Do we spend our lives searching in vain for an answer,
or do
we find a version of the truth we can live with, and live with it?
A Version of the
Truth
by Marsh Rose
Genre: Memoir
Over forty years, Marsh and her partner built a life defined
by love, devotion, and independence. He supported her when she bought her home
in California wine country, when she grieved the deaths of her parents, when
she built her career as a psychotherapist, and even when she overcame a
lifelong fear of dogs to adopt a rescued greyhound.
They never married or shared a home—by choice. They were lovers and confidants,
deeply committed to one another. Yet, they only met on Tuesdays and Fridays.
And then, one day, he vanished.
When Marsh finally tracked him down, she discovered the unimaginable: he had
suffered a catastrophic stroke. His memory was gone. He could no longer speak.
And he was living with a woman who knew him by a different name.
What was the truth? With him unreachable behind the devastation of his illness,
and with the danger that exposing their relationship could cause irreparable
harm, Marsh was left to confront a hall of mirrors—plagued by questions,
silences, and uncertainty.
In the end, she discovered a universal reality: we all live with some
unknowable mystery. The question is—do we spend our lives searching in vain for
an answer, or do we find a version of the truth we can live with, and live with
it?
Marsh Rose is a freelance
writer, psychotherapist and college educator. Her short stories have appeared
in a variety of publications including Cosmopolitan Magazine, the San Francisco
Chronicle, Carve Magazine, Hippocampus Magazine, and New Millennium Writings
where she took first prize for creative nonfiction in 2018. She lives in the north San Francisco Bay Area with her greyhound, Adin.
In this unique book offering personal, spiritual, and historical reflections—some never shared before—His Holiness the Dalai Lama tells the full story of his struggle with China to save Tibet and its people for nearly seventy-five years.
The Dalai Lama has had to contend with the People’s Republic of China for about his entire life. He was sixteen years old when Communist China invaded Tibet in 1950, only nineteen when he had his first meeting with Chairman Mao in Beijing, and twenty-five when he was forced to escape to India and became a leader in exile. In the decades since, he has faced Communist China’s leaders—Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao, and Xi Jinping—in his efforts to protect Tibet and its people, with their distinct language, culture, religion, history, and environment, in the face of the greatest possible obstacles.
Now, almost seventy-five years after China’s initial invasion of Tibet, the Dalai Lama reminds the world of Tibet’s unresolved struggle for freedom and the hardship his people continue to face in their own homeland. He offers his thoughts on the geopolitics of the region and shares how he personally was able to preserve his own humanity through the profound losses and challenges that threaten the very survival of the Tibetan people. This book captures the Dalai Lama’s extraordinary life journey—discovering what it means to lose your home to a repressive invader and to build a life in exile; dealing with the existential crisis of a nation, its people, and its culture and religion; and envisioning the path forward.
Voice for the Voiceless is a powerful testimony from a global icon, who shares both his pain and his enduring hope in his people’s ongoing quest to restore dignity and freedom.
The gripping and inspiring story of acclaimed actor Jeremy Renner’s near-fatal accident, and what he learned about inner strength, endurance and hope as he overcame insurmountable odds to recover, one breath at a time.
Two-time Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner was the second most googled person in 2023… and not for his impressive filmography. His searing portrayals on film ranged from an Iraq-based army bomb technician in The Hurt Locker and a Boston bank robber in The Town to a crooked Camden mayor in American Hustle before he became heir to the Jason Bourne franchise (The Bourne Legacy). Amongst other iconic roles, he also captured hearts as fan-favorite comic book marksman Hawkeye in seven Marvel films.
Yet, his otherworldly success on-screen faded to the periphery when a fourteen-thousand-pound snowplow crushed him on New Year’s Day 2023. Somehow able to keep breathing for more than half an hour, he was subsequently rushed to the ICU, after which he would face multiple surgeries and months of painful rehabilitation.
In this debut memoir, Jeremy writes in blistering detail about his accident and the aftermath. This retelling is not merely a gruesome account of what happened to him; it’s a call to action and a forged companionship between reader and author as Jeremy recounts his recovery journey and reflects on the impact of his suffering. Ultimately, Jeremy’s memoir is a testament to the human spirit and its capacity to endure, evolve, and find purpose in the face of unimaginable adversity. His writing captures the essence of profound transformation, exploring the delicate interplay between vulnerability and strength, despair and hope, redemption and renewal.
The Reviews
Amber B 5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring story of a miracle! Great read! Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2025 Verified Purchase Wow! My intention for the night was to just sit down and briefly page through the book, looking at the pictures and knowing I didn't quite have the time to read tonight. However, page 1 sucked me right in and now I'm at Chapter 4, page 59 and might very well read this in one sitting tonight. I've been a huge Jeremy Renner fan since SWAT, Tag is my go-to comedy movie when I need a good laugh, and being an archery enthusiast myself, Hawkeye instantly became my favorite Avenger. I followed him on social media before this happened so once he started posting his recovery, I checked in frequently to help heal my broken heart I felt for him. The way he details every second of that gruesome day makes you feel like you're right there with him on the ice, holding his hand, cheering him on and reminding him to breathe and stay alive for his beloved family. I watched him on Diane Sawyer so it's easy to visualize the area he's describing and the treacherous conditions of the roads, but hearing his own words brings to life the horrific trauma he endured. It is perfectly written and very easy to follow, and I can't put it down. We already knew it was indescribable what he went through, but to see it in words makes me just cringe in my chair and thank God repeatedly that he survived and is doing so remarkably well! What tenacity he has to pull through and focus on everything important in his life, and not wallow in torture and give up. He's a superhero on screen, but seems he is the very definition of it in real life. His family is superb, his love for his daughter makes my heart explode (I have 3 girls, I know the feeling!), and his will to not only live but to thrive is beyond admirable. I'll likely be finishing this tonight, and anxiously awaiting Mayor season 4 to cheer him on! Get this book and be prepared to read it all at once! God bless, Jeremy Renner. The world is so happy you are still here. Much love!
Update: it's 2:00am and I read the whole thing today. He sure didn't have to share this story with the public, but I can imagine perhaps it was therapeutic to relive it, but likely not always in a good way as it's got to be so hard detailing the worst experience of your life. The book had my emotions all over the place; I laughed along with his stubbornness as I could feel it emanating off the pages, and I understood that desperate need to escape the hospital. I teared up as he described the anguish and guilt he felt for "causing" this, though I can't imagine his family holds him guilty for it. I felt so awful for the excruciating pain he had to endure. If I didn't know what the future held for him, this book would have been so much more emotionally difficult to read, but having seen him on Mayor season 3 and numerous times on talk shows and social media, I at least felt relief knowing how well he pulls through before I even got to those parts of the book. However, it's clear that it didn't come without a hefty mental, emotional and physical price tag that he paid in his recovery. Eternally grateful you are still here and proud of you for living with a new outlook and so much positivity. You are an inspiration!
A Season of Brawling, Boozing, Bimbo Chasing, and Championship Baseball with Straw, Doc, Mookie, Nails, the Kid, and the Rest of the … on a New York Uniform–and Maybe the Best
“Jeff Pearlman has captured the swagger of the ’86 Mets. You don’t have to be a Mets fan to enjoy this book—it’s a great read for all baseball enthusiasts.”—Philadelphia Daily News
Award-winning Sports Illustrated baseball writer Jeff Pearlman returns to an innocent time when a city worshipped a man named Mookie and the Yankees were the second-best team in New York.
It was 1986, and the New York Mets won 108 regular-season games and the World Series, capturing the hearts (and other assorted body parts) of fans everywhere. But their greatness on the field was nearly eclipsed by how bad they were off it. Led by the indomitable Keith Hernandez and the young dynamic duo of Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry, along with the gallant Scum Bunch, the Amazin’s left a wide trail of wreckage in their wake—hotel rooms, charter planes, a bar in Houston, and most famously Bill Buckner and the hated Boston Red Sox.
Who says only novels can be beach books? We’ve rounded up a list of nonfiction that will keep you turning pages, including new books about a married couple adrift at sea, a woman’s journey out of a cult, and why your brain needs rest. Check out these nonfiction beach books of 2025 below and discover why they’re perfect reads for wherever you’re relaxing this summer.
Book Reviews by the Reluctant Retiree 