Who She Is by Diane Byington

Who She Is by Diane Byington

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
BookSirens
Published: first edition March 2018
Red Adept Publishing
280 pages
October 11, 2019
Fiction, ebook, book review
Rating: 4/5
9/11/19-9/30/19

Publisher provided ebook requesting review via BookSirens in exchange for an unbiased review.

The author begins with background historical information regarding the evolution of women running in the Boston Marathon. It was April 19, 1966 when Bobbi Gibb was the first woman to run in the Boston marathon whoch happened to be the only mararhon in country. It wasn’t until 1972 that she was officially provided a bib to run the marathon. While she continued to run unofficially, in 1967 another woman, Katherine Switzer, got official bib using her initials. Unfortunately, an incident occurred when it was discovered she was running with her trainer and boyfriend. In the years that followed more women began to run unofficially until 1972 when the rules allowed women to run.

With this historical information, a story of a young girl emerges with dreams of escaping her impoverished upbringing by running the Boston Marathon. It was 1967 in Valencia, Florida where Dana Faye Smith lives with her parents. She feels relieved to finally set roots after moving every few months when her father seemed to run into trouble maintaining employment. Faye feels overwhelmed by her overprotective mother and abusive, alcoholic father.

Soon, Faye find refuge when she is allowed to run but not officially on the school track team. The coach soon agrees to help train her and Francie who has long dreamed of running the Boston Marathon. It takes a lot of persuading to finally get Faye’s parents to allow her to run at the school with Francie.

Life in the Smith household is far from ideal with unpredictable parents. Faye struggles with frightening nightmares as well as “spells” which her parents explain as epilepsy. It’s her friendship with Francie and her mother Laney that provide a lifeline for Faye.

The story is eloquently written with twists and turns as Faye’s complicated family history unravels. It is all explained within the social issues of a tense time with racism and segregation still plaguing the South.

This book begins with what seems a simple story and ends with a story so unexpected and satisfying. To say more would provide a spoiler which I always avoid.




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