Reviewed by Heather on
Aubrey is 27 and just starting to make a name for herself in the art world when she is diagnosed with an incurable eye disease that will lead to blindness in eight weeks. She goes deep into denial because she doesn't know how to imagine her life without being able to see. She doesn't feel ready to tell anyone about her diagnosis.
An encounter with her childhood friend Jeff, who is also facing crises in his life, leads to him inviting her along on a round the world trip. She decides to go so she can see the world before she loses her sight.
The joy of this book is in the way that Aubrey sees the world. The author does a great job of describing the way a painter sees the world and how she translates that onto a canvas. As she paints her way around the world, her art starts to change with the new way that she is experiencing the world.
I liked the fact that this book doesn't end with the end of the trip or even when Aubrey becomes totally blind. The story shows how she works through this major transition and tries to find a new way to express her artistic vision when she can't see.
This review was originally posted on Based On A True Story
Reading updates
- Started reading
- Finished reading
- 21 September, 2015: Reviewed