Although I've never seen an episode of TLC'S reality show, The Little Couple, I was intrigued to read married couple, Jennifer Arnold and Bill Klein's autobiography of living with dwarfism. Thank you to Howard Books for an advanced copy of Life is Short ( No Pun Intended) in exchange for an honest review.
PLOT- In their autobiography, Life is Short (No Pun Intended), Jennifer Arnold M.D. and Bill Klein alternate chapters describing their life with skeletal dysplasia, also known as dwarfism. The book has a heavy emphasis on their childhood and college years, when both endured many important surgeries and even saw the same doctors, although they did not know each other. Arnold excelled academically and went on to become a pediatric doctor and educator. Klein found success in business. The two met when they were in their thirties via an internet dating site for Little People and they quickly fell in love. The last chapters of their book, involve the start of their reality show and the international adoptions of their two children, Will and Zoey.
LIKE- It's impossible to read Life is Short (No Pun Intended) and not be inspired. In addition to the daily difficulties of living in a world geared towards normal sized people, both Arnold and Klein have faced bullying and harassment. Quite honestly, I was shocked by death threats left on their car and not only the ignorance, but cruelty that they have faced. I was most amazing at the volume of surgeries that they had to endure in childhood. Arnold had twenty-two surgeries and she often spent her summer breaks in hospitals and in casts. Yet, she still managed to graduate at the top of her class and become a doctor. They both have such an upbeat, positive, can-do attitude, that it really points to the great job that their parents did in raising them.
There is a big emphasis on living your life to the fullest and that just because you might be limited physically, it doesn't mean that your overall quality of life is diminished, it's just different. I think that anyone could be reminded of this perspective.
It was interesting to hear about their journey to adopt internationally. They have two children with a different form of dwarfism than they both have, a daughter from India and a son from Nepal. Although their children, especially their daughter, were in desperate situations, the adoption process was still very slow and frustrating.
DISLIKE- My dislikes are minor and they don't take away from my overall enjoyment. I felt like the writing lacked finesse, making me think that Arnold and Klein probably didn't use a ghost writer. This is okay and actually kind of refreshing as it felt authentic, but it also meant that occasionally the pacing was slow or clunky.
I wish they had given a little more behind the scenes of being part of a reality show and how they navigate day-to-day challenges due to their size. We get a taste of the challenges, with Klein having his vehicle fitted to drive by hand or how they fitted their new home with lower shelves and sinks, still though, I was hoping for more in this area.
RECOMMEND- Yes! Arnold and Klein are incredibly positive people and they have a fascinating life to share. Having read Life is Short (No Pun Intended), I'm inclined to check out their show.