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The World I Fell Out Of
- Narrated by: Melanie Reid, Andrew Marr
- Length: 12 hrs and 58 mins
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The World I Fell Out Of
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Summary
From the award-winning writer of The Times Magazine's 'Spinal Column': a deeply moving and often darkly funny memoir about disaster and triumph.
With an introduction by Andrew Marr.
Is this what it feels like, I thought, losing everything?
Steel shutters were clanging down in my head: I dared not even think about my son, just emerging from his teenage years, or of my sorry future.
But I could safely bear witness and carry on writing in my head. A correspondent from a hidden war.
On Good Friday 2010, Melanie Reid fell from her horse, breaking her neck and fracturing her lower back. She was 52.
Paralysed from the top of her chest down, she was to spend almost a full year in hospital, determinedly working towards gaining as much movement in her limbs as possible and learning to navigate her way through a world that had previously been invisible to her.
As a journalist Melanie had always turned to words, and now, on a spinal ward peopled by an extraordinary array of individuals who were similarly at sea, she decided that writing would be her lifeline. The World I Fell Out Of is an account of that year and of the years that followed. It is the untold ‘back story’ behind Melanie’s award-winning ‘Spinal Column’ in The Times Magazine and a testament to ‘the art of getting on with it’.
Unflinchingly honest and beautifully observed, this is a memoir about the joy - and the risks - of riding horses, the complicated nature of heroism, the bonds of family and the comfort of strangers. Above all, The World I Fell Out Of is a reminder that at any moment the life we know can be turned upside down - and a plea to start appreciating what we have while we have it.
Critic reviews
"Reading this will change you." (Andrew Marr)
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What listeners say about The World I Fell Out Of
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- Hronn Sigurdardottir
- 04-03-24
Raw, inspirational and heartbreaking
Living in a disabled body is impossible to understand by the able bodied. Yet Melanie succeeds, through her vivid descriptions filled with black humor and utter facts, to take us into the world of the disabled in a way that broke my heart open again and again.
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- Jackie G.
- 15-03-19
Heart wrenching .. what a book !
This is such a heat wrenching , thought provoking book into a world we probably unless directly affected no little or nothing about .
So honest and heartbreaking but also laugh out load funny.
Melanie Reid is a very brave inspiring lady and as a fit and healthy fortysomethjng I find her story remarkable.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- SEGGY
- 13-10-19
Amazing lady, puts life into perspective.
I am a nurse and have suffered chronic pain since an accident at 21 years old. This book made me think about, well everything. But especially how lucky I am to be mobile and still able to have a good dance, even if I do pay for it in pain in the following days. I could have broken my neck when I fell out of that loft, but I didn't. I am a urology nurse, believe it or not never heard of d-mannose, I have a patient in mind to recommend it to. Thanks Melanie!
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Chris
- 28-05-19
Life is too short to moan about food!
The true life story is inspiring to us moaning able body people! It can be difficult to keep listen to this book because the editing is awful. There are annoying background noices, repeated lines and moments of silence. However if you just stick with it, it will feel rewarding in the end.
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- Kevin Grant
- 14-07-19
I laughed and I cried - often at the same time
I can’t recommend this book more highly. Having the author read it herself added so much. Thank you to everyone involved.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Meg
- 08-06-19
Extraordinarily helpful
If you're dealing with anything big, physical or circumstantial, this book will help. Buy it.
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- AIDA
- 17-04-19
Of the earth-earthy!
Absolutely true to life! Something to make every listener reflect and reconsider in ones own experience I thoroughly enjoyed it and one does not have to be involved with horses to enjoy it.I have recommended it to many people young and old, because it is about real life and how we deal with what it throws at us, helping us to remember that we all need to dig deep inside our own selves
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- Beccy
- 27-01-21
Buy this then share with everyone you know
Life changing!
Melanie Reid just became my greatest heroine!
It’s an essential read for anyone who has lost joy in their life!
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- DR
- 15-01-20
Brilliant, from a wise woman
I so appreciated listening to Melanie Reid tell her story, although the book is beautifully crafted and would be a great read also. It is plain honest. I liked how she considered so many aspects of what happened to her - philosophy, medicine, psychology, sociology of the NHS. There is a great deal of wisdom here too, and I thank her for that.
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- Anonymous User
- 18-03-24
Outstanding or “out sitting “either way brilliant
From someone who is able to stand , walk and even know when she needs a wee (most of the time) I find this book uplifting and makes me extremely grateful for what I have and what I can do and has stopped me moaning about trivial things that I have no right to moan about
Inspiring amazing woman
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