On the Ledge by Amy Turner: Review

On the Ledge: A Memoir by Amy Turner

Publisher: She Writes Press, (September 6, 2022)
Category: Memoir, Dysfunctional Families, Mental Wellness
Tour dates: September 6, 2022-October 7, 2022
ISBN: 978-1647422257
Available in Print and ebook, 256 pages

Description On the Ledge by Amy Turner

In 1957, when Amy Turner was four years old, her father had to be talked down from a hotel ledge by a priest. The story of his attempted suicide received nationwide press coverage, and he spent months in a psychiatric facility before returning home. From then on, Amy constantly worried about him for reasons she didn’t yet fully understand, triggering a pattern of hypervigilance that would plague her into adulthood.

In 2010, fifty-five years after her father’s attempted suicide, Amy—now a wife, mother, and lawyer-turned-schoolteacher—is convinced she’s dealt with all the psychological reverberations of her childhood. Then she steps into a crosswalk and is mowed down by a pickup truck—an accident that nearly kills her, and that ultimately propels her on a remarkable emotional journey. With the help of Chinese Medicine, Somatic Experiencing, and serendipities that might be attributed to grace, Amy first unravels the trauma of her own brush with death and then, unexpectedly, heals the childhood trauma buried far deeper.

Poignant and intimate, On the Ledge is Amy’s insightful and surprisingly humorous chronicle of coming to terms with herself and her parents as the distinct, vulnerable individuals they are. Perhaps more meaningfully, it offers proof that no matter how far along you are in life, it’s never too late to find yourself.

Review On the Ledge by Amy Turner

Review by Suzie M.

'On the Ledge,' by Amy Turner is a memoir that will touch reader's hearts. The story of one woman's fight to return to health, both mental and physical, this memoir is a story of personal triumph and forgiveness.

Amy Turner's childhood was not all bright and sunny days. Her mother was a recovering alcoholic and her father, having suffered from mental health issues and attempted to commit suicide by stepping out onto the ledge of his hotel window.

Amy's father, Harold was thankfully talked down by a priest who happened to be walking nearby when he heard the commotion. The ensuing mental hospital stay that her father endured was very confusing for four-year-old Amy and her siblings. In fact, it wasn't until she was a teenager in therapy that Amy was able to actually uncover what had happened that day.

Although she was making a lot of progress in therapy, Amy's mother soon pulled her out. Amy had a tumultuous relationship with her mother, the woman's eventual control over her alcoholism was only contingent on her control over the household, which bothered Amy. However, many years later something would happen that would help Amy to understand her mother better than she ever had before.

Amy was involved in a car accident as a pedestrian, and would spend some time recovering. It was during this time that she was able to properly revisit her childhood and take a good, hard look at the trauma that her sometimes fraught upbringing created.

'On the Ledge,' is really two different stories in one-- the story of Amy's accident and the story of her childhood, and both are beautifully written. As relatable and affecting as Amy's difficult relationship with her parents is, the emotions that she dealt with after her accident felt both fresh and sometimes even shocking.

Amy Turner comes across as a very strong person, and I'm glad that I got to read this memoir. I highly recommend it!

About Amy Turner

Amy Turner was born in Bronxville, New York, and is a graduate of Boston University, with a degree in political science, and of New York Law School, with a Juris Doctor Degree. After practicing law (rather unhappily) for twenty-two years, she finally found the courage to change careers at forty-eight and become a (very happy) seventh grade social studies teacher.

A long-time meditator and avid reader who loves to swim and bike, Amy lives in East Hampton, New York, with her husband, Ed, to whom she’s been married for forty years. They have two sons. On the Ledge is Amy’s first book.

Website: https://www.amyturnerauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amyturnerauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmyTurnerWriter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyturner2000/

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Giveaway On the Ledge by Amy Turner

This giveaway is for 2 print copies and is open to the U.S. only. This giveaway ends on October 5, 2022 midnight, pacific time.  Entries accepted via Rafflecopter only.

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