Lucy Grealy (1963–2002)
Author of Autobiography of a Face
About the Author
Lucy Grealy, an award-winning poet, was born in Ireland in 1963. She lived in the UK and in Germany but spent most of her life in New York, where she grew up, and where she died in 2002. She also published a collection of essays, As Seen on TV: Provocations
Image credit: from Lifeinlegacy.com
Works by Lucy Grealy
Associated Works
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Women Writers Explore Their Favorite Fairy Tales (1998) — Contributor — 298 copies
Touchstone Anthology of Contemporary Creative Nonfiction: Work from 1970 to the Present (2007) — Contributor — 183 copies
Becoming American: Personal Essays By First Generation Immigrant Women (2000) — Contributor — 26 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Grealy, Lucy
- Legal name
- Grealy, Lucinda Margaret
- Birthdate
- 1963-06-03
- Date of death
- 2002-12-18
- Gender
- female
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Dublin, Ireland
- Place of death
- New York, New York, USA
- Places of residence
- Spring Valley, New York, USA
Bronxville, New York, USA
Iowa City, Iowa, USA - Education
- Sarah Lawrence College
University of Iowa (Iowa Writers' Workshop) - Occupations
- poet
essayist - Relationships
- Grealy, Suellen (sister)
- Awards and honors
- Whiting Writers' Award (1995)
Members
Reviews
Lists
Favourite Books (1)
Awards
You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 2
- Also by
- 10
- Members
- 2,168
- Popularity
- #11,849
- Rating
- 3.9
- Reviews
- 70
- ISBNs
- 19
- Languages
- 2
- Favorited
- 2
This is a heartbreaking read. Although I've never been physically disfigured in the way Grealy was, I resonated strongly with her thoughts on beauty and acceptance, and her fear of never being loved.
Because the main themes of the book were so serious in nature, I wasn't expecting for this to be nearly so funny as it was. That really helped to balance the book, kept it from being overwhelming.
As for morally objectionable content, there were a few sexual comments, nothing overly descriptive. God's name was used in vain.
The ending seemed abrupt somehow. I really wish there had been some sort of epilogue or afterword, especially since the edition I read was published after Grealy's death at age 39. (According to Wikipedia, she died of a heroin overdose after becoming addicted to her pain medication.)
This is one of those books that stays with you and makes you think.… (more)