Grip: A Memoir of Fierce Attraction

After being assaulted in her own bedroom by a masked intruder when she was a teen, Hamberg found her relationships with men complicated, to say the least. In this thoughtful memoir, she shares the victories and defeats that shaped those relationships in vivid detail. Introspective without lapsing into solipsism, Hamburg paints a portrait of a woman who stood up to her attacker, embraced feminism, and still managed to fall for the worst guy in the room, be he a spineless hippie, a manipulative ex-con, or a karate instructor with anger issues. Hamburg never resorts to caricatures; while each beau has his flaws, she also illustrates his particular appeal and the unique dynamics that kept the relationship going. This is no small feat.%C2%A0Strangely, it's her last (and healthiest) relationship that gets short shrift. Hamburg's marriage sounds like a stable one, but the reader is unable to determine who her husband is, why they clicked, and what has kept them together for a decade. Soundly edited, focused and well-crafted, Hamburg's memoir is an examination of what it means to be a strong, independent woman, and how we often manage to lead ourselves astray despite the best intentions.%C2%A0