraTheBibliophage
post image
Pickpick

I expected this to be more medical than it was. But ultimately I appreciated Harper‘s holistic combination of past traumas, current challenges, racial aspects of medicine, and thoughts on yoga/meditation. She‘s a calm, almost emotionally distant writer, which again made this unexpectedly subtle.

Full review http://www.TheBibliophage.com

#thebibliophage2021 #booked2021 #COVIDHEROES #nonfictionchallenge2021 #somethingaboutdoctorsornurses

Cinfhen Great choice 💜I listened to the audio and her voice was soooo soothing / subtle is a good word choice 4y
Victoriahoperose I loved this book so much! 4y
85 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
BarbaraTheBibliophage
post image

Sometimes the “recommendations” on GR just stump me ... a memoir about a young doctor doesn‘t equate with a cute craft book. 🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️

MemoirsForMe 😁😁😁 4y
Ruthiella Totally. I‘ve gotten the most ridiculous combos like, “Because you enjoyed Little House in the Big Woods, you might enjoy The Killer Inside Me.” 😱😆 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Ruthiella What? Ugh ... obviously this algorithm wasn‘t designed by people who actually read books ... 🤣🤓 4y
69 likes3 comments
quote
Chelseabillups30

As long as we‘re willing to move forward, to nourish our body and spirit and allow for the disintegration of any attachment to patterns that do not serve us, without our understanding exactly how the next bits will fall into place, beautiful outcomes do unfold.

quote
Chelseabillups30

Forgiveness condones nothing, but it does cast off the chains of anger, judgement, resentment, denial, and pain that choke growth. In this way, it allows for life, for freedom. So that‘s what‘s at stake when it comes to forgiveness: freedom. With this freedom we can feel better, be better, and choose better next time.

quote
Cazxxx
post image

17 likes1 stack add
review
Victoriahoperose
post image
Pickpick

I am so glad I picked this up, but I‘m not going to lie - it broke me a little bit. This is a memoir by a doctor who works in Philadelphia hospitals as an ER doctor. She shares her experience from her life and her work and how she has healed herself along with patients. I cried and felt hope and have to say the writing was just so beautiful and excellent. This didn‘t read like a medical book. It was personal and I appreciated it so much.

BarbaraTheBibliophage This one is on my list for #booked2021 #COVIDHEROES prompt and #nonfictionchaloenge2021 #byadoctorornurse. Now I want to start to tonight!! 4y
Victoriahoperose @BarbaraTheBibliophage make sure you have tissues. I‘m still kinda teary from reading this one. It hit me hard. I highly recommend it. I feel like it‘s a book that didn‘t get a lot of recognition. I‘m so glad I got it. 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Victoriahoperose Thanks for the advice. I agree that it didn‘t get much attention, which breaks my heart for the author. 4y
Chelsea.Poole I really liked this one too! 4y
32 likes2 stack adds4 comments
review
Chelsea.Poole
post image
Pickpick

A wonderful little #memoir from an ER doctor. Dr. Harper presents herself as a caring and big-hearted doctor whose mission in life is to heal. Reminds me of a good friend of mine who was a nurse her entire life who said she always knew she wanted to “fix things”. I‘m so glad there are people out there like this; I‘m certainly not cut out for this! The ER stories she tells here are at turns suspenseful, moving, and devastating. Highly recommended!

Reviewsbylola This one resonated with me. ❤️ 4y
89 likes4 stack adds1 comment
review
Come-read-with-me
post image
Pickpick

What an amazingly uplifting, tender, and affirming book. The importance of not allowing others to define or shape your sense of self worth was such an important thing for me to contemplate today. Absolutely loved Harper‘s writing and her willingness to leave her heart on the pages of this wonderful book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

S3V3N On my TBR LIST. 4y
Come-read-with-me @BeaG I think you‘ll really love it 💕 4y
S3V3N @Come-read-with-me I‘m going to bump it up on my list. 4y
Come-read-with-me @BeaG I can hardly wait to hear what you think! It just touched my heart. 4y
76 likes1 stack add4 comments
review
Copwithabook
post image
Pickpick

Omg this book gave me all the feels!! Harper wrote such a beautiful book of stories that used her experiences in the ER to expound upon deeper issues of abuse, identity, grief, love, and most of all...hope. There is so much human experience is such a small book! I highly recommend.

Megabooks I agree! 4y
30 likes1 comment
review
Maya.McClan
post image
Pickpick

As far as memoir books go, this is a good one. It‘s a memoir of a female, african american, ER doctor with heartbreaking and chaotic experiences in the ER, mixed in with childhood trauma. Such a good book and telling of her personal experiences. I give it 4 stars.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #botm

LatrelWhite Loved this book.💕 4y
Maya.McClan @LatrelWhite Agreed! It was so emotional! 4y
43 likes2 stack adds2 comments
review
crazyspine
post image
Mehso-so

I am always impressed by people who are not writers by trade but write so beautifully. I especially loved the first chapter, and even the dedication is quote book worthy. This was very difficult to read and subsequently review because I have to understand that this is Dr. Harper's truth. However, being a patient and being a loved one of patients, it was difficult to read what I interpreted at times a total lack of empathy.

kspenmoll I plan to read this for a challenge next year. Thanks for your review. 💚❤️ 4y
47 likes1 comment
blurb
crazyspine
post image

I hope to finish the tagged book tomorrow which will put me at my goal of 100 for 2020. How are you all doing this year with your 2020 book goals?

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Awesome 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 4y
39 likes1 comment
review
EmberIvyRose
post image
Pickpick

As a nurse (20 years of blood, sweat, and tears) I appreciated the stories of the experiences of this ER physician. The beauty in breaking is about renewal and transformation.

blurb
LatrelWhite
post image

🎧 Michele Harper is a female, African American emergency room physician in a profession that is overwhelmingly male and white. Brought up in Washington, D.C., in a complicated family, she went to Harvard, where she met her husband. They stayed together through medical school until two months before she was scheduled to join the staff of a hospital in central Philadelphia, when he told her he couldn‘t move with her.

Reggie Wow this sounds good. Stacked! 4y
14 likes2 stack adds1 comment
review
DimeryRene
post image
Pickpick

What a beautiful collection of difficult stories. Always filled with forgiveness, hope, and understanding. ✨

quote
DimeryRene
post image

For the first time in my life, I was dedicated to self-care in an unrepentant way. I was dedicated to loving myself so fully that the natural response was also to love unconditionally any authenticity I found in others. In this, too, was the freedom of knowing that another person‘s journey had little to do with my own.

quote
Chelseabillups30

So many things that happen to us are not right, are not okay. And we can survive and heal and use that to be stronger and shape our lives and the lives of others in wonderful, powerful, healing ways, should we choose to do so.

Suet624 Absolutely 4y
30 likes1 comment
review
Floresj
post image
Pickpick

Great memoir from a flawed ER doctor who ruminates about her losses and struggles through her healing and working with a variety of patients. She‘s a wonderful writer and I appreciate her vulnerability and observations about physical, spiritual and mental health. Great reminder that none of us have all the answers but we can accept where we are and improve.

ReadingRachael I've been wondering about picking this one up....glad to know you liked it

4y
13 likes1 comment
blurb
Chelseabillups30
post image

How I feel about everyone and everything interrupting my reading goals today!! 🙄

review
FelinesAndFelonies
Panpan

Another book I wanted to love and couldn't. The author came across as judgmental and pretentious. I couldn't stand her moral superiority. I wouldn't recommend it.

review
8little_paws
Panpan

Ehhhh..... this book did too much at once (her family relationship, her romantic relationships, spirituality and self help, medical cases) and nothing felt like it went deep enough. And given confidentiality issues, she had to reinvent the stories and conversations at her job, and they felt artificial. This was my #bookspin pick, so at least I can say I read both bookspin and double spin! @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks At least it's off the list!!!! 4y
31 likes1 comment