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A String of Paper Suns: An Experimental Memoir
A String of Paper Suns is a raw, intimate, powerful, and humanizing story by a single teen mother and former member of a fundamentalist religious sect.Growing up as the oldest of thirteen children, Bridget Siljander is a sister-mom to her younger siblings. While she adheres to the strict and reclusive rules of the family’s religion, which restricts makeup, secular music, and friendships outside the church, she longs for an identity beyond its confines. By breaking free, she gains a greater understanding of the wider world: both its beauty and its cruelty. When she gives birth as a teenager to a daughter with disabilities, joy is juxtaposed with struggle as she navigates financial insecurity and social systems that dishonor difference. Her evolution as a mother and work as a caregiver to others with disabilities paves the way to her ultimate calling as a human rights activist. Along the way, her life intersects with memorable characters who impart strength and hope through human connection. Siljander’s vivid storytelling and persevering human spirit create a story of empowerment, love, humor, and redemption and pay homage to our communities who love us unconditionally and help us transcend our circumstances.
- GenresDisability
219 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 28, 2019
8 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 2, 2021
A String of Paper Suns in an “experimental memoir” of the author’s life and her experiences growing up in a staunchly religious environment. Growing up so secluded and in such a strict environment meant that when she tries to integrate with... read the full review here: https://www.amybucklesbookshelf.co.uk...
February 5, 2019
I am currently reading another memoir. It covers a period of time that I lived through, but I did not live near. I lived Nearly 800 miles away at this time. Events take place in the Twin Cities so there is a degree of familiararity woven into the culture and location. I like Bridgets style, each thought flows warmly from window to window like a summer breeze on a hot June day, as if the weather was scratching with a little anticipation that you can’t understand, but you can tell it’s there bugging you. If you haven’t read her story yet, I am sure you will like it as well. I’ll add more to this as I complete the book. Read On!!!
June 19, 2019
(3.5) uplifting and encouraging
January 3, 2020
A wonderful true story of a woman and how she survives so many challenges thrown at her with strength and dignity. Raw and honest and ever so human.
May 30, 2019
I don't think I can recommend this book enough. To be fair, I'm a big fan of memoirs, biographies, etc. I enjoy the celebrity high profile tomes, and the ordinary person-a-lot-like-me accounts. I intentionally mention this in order to make the point that I have a lot to compare it to; and this memoir really stands out among as one of the finest I've read.
As a person who appreciates quality writing, regardless of the genre, this book excelled. The writing is such a fine balance between dialogue and description, now vs. then, mother vs. daughter, etc. almost any set of writing choices you might look for, there's nothing jarring...all flowed effortlessly. Perfection is never necessary for me as a reader of anything, when my heart senses something inside, that's the type of perfection I embrace. I think the courage it took for the author to write this book should not be glossed over either, In fact, the words "courage" and "perseverance" seemed constant to me. It was as if the writer, Bridget herself, was occasionally whispering those words from the pages, to the reader. Silently saying the words so skillfully that you weren't quite sure if that's what you were hearing...but it didn't really matter, because the writing made you feel like you were.
This is a memoir that will speak to you from the first page, tugging at your interest and warming your heart. Like me, I bet you'll turn the pages with different emotions; turn one page with concern, another with some sadness, next, it's anticipation as you wait to discover what happened...those are only a few of the feelings I had. I'm quite sure it wasn't intentional, which makes it all the more special, but I believed at times, I was feeling what Bridget might have been feeling. In other words, as I turned the pages with some emotion, it often matched what I imagined she or her daughter might be feeling, as they were giving their lives in that moment.
To borrow the cliche, there was never a dull moment in their lives, and therefore, not in the book either. That ever moving, always something happening and "now what" sense of tension made the book move along quickly, and with high interest. Even when the silent moments are there.. it's far from dull; a time for contemplation most likely. In the end, Bridget still stands... Imani, of course, right along with her. And not to spoil it but, to know they are still standing stronger than ever at "the end," isn't a spoiler. When you read this story, and follow the String of Paper Suns so-to-speak, you'll most likely agree, there could be no other ending.
As a person who appreciates quality writing, regardless of the genre, this book excelled. The writing is such a fine balance between dialogue and description, now vs. then, mother vs. daughter, etc. almost any set of writing choices you might look for, there's nothing jarring...all flowed effortlessly. Perfection is never necessary for me as a reader of anything, when my heart senses something inside, that's the type of perfection I embrace. I think the courage it took for the author to write this book should not be glossed over either, In fact, the words "courage" and "perseverance" seemed constant to me. It was as if the writer, Bridget herself, was occasionally whispering those words from the pages, to the reader. Silently saying the words so skillfully that you weren't quite sure if that's what you were hearing...but it didn't really matter, because the writing made you feel like you were.
This is a memoir that will speak to you from the first page, tugging at your interest and warming your heart. Like me, I bet you'll turn the pages with different emotions; turn one page with concern, another with some sadness, next, it's anticipation as you wait to discover what happened...those are only a few of the feelings I had. I'm quite sure it wasn't intentional, which makes it all the more special, but I believed at times, I was feeling what Bridget might have been feeling. In other words, as I turned the pages with some emotion, it often matched what I imagined she or her daughter might be feeling, as they were giving their lives in that moment.
To borrow the cliche, there was never a dull moment in their lives, and therefore, not in the book either. That ever moving, always something happening and "now what" sense of tension made the book move along quickly, and with high interest. Even when the silent moments are there.. it's far from dull; a time for contemplation most likely. In the end, Bridget still stands... Imani, of course, right along with her. And not to spoil it but, to know they are still standing stronger than ever at "the end," isn't a spoiler. When you read this story, and follow the String of Paper Suns so-to-speak, you'll most likely agree, there could be no other ending.
May 14, 2019
Bridget Siljander, a mother, a caregiver to people with disabilities, and a human rights activist tells her story of growing up as the oldest of thirteen children in a family of firm believers as her inner rebellious spirt helps her break strict, reclusive rules of her family’s faith. After becoming a teen mother to a daughter with disabilities, she struggles to make ends meet and feels helpless in the face of poverty and a difficult social system. It is through education that Siljander is able to uplift her life.
The feelings of worthlessness she dealt with throughout her childhood and teen years never leave even after giving birth to her daughter. Coping with shame and remorse after being exploited by men for years, she finally finds strength to face her manipulators. Siljander candidly addresses her rebellious teen years of sexual exploits, her addiction to alcohol and cigarettes, and the effect of growing up under her parents’ strict religious upbringing.
Never allowed to be a child as she mothered her younger siblings, she works tirelessly for a good life for her daughter. Readers can’t help but get caught up in Siljander’s poignant and ultimately life-changing story.
The old pictures of Siljander and her daughter in the book create feelings of an immediate intimacy in readers’ minds. The directory for disabled people at the end of the book is an added bonus. Siljander’s candid and courageous narrative bares a system of social discrimination that constantly fails those with disabilities.
The feelings of worthlessness she dealt with throughout her childhood and teen years never leave even after giving birth to her daughter. Coping with shame and remorse after being exploited by men for years, she finally finds strength to face her manipulators. Siljander candidly addresses her rebellious teen years of sexual exploits, her addiction to alcohol and cigarettes, and the effect of growing up under her parents’ strict religious upbringing.
Never allowed to be a child as she mothered her younger siblings, she works tirelessly for a good life for her daughter. Readers can’t help but get caught up in Siljander’s poignant and ultimately life-changing story.
The old pictures of Siljander and her daughter in the book create feelings of an immediate intimacy in readers’ minds. The directory for disabled people at the end of the book is an added bonus. Siljander’s candid and courageous narrative bares a system of social discrimination that constantly fails those with disabilities.
January 30, 2019
A great book for moms of any age
This book takes the reader on a transformative journey and teaches us about living with lives Beautiful and heartbreaking ups and downs. The way the chapters are structured kept me curious about the multiple plot lines and the character development is supreme. Being a single mom is never easy, and this story is both raw and uplifting.
This book takes the reader on a transformative journey and teaches us about living with lives Beautiful and heartbreaking ups and downs. The way the chapters are structured kept me curious about the multiple plot lines and the character development is supreme. Being a single mom is never easy, and this story is both raw and uplifting.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews