Dennis Byrd

Let me begin this entry with a fact: Jackson Petefish does NOT like to read books. He thinks he has read 5 books for fun in all of his 32 years. He did, however, read Rise & Walk. He had been bugging me for a few weeks to read the novel since we still own it. I finally broke down and decided that it would be fun to finally be able to discuss a novel with my husband. (Usually I read something, give him a summary and he pretends to other people that he read it. I'm not kidding. He does this in job interviews- A LOT!) I was wrong. He read it so long ago-and not for comprehension, it seems- that he hardly remembers the story. UGH! Are you kidding me? I read a whole book about some guy's life and Jackson cannot even discuss it. GRR!

Amazon.com describes the book this way: "Byrd, a defensive lineman for the New York Jets, was paralyzed from the neck down in a collision during a game in November 1992. This book provides a full autobiographical treatment of the 27-year-old Byrd, but its essence is a graphic, arresting description of the physical and emotional devastation he experienced from the moment of impact to the present time. The strenuous work undertaken during his recovery is detailed, as are Byrd's spiritual reflections. In a matter of months, Byrd defied all predictions and reasonable hopes and began walking again. He relates the role played by his wife, family, friends, doctors, therapists, and the general public; a combination of "medicine and miracles, of divine love and human faith and, yes, of endless hours of sweat, and pain and tears."

Do not get me wrong, the book had a great message. It just is not the type of book that I normally read i.e. it is not chick lit or a business novel. I guess it is good to expand my horizons, but couldn't Jackson have at least remembered a little something? Sigh.