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Book Review of Halfway House

Halfway House
Halfway House
Author: Katharine Noel
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Book Type: Hardcover
Leigh avatar reviewed on + 378 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2


Although it has some problems with addressing all of the facets of the main character's mental illness, this book accurately depicts the turmoil and emotional upheaval a family endures when a member suffers from Bipolar Disorder. Although I have Bipolar Disorder, myself, I found bits and pieces of Angie's manias unbelievable. Most of the description of the thoughts and the actions, though, were dead-on. The writer didn't explore Angie's depressions well, either. That part seemed to be omitted, completely.

This novel's strength lies in the telling of the effects of mental illness on those who love and care for the patient. This is the story of a family slowly and methodically torn apart in different ways. One character never moves on with life, another moves in a direction completely unexpected, another prefers to deal with the situation by maintaining the status quo. The main character, herself, learns to accept and deal with it in a courageous and eventually responsible way.

This is enjoyable and moves at a moderate pace. The writing is extraordinary at times.