Rating: 
Summary: compelling account of reclamation from self-destruction
Review: A memoirist has the luxury and responsibility of selecting those pivotal events and watershed moments in life which transform and define personality. Talented and unsparing, Dani Shapiro brings her early adulthood into focus through her wrenching "Slow Motion," a memoir which captures the depth of self-eradication, the anguish of lost hopes and the wish for restored possibilities. That the author attains insight as a result of her parents' invovlement in a horrific car accident lends a poignancy to her emotional evolution. Shapiro understands the difference between a lamentation and self-pity, and she respects her readers enough to trust both their censure and their hopes for her restoration.Dani Shapiro seemingly has it all. The product of a talented, tormented, observant father and a bright, driven secular mother, the author's Jewish identity dissolves but never disappears as she enters young adulthood. Flushed with early childhood fame as a sought-after model, blessed with talent as a writer and thinker, Shapiro spirals downwards in college. She dates and then becomes a lover to a classmate's father. She lies to herself and others as her relationship with him drains her emotional resources and self-respect. Ultimately, Shapiro finds herself descending into a vortex of physical indulgence and spiritual bankruptcy. She adds to this mixture a growing addiction to alcohol. Soon, Dani Shapiro has the screwed-up life of an alcoholic. This thinly-constructed fabic of a life cannot withstand the pressures of having to care for two invalid parents, one physically ruined, the other permanently harmed mentally. Her parents' apparent and submerged wounds reflect Shapiro's own mangled life, and the author must summon dignity, resolve and courage to confront not only her own dissipation but her parents' mortality. This forced confrontation, with her own demons and her parents' disabilities, gives the memoir its singular strength. "Slow Motion" is not without flaws. Shapiro never explains why her classmate would set Shapiro up with her father, despite the author's guilty previous remonstrations against further involvement. Nor does Shapiro adequately explain why she selects a path of self-destruction; elegant and moving biographical sketches of her mother and father do not replace the author's avoidance of answering the most perplexing question of all: why would a person of such enormous beauty and talent make such dismal choices about her life. Nevertheless, "Slow Motion" is a memoir of remarkable integrity. As Dani Shapiro regains control of her life, reclaims connection with her parents and restores her own sense of dignity, she is uncompromsing in her self-criticism. It is a rare author who so gracefully opens her life to public scrutiny without begging for absolution. This memoir will bring hope to anyone yearning for repair.
Rating:
Summary: compelling account of reclamation from self-destruction
Review: A memoirist has the luxury and responsibility of selecting those pivotal events and watershed moments in life which transform and define personality. Talented and unsparing, Dani Shapiro brings her early adulthood into focus through her wrenching "Slow Motion," a memoir which captures the depth of self-eradication, the anguish of lost hopes and the wish for restored possibilities. That the author attains insight as a result of her parents' invovlement in a horrific car accident lends a poignancy to her emotional evolution. Shapiro understands the difference between a lamentation and self-pity, and she respects her readers enough to trust both their censure and their hopes for her restoration. Dani Shapiro seemingly has it all. The product of a talented, tormented, observant father and a bright, driven secular mother, the author's Jewish identity dissolves but never disappears as she enters young adulthood. Flushed with early childhood fame as a sought-after model, blessed with talent as a writer and thinker, Shapiro spirals downwards in college. She dates and then becomes a lover to a classmate's father. She lies to herself and others as her relationship with him drains her emotional resources and self-respect. Ultimately, Shapiro finds herself descending into a vortex of physical indulgence and spiritual bankruptcy. She adds to this mixture a growing addiction to alcohol. Soon, Dani Shapiro has the screwed-up life of an alcoholic. This thinly-constructed fabic of a life cannot withstand the pressures of having to care for two invalid parents, one physically ruined, the other permanently harmed mentally. Her parents' apparent and submerged wounds reflect Shapiro's own mangled life, and the author must summon dignity, resolve and courage to confront not only her own dissipation but her parents' mortality. This forced confrontation, with her own demons and her parents' disabilities, gives the memoir its singular strength. "Slow Motion" is not without flaws. Shapiro never explains why her classmate would set Shapiro up with her father, despite the author's guilty previous remonstrations against further involvement. Nor does Shapiro adequately explain why she selects a path of self-destruction; elegant and moving biographical sketches of her mother and father do not replace the author's avoidance of answering the most perplexing question of all: why would a person of such enormous beauty and talent make such dismal choices about her life. Nevertheless, "Slow Motion" is a memoir of remarkable integrity. As Dani Shapiro regains control of her life, reclaims connection with her parents and restores her own sense of dignity, she is uncompromsing in her self-criticism. It is a rare author who so gracefully opens her life to public scrutiny without begging for absolution. This memoir will bring hope to anyone yearning for repair.
Rating: 
Summary: Hope There is a Sequel
Review: Fascinating! I hope Dani Shapiro writes about her life from the point where Slow Motion left off. Very much an incredible story.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent! Amazing clarity. You must read this book.
Review: For anyone who has ever experienced joy or pain, this book is a must read. Dani Shapiro magically captures the gripping emotion of loss, and vibrantly paints a picture of her family in pain; all while she chronicles her personal roller coaster ride filled with turbulent choices. The tapestry of life is never simple, however it is rare for it to be so beautifully expressed. To be able to read & share her memoirs brings every reader closer to themselves and their own individual experiences. I highly recommend the book. I loved it.
Rating:
Summary: one of the best memoirs out there.
Review: I have read literally dozens of memoirs the past few years and this book is as good as any of them. In addition to being so well written, its unflinching honesty and pain make it impossible to put out of your thoughts long after you've finished. The author doesn't try to excuse or exaggerate her own shortcomings and weakness and the picture she paints of her lawyer lover is so slimy and ugly the only question one asks is how possibly could she have fallen for him. of course, we know the answer: money, insecurity, fame, romance, etc. Growing up in a Jewish family with all the attendant confused feelings about God, observance and the family feuds that seem to accompany it all, I could easily relate to what Shapiro experienced with her family. This is not a prurient or self-pitying book and it's almost hard to pinpoint its attraction other than to settle on its honesty, integrity and the drama attached to a life when one finally matures and realizes there are more pre! ssing reasons to live than simply in pursuit of one's own pleasure and respite from pain. People depend on us, sometimes too much, and the sacrifices we make for family can be suffocating. As the author points out, what kind of person would we be if we didn't at least try to live up to some of the expectations. I loved this book.
Rating:
Summary: Artistic and Honest Writing
Review: I have read this book three times in the past year and a half, and I always get something different from it. Not only is it brutally honest -- I have trouble with some of the reviews shown hre that say she needs to "get a life," as it appears, by writing about her life, she *is* getting one -- it is also artistic writing, each section carefully chosen, the words carefully placed. Her writing is haunting, the tone of each sentence showing what, exactly, it is like to live a life submerged, only to finally re-emerge by making life-altering decisions. In case you can't tell, I highly recommend this book. Even if you aren't into the writing, the story and the details she chooses are captivating.
Rating: 
Summary: I'm on the fence with this book...
Review: I have totally mixed feelings about "Slow Motion". On the one hand, I admire Shapiro's ability to criss-cross from events that happened before her parents' accident and after. I also admire her ability to paint a vivid picture of every scene, every person and the impact of every emotion. What I feel I missed was...intimacy. I feel like D.S was telling this story to a group of strangers she was obligated to open up to, but really did not trust. To me, there seemed to be gaping holes. It was as if D.S was saying "Hey look, I'm only going to tell you so much and that's it" between the lines. The one thing I was left curious about was "Jess". Did Lenny promise her a car for her 21st B-Day if she got D.S to come? Were "Jess" and "Lenny" having sex at one point and he told "Jess" that if she didn't get D.S to come that he would spill the beans? It's always interesting to get a glimpse into the crevasses of someone's life and in that sense D.S did not disappoint. But I still feel like I don't know or understand this woman. And that leaves me feeling as though reading this book was an unfulfilling experience.
Rating: 
Summary: For once fiction might be better than the truth
Review: I picked up this book hoping to find out about some character development of an orthodox jewish woman, but found it to be rather superficial and meaningless. The only reference to ortodox practice was on her father's side. I didn't really get inspired or feel empathy for the young woman's circumstances. Overall, it wasn't one of the best memoirs I've read.
Rating:
Summary: Our Second Book Club Selection
Review: I selected this title for our Reading Club. The book's description caught my attention as I was looking for a selection with a real "change of pace" appeal. Shapiro definitely delivered on that note. The selection was an easy read with a "not-so-easy" topic. Having recently lost a father, I identified tremendously with her and actually relived some of my rooted pain. I rated the book however, with only three stars as I felt she underdeveloped central characters in the book that if made more of would have delivered a richer piece of fiction. I was left unsure if this was her intention, or just her subjective view of the character. Overall a decent read. I will at least check out some of her other works.
Rating:
Summary: a heartfelt memoir that left an impression
Review: I was impressed with this autobiography on one hand and a little disappointed on the other. However, the disappointment was due to the writer's skill in vividly portraying a time in her life that left this reader wanting more. Although I agree with another reviewer who felt there were holes in the recounting of her life, who could reveal every little nook and cranny of their life? especially; when it concerns the subject matter at hand. I believe subsequent books by this author deal with her life in even more detail (Family History). This book tells the story of a young woman who lost her way early in life. Her whole self image is caught up in her looks (through no fault of her own) and since there seems to be no consequences to any of the bad choices made once she enters college, her life spirals downward fast. She ends up having an adulterous affair with the stepfather of her closest friend, drinks heavily, and has a mega cocaine habit. As she withdraws into the four walls of the cage of her own making, Dani Shapiro's withdrawal from the real world shatters when she receives the phone call telling her that her parents have been in a terrible car accident. This part of her life is even more emotional as we view the family dynamics. We find out more about her life growing up and what her father and mother were like as parents and as people. Her whole story was fascinating and hard to put down. I think one thread of her life sums it all up: Dani and Jess (her best friend in college) become estranged when Jess finds out Dani has gone out with her stepfather. She found out because the stepfather told her. Dani apologizes and confesses that all they've done is kiss and she was repulsed by it. She promises she won't ever see him again and they become close friends once again. Then Jess invites Dani to her birthday party at her house. Dani refuses telling her that she doesn't want to run into her stepfather but when Jess assures her he will not be there, Dani agrees to go. The stepfather is waiting there to greet her and Jess avoids her for most of the party except to give her a look which she can't interpret. Of course Dani ends up having an affair with the stepfather and years later, after it has ended, Dani runs into Jess who calls her a "whore". They talk and Dani trys to mend fences but too much has happened. Dani asks a question that has haunted her - why did Jess invite her to the birthday party? Why was she set-up? Jess replies that it's too complicated and that Dani should consider herself lucky that she's gotten rid of the stepfather since Jess never can...... This was an emotional moment that never really answered any questions but instead, only raised new ones. Did the stepfather have some dark hold over Jess? Was Jess motivated purely by self-interest and because she got Dani to attend the party, she received an expensive sports car for a present? My mind raced through numerous possibilities and never knowing the answer made the story all the more real for this reader. Sharp and poignant writing made this story well worth reading. Dani Shapiro shares a very painful period in her life and even though she didn't give everything away on these pages (and who would?), she gave enough to make me pause and reflect on my own life. She was brutually honest about herself and those around her and I commend her for this magnificant effort!
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