The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures in Around the World in 80 Books

Mar 31, 2018 Lindsey Z rated it really liked it

Fadiman has done her due diligence here; she deserves praise for how thorough and meticulous her work is. Her relationship with the Lee family was inspiring and intimate, yet she shaded her bias throughout the story so as not to be overly didactic about what she wants to happen in the medical world in regards to the treatment of refugee and immigrant populations in the U.S. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the Hmong culture through Fadiman's retelling of myths, her vivid descriptions of plac Fadiman has done her due diligence here; she deserves praise for how thorough and meticulous her work is. Her relationship with the Lee family was inspiring and intimate, yet she shaded her bias throughout the story so as not to be overly didactic about what she wants to happen in the medical world in regards to the treatment of refugee and immigrant populations in the U.S. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the Hmong culture through Fadiman's retelling of myths, her vivid descriptions of place and family, and her clear explanations of Hmong spiritual and medicinal beliefs. Don't miss the Afterward of this one; she wrote it 15 years after the original publication and it really brings everything together in a moving, meaningful way. The book is almost overwhelmingly detailed and includes primary source excerpts from doctor, nurse, and social worker notes; local and national laws; and anthropological and historical books about the Hmong people. And there are a lot of footnotes. A lot. At times, I felt bogged down by reading this and found that reading 10-20 pages at a time here and there was the best way for the story to unfold for me. Fadiman squirrels off into military history and how the U.S. employed Hmong refugees during the Vietnam war and then didn't recognize their service when those same people who served came to the U.S. While I found these historical forays interesting, they felt tangential to Lia's story. Speaking of Lia, her character (I say that hesitantly since she is a real person) is rendered so tenderly and completely despite the fact that she can't speak or really even communicate much with those around her. Fadiman's relationship with her and her family is genuine and I got the sense that Fadiman, by the end of her time researching their story, was able to understand their family dynamics and how they communicate love. For anyone looking to better understand our healthcare system and how it puts non English speaking people with non Western medicinal beliefs at a devastating disadvantage, this book should be at the top of your list. Fadiman has clear command over her sources and the subject but also deep sympathy for this family she spent years getting to know. ...more

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