Christopher Reeve--Still Me, Autobiography
Equestrian Tragedy at Culpeper, Virginia: Book Review
Jul 28, 2008
Several times before the cross-country riding competition, Christopher walked the course he and his horse would compete in. Two jumps concerned him, but he was confident in his skill and the skill of his horse, Buck. He mapped out his strategy.
The race began without issue, however, just as Buck approached a relatively easy jump, he stopped abruptly with his head down. The 6'4", 215 pound frame of Christopher Reeve was thrown over Buck's head and onto his own head, breaking the C1,C2 vertebrae in his neck. Thus, ended the first phase of Reeve's life.
Christopher Reeve, Superman, Super Hero
Absorbing, sad, poignant, this autobiography reaches the lows and highs of human emotions. Reeve expresses his life's journeys as if confiding to close friends. He shares his quest for an acting career, his education and family roots, his bittersweet relationship with his biological father and his insecurities.
The reader is privileged to know this man at a more intimate level than just his acting personas. The details of the book are a consistant contrast between his active life before the accident and the massive adjustment to living after the accident as he accepts himself as a quadriplegic.
Christopher Reeve's Inspirational Journey
The intimacy of the book focuses upon the intense mental and emotional stress Reeve and his family endured from the moments of the accident moving forward. Unable to breathe on his own, and completely dependent upon others, Reeve seriously considered suicide. However, the enduring, committed love of his wife Dana, his children and devoted family and friends convinced him he had, afterall, something to live for. He shares this internal, heartrending journey with the reader.
Whether the reader is soaring upon a pinnacle or crawling along in his or her own valley, this man's journey from darkness to light, takes your breath away! You can't help but feeling, If Reeve can do it, so can I, no matter what!
The Irony of Superman, Super Hero and Christopher Reeve
Perhaps best known for his portrayal of super hero, Superman, (the movie, 1978), the journey of the human spirit when faced with insurmountable odds, is the best soil for the growth of character. In Reeve's words: a hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere, and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles....These are the real heroes, and so are the families and friends who have stood by them.
It is ironic that the true essence/strength of the comic book/movie figure is personified through Reeve's struggle to live and live productively either strapped to a chair or in his bed. He continued with films and became a passionate advocate for spinal cord research and funding.
Christopher Reeve as an Author
The book is a relatively easy read, however, there are some technical, medical concepts that are presented. Reeve explains them in a manner that is understandable. He dedicates his book to the disabled.
Unfortuantely, though he hoped with the advances of scientific research he may walk again, death claimed him at age 52, October 10, 2004. Two years later, lung cancer claimed his beloved wife, Dana. They are the cornerstones of the Christopher Reeve and Dana Reeve Foundation.
Source
Christopher Reeve, Stil Me, Random House, New York, NY, 1998. ISBN 0-679-45235-4.
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