Smile: The Story of a Face

Sarah Ruhl's story is intimate and revealing about her ten-year odyssey of physical, creative, emotional, and spiritual healing after discovering her face paralyzed. She explores the struggle of a body yearning to match its inner landscape, the pain of postpartum depression, the story of a marriage, being a playwright and working mother, and the desire for a resilient spiritual life in the face of illness.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 29 September 2022
Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Cynthia Nixon's remarkable tale delves into the profound essence of smiling and the profound implications of being unable to do so. Following a high-risk pregnancy, Sarah Ruhl faces an unexpected challenge when she discovers that the left side of her face is completely paralyzed, a condition known as Bell's palsy. Initially optimistic, she is assured that 90 percent of patients recover fully, just like her own mother. However, Sarah falls into the unfortunate 10 percent. As a woman, wife, mother, and artist deeply immersed in the world of theatre, the paralysis and the disconnection between her inner self and her exterior expression present unique and formidable challenges.

Determined to find a cure, Sarah embarks on a decade-long quest, navigating the complexities of her new reality. She grapples with the struggle of her body yearning to align with its inner landscape, the pain of postpartum depression, the intricacies of marriage, the challenges of being a playwright and mother to three young children, and the quest for a resilient spiritual life amidst illness.

Through her poignant and witty narrative, Smile, Cynthia Nixon offers a profound exploration of loss and reconciliation. She delves into the human experience with insight, humility, warmth, and humor, showcasing a triumph over adversity. This intimate examination underscores the unwavering importance of perseverance and hope in the face of challenging circumstances.

Weight: 210g
Dimension: 198 x 130 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529113167