Candy B. (candieb) reviewed Mommy I'm Still in Here: Raising Children with Bipolar Disorder on + 239 more book reviews
I have been pretty lucky in my life and none of my family has any mental or mood disorders. So, all that I do know comes from talking to other people or reading or whatever. This book was much more than I was expecting.
The author comes off as very detached at times. At others, I could feel her pain and yes, she admits it, annoyance. I really wanted to hear more from her about what she went through. She did cover a lot, but some of it seemed so clinical, so "and then this happened", that I felt like I wanted to hear her yell and scream and throw things now and then. Oh, she loves her kids, there's absolutely no doubt about that, but I really wanted to know more about how SHE felt.
I did, however, learn a LOT about Bipolar Disorder and learn that families can keep it together while going through horrible times. I cannot imagine how it must be for her to watch her youngest daughter and wonder... "will she get it too?". I also want to know about that younger daughter. How is Monica today?
See, that's kind of how I judge a memoir. If I am left wondering how a character is doing "today", then it's good. If I don't care... well, then... not so much :) But I did end up caring for this family, all of them, her, her kids, her husband. It was a very interesting (and at times tense) look into a family and how they change and cope with the situation they are presented with.
This is very much well worth a read. Don't get me wrong, I wish there was more, but there is plenty here to enjoy. I think it would be interesting to read something her daughter writers. What her "side" of the story was. However, I realize, it might be something she's simply not able to do.
Read it if you are interested in mental disorders or just like memoirs. Worth a read!
The author comes off as very detached at times. At others, I could feel her pain and yes, she admits it, annoyance. I really wanted to hear more from her about what she went through. She did cover a lot, but some of it seemed so clinical, so "and then this happened", that I felt like I wanted to hear her yell and scream and throw things now and then. Oh, she loves her kids, there's absolutely no doubt about that, but I really wanted to know more about how SHE felt.
I did, however, learn a LOT about Bipolar Disorder and learn that families can keep it together while going through horrible times. I cannot imagine how it must be for her to watch her youngest daughter and wonder... "will she get it too?". I also want to know about that younger daughter. How is Monica today?
See, that's kind of how I judge a memoir. If I am left wondering how a character is doing "today", then it's good. If I don't care... well, then... not so much :) But I did end up caring for this family, all of them, her, her kids, her husband. It was a very interesting (and at times tense) look into a family and how they change and cope with the situation they are presented with.
This is very much well worth a read. Don't get me wrong, I wish there was more, but there is plenty here to enjoy. I think it would be interesting to read something her daughter writers. What her "side" of the story was. However, I realize, it might be something she's simply not able to do.
Read it if you are interested in mental disorders or just like memoirs. Worth a read!
