Norma Jean's Sun

Note: I received a free copy of this book via Goodreads' “First Reads” program.

The memoirs of Kris Courtney, an American artist born with several physical limitations that set him apart as an outsider growing up in middle-of-the-century rural America.

It's not the most complimentary of memoirs - Courtney spares no details in outlining how both his physical differences and family difficulties led him into a descending spiral of depression and substance abuse.

It's clear from reading it that Courtney's an inexperienced author; the prose seems clunky at some times, and he seems at times to be trying to make amends with his past as much as he is telling a compelling story. He bares his soul to the world with it, though, which is a courageous thing to do.