Praise for Proud Flesh

“I could not put this book down. Poetic. Nuanced. Compelling. Smart. Metaphors dripping with sounds and smells. I was drawn in by so much and especially by Gray's unabashed and raw voice. She draws us close as she finds a new map for herself and lays bare a fresh vibrant narrative for mothers, women and anyone who has dared to fully look at the scars of the past.”

“Proud Flesh is a courageous and raw memoir that follows one woman’s journey to take back her body and her story…Her powerful yet poetic prose weaves together the lessons of a painful past and the promise of a more whole future, creating a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Gray demonstrates that, regardless of what society may have thrown at her, trauma need not define or determine a woman’s life course. A must-read for anyone seeking a brave exploration of womanhood and healing.”

“Catherine Simone Gray grabbed me from the first line of Proud Flesh. With writing that is brutal and beautiful, she writes of motherhood and womanhood, and beyond that, of personhood, in ways that are cutting and gorgeous. It is a book that has kept me in its spell, and I want to put it in the hands of everyone I know. Please read this book.” 

“Erotic, heart-rending, unexpected, courageous, breathtaking…As someone who works with women healing from birth injuries, I am so grateful to have this book to refer women to. Not only is this book an artistic victory, Proud Flesh has deeply healing potential for any mother who is feeling isolated and alone after birth, as most women are these days. I am so thrilled that my clinical and community forging work will have this soulful artistic companion. This book pressed itself into me, and I will be recommending it for years to come.”