Comments (29)

North of Normal

a Memoir of My Wilderness Childhood, My Counterculture Family, and How I Survived Both
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Dec 08, 2023jasnadzinic rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This book was soooo good and mind blowing at the same time!
Dec 05, 2022cmlibrary_MegMH rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
A coming-of-age memoir unlike any other. Cea Person recounts her tumultuous upbringing with her mother, aunts, and grandparents as they leave their modern life in California for an ever-moving, off-the-grid existence across the wilderness…
Feb 28, 2022kwsmith rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Raised by a dysfunctional counterculture American family, Cea spent most of her traumatic childhood living in a tent in the Canadian wilderness before escaping to become a fashion model in Europe. As a child, Cea endures freezing…
Dec 31, 2020ArapahoeChristineS rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
This unsettling memoir of the author’s unconventional and abusive (in a few ways) left me feeling raw. This is a difficult yet fascinating story that will not be for everyone.
Oct 26, 2019firefly5 rated this title 1.5 out of 5 stars
This was an interesting read. I know she was relying on memories of family members as well as her own but I felt that some of the story was embellished and the facts were changed to fit the story. Her family members were high on pot most…
Sep 04, 2019AliceInWonderbread rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
'North of Normal' is a book that had me intrigued throughout. I enjoyed reading about Cea's life and I found it all very interesting. There were points that were graphic but I understand why- it's just a warning that I put out to my book…
Mar 12, 2019jasminestea rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
I read this book a few weeks ago and I'm still unsure about how to review it. I think my major issues were the writing, and questioning the accuracy of events: the writing was not very impressive, and many of the events took place during…
Nov 18, 2018SurreyLibraries_Reads rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
It’s not everybody’s childhood to live off the land in the Canadian wilderness. It’s not everyone’s childhood to grow up in a chaotic, drug-ridden hippie family with a single mother who lived on men, either. However, it’s every person’s…
Aug 14, 2018telger rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I read this incredible memoir it’s like Wild meets The Glass Castle in the Canadian Rockies! Also lucky to heard her speak in person-thanks to SCL!
Jul 07, 2018
I saw this book on the shelf as a "Staff Pick" and it piqued my interest. So glad I read this book as the story was quite amazing and a true testament to the resilience and coping skills of children.
Apr 10, 2018Corwall rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this autobiography of the author's amazing upbringing. I did feel the author rushed it along as she got older, skipping huge chunks of time.
JMFreads
Feb 24, 2018JMFreads rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This book is fantastic. I love reading memoirs and this one did not disappoint. Highly recommend. Compelling story and well written.
Sep 25, 2017SCL_BookClubs rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
Our Art Lovers Book Club ended up giving this a 5 out of 10. It seems to be a book you either love or hate, with some rating the book as high as an 8 and some giving it just a 1 or a 2. Of course, books that have such diverse opinions are…
Jul 31, 2017frispirit13 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Impossible to put down. This true story captured my attention from the first paragraph and the Canadian setting held my interest. Her journey is difficult and amazing. A fantastic read!
May 16, 2017
Wow, what a story and I am so surprised that she survived such a childhood. A very good read. From such a humble upbringing she sure had an adventurous life. I am glad that her life took such a turn, modelling in Europe and now she is…
Feb 14, 2017runningbeat rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
They lived a real hippie life in the bush in Alberta and BC, many places I recognized which made it interesting. Cea did a good job describing her dysfunctional family and wild wilderness childhood. Book made me smile at times. A…
Feb 12, 2017BeckyR21 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
A very interesting read. Amazing, unbelievable stories. Even after reading the book, I still have no idea how anyone could have survived. Hard to believe she has even more to tell in her follow up book. Looking forward to checking it out…
Aug 29, 2016ArapahoeLinda rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
What a childhood Cea endured! How did she overcome the obstacles?? I'm in awe of her ability to understand and seek a different life. Great book, couldn't put it down.
May 08, 2016
I read this book awhile ago and still revisit it from time to time. It's a crazy, good story and I finished it in one night. This is a story that is worth reading and it will really put perspective on your own life.
Mar 04, 2016janetmJones rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This was quite an eye-opener! I lived such an idyllic childhood, that it is almost impossible to realize that there are people who grew up so differently. Cea was an amazing child, to have been aware at a young age, that she was in a…
Jan 04, 2016kimav rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
A very interesting read. Amazing story. I really felt for the author - what a life!
Jul 22, 2015
“We slept beneath layers of bearskins with heated rocks in our beds," Person writes, "but even then, we woke up with icy ears and snot frozen to the tips of our noses.” Growing up in the forest of BC and Alberta was not always ideal! …
Jul 09, 2015gsplmarley rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
A great read for anyone who enjoyed The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls.
May 20, 2015
This book is worth the read. I couldn't put this book down and finished it in one night. It is such an interesting read to learn how Cea and her family lived for some many years.
Jan 11, 2015lindsaydebou rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This was a page turner. I loved reading about Cea and her perspective on life. She is a strong woman!