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Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “This was published in 1998 and I was living in Oconomowoc, WI where the setting of this novel was based at the time of publication. So I was very familar with the areas she described in her book. At the time I was unaware that the author was affiliated with NPR. I chose to read this book...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “I just could not get into this memoir of life with a bi-polar mother. I thought "The Glass Castle," which I read earlier in the year, was better. I didn't finish the book.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
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“A very entertaining, remarkably upbeat book about two sisters who watched their mother slide into insanity and could not convince her to get into treatment. Gives a pretty good picture of the challenges of getting someone onto meds when their illness makes them feel, not just good, but FANTASTIC.”
Eileen M wrote this review Friday, July 17 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“I enjoyed this book about life with a manic depressive mother, although it was sad. ”
rebecca T wrote this review Sunday, May 17 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Poetic narrative. Lyden writes beautifully, but her story’s not nearly as compelling as I’d hoped. I did enjoy the parts about her mother’s madness and misadventures, though—at turns both pathetic and sympathetic. One thing that really bugged me, however—Lyden refers to her mother as Sheba, which tells me Sheba is a person. But then she calls her the Queen of Sheba, too, in which case Sheba must be a place of some sort. So which is it? Am I missing something here? Or is both person and place merely in keeping with her mother’s many personalities? Perhaps I’m just nitpicking, but I couldn’t help but make comparisons with other remarkable memoirs I’ve read, and sadly, this one falls a bit short. ”
nickyville wrote this review Friday, April 24 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“If we have bipolar illness in our family, it's not like the author's mother. We can be thankful for that. The author's mother, who refused hospitalization and medication, inhabited a fantasy world and experienced florid, raging symptoms, worrying her own elderly mother and her daughters. It was a tiring read, but finally the woman got on medication and calmed down. I can only hope that she stayed on the medication and that it continued to help her. With bipolar illness, you never know.”
forsythia wrote this review Thursday, April 23 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“I just could not get into this memoir of life with a bi-polar mother. I thought "The Glass Castle," which I read earlier in the year, was better. I didn't finish the book.”
F Tessa B wrote this review Thursday, January 22 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No1 of 1 members found this review helpful“This was published in 1998 and I was living in Oconomowoc, WI where the setting of this novel was based at the time of publication. So I was very familar with the areas she described in her book. At the time I was unaware that the author was affiliated with NPR. I chose to read this book because someone in my family has bipolar disorder aka manic depression. I found it to be very interesting and charming at times and I am thankful that there is solid treatment now for people with this disorder. Just a little plug here for the independent bookseller Books & Co. in Oconomowoc where I buy most of my books. They are the greatest!”
ryfinskibooknut wrote this review Tuesday, November 4 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
1 of 1 members found this review helpful“A fine example of the "my mother was nuts" genre, this page-turner by NPR reporter Lyden is fascinating and poignant. I love Lyden's writing style, too. ”
Lynette P wrote this review Friday, February 1 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No1 of 1 members found this review helpful“A fascinating insight into the mind of a lady who may be manic-depressive, and, the lives of her daughters...if nothing else, you will most likely increase and improve your vocabulary by reading this memoir...”
nagini wrote this review Tuesday, October 30 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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