Sarah Ruhl

Sarah Ruhl is the writer and narrator of the book, wife to Tony, and mother of Anna, William, and Hope. At the beginning of the book, she describes her pregnancy with the twins, her concerns about being a mother to so many children, and their near death experience in the NICU. Her Bell's palsy diagnosis, which happened directly after Sarah gave birth, is a vital part of her history that influences nearly everything she does and how she thinks for the decade she writes about and likely beyond. For example, Sarah's depression and anxiety towards being a mother stems, in part, from her concern that her children will not understand that she loves them when she cannot smile. She also falls into a deep despair over her looks and spends many years trying to hide her face or look impassive. This causes her to suffer even...