Carmen's Reviews > Penguin Bloom: The Odd Little Bird Who Saved a Family

Penguin could not have arrived at a better time, by which I mean a more terrible time.

There are some things children should never have to see - and watching their mother be critically injured and almost die is very definitely one of those things.

When Sam finally came home, after more than half a year in the hospital, she may have been out of immediate danger, but the painful reality of her condition had only just begun to sink in.

When I first carried her over the threshold, it had been one of the happiest days of our lives. But this time around, carrying Sam from the car to our front door was one of the saddest occasions you could possibly imagine. pg. 60

This is a good book, and an emotional one.

It's the true story of Sam Bloom, as told by her husband, Cameron Bloom. They led a happy and active life traveling the world. She worked as a nurse and he as a photographer. One day, while on vacation with their three boys in Thailand, she leaned on a rotted safety fence and plummeted. The result was a long stint in the hospital and a paralysis from the chest down. Along with a loss of taste and smell which is permanent.

The book talks mainly about how Sam struggles with getting her life back. It's difficult. She contemplates suicide. She feels rage and despair and like she is a freak.

Cameron ties in his wife's story with the story of a magpie he and the boys found injured. He and the boys take in the bird and raise her up. When his wife comes home from the hospital, Cameron sees the bird help his wife come to terms with her own losses and help his family unite and stay strong.

Bloom is an apt writer, I enjoyed being in his mind. He obviously loves his wife and sons deeply, he came off as a caring, kind, amazing individual. I'm always interested in reading non-fiction by male authors since I enjoy getting a glimpse into men's minds.

He's also a photographer, and the book has pictures on almost every page of his adorable children, Penguin, and his wife. It's lovely. They're a lovely family.

There is a section at the end in which Sam writes a little portion directly to the reader. First, she speaks to other paralyzed people. Then, she speaks to the friends and family of paralyzed people. It's a chance for her to speak about difficult truths, I appreciated hearing her perspective.

But the main perspective of the book is from her husband: how he sees things, how he interprets things, and how he copes with keeping his family intact after his wife's accident.


TL;DR Emotional. A good book. I'd recommend it to anyone. It's interesting, short, has lots of pictures, and tells a touching story which is not sugar-coated, nor defeatist. I preferred this infinitely to Me Before You. This might be an unfair comparison, since Me Before You is fiction, but Moyes is emotionally manipulative and sappy. The ending was terrible. This book is much better, and it's true (real) besides. Bloom is charming. Whether you are an animal-lover or a people-lover, this will hit the right notes.

It's also a movie on Netflix now, I believe, starring Naomi Watts. I haven't seen it (yet), but do plan on doing so.

RELATED READING
Ghost Boy: My Miraculous Escape from a Life Locked Inside My Own Body by Martin Pistorius

Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

NAMES IN THIS BOOK
(view spoiler)[
Sam f
Bundy dog
Rueben m
Noah m
Oliver m
Cameron m
Bradley m
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