3 comments about My Sister's Keeper: Learning to Cope with a Sibling's Mental Illness.

1. This true-story book tells of a woman's experiences in dealing with a sister with bipolar disorder. Throughout her life, her sister's illness has impacted her own life in a variety of ways, and after the mother dies and she is the only one responsible for her sister, the situation intensifies. While on medication, the bipolar sister can function reasonably well, but she goes off meds from time to time and then the sister eventually has a mess to sort out.

   The ambivalence of the relationship (the two sisters both love and resent each other) is perfectly captured in this book. It rings true. Although there was sufficient money left by the mother and social services available to assist, so that this was not the "worst case" scenario that some families experience, still, the family-wide devastation of mental illness was well captured in this book.

   I couldn't put it down.




2. I read this book coming from the outlook of being a mom of a schizophrenic 14-year-old daughter. By the time I finished the book, I was sorry I read it. Although it was a brutally frank and honest account, Ms. Moorman not sugar-coating her feelings for her sister and making it into some kind of overcomer's tale with a happy ending, I found myself mired in sadness through the course of the story. There were so few hopeful moments that I found myself wondering why she wrote it in the first place, and how would this book give comfort or hope to other siblings of the mentally ill?
   
   I had to continually remind myself that for a young person in this day and age dealing with any kind of mental illness, there are so many more effective therapies and medications available with a greater chance of improving their quality of life. Sally seemed to go for so many long stretches without being medicated that I don't know how she did as well as she did (which wasn't that great most of the time).
   
   This book did leave me with a goal of working on bringing my ill daughter closer to her younger brother and sister.



3. "This beautifully crafted novel will grab readers with a stunning topic."
   This book shows different perspectives of this situation.
   
   -PV, Ashburn,VA

5 comments about Past Forgetting: My Memory Lost and Found.

1. I am still not finished because I don't want this book to end. Whoever said that whatever happened to your brain would affect your writing was "bent". Having had a tumor removed and having had my brain damaged to save my life, I am relating like crazy (bad use of words....another problem). Read,"Bed/Time/Story" years ago. This surpasses even the brilliance of that. My step-brother, Robbie Schary Wollin, knew and was distantly related to you, so I was struck by the face which stared out at me from the cover and how much it resembled his family. I now am going to get something wonderful and sweet from the cupboard, a piece of paper towel to keep the sugar from schmutzing up my outfit, and am going to finish your book, damn it. One thing: with what memory I have I will hopefully be able to read this wonder of language again....because I will forget the feelings it arose in me and once again introduced me to a woman of uncommon valor.



2. Jill Robinson is blessed with an elegant, original prose style, and a life story that gives it wing in Past Forgetting. This is an amazingly original autobiography which takes the reader into the heart and brain of its subject as she struggles to recover memory, and in the process reclaims a fascinating life which began in Hollywood as daughter of MGM head Dore Schary, where she deveoped her writer's eye for the telling detail. What for others would have been a catastrophic event: the siezure which caused a brain storm and severe memory loss, is in her hands a deeply intelligent and entertaining tale of life and memory recaptured. It is also a rare love story of a husband's devotion, and of a woman's courage.



3. Jill Robinson is blessed with an elegant, original prose style, and a life story that gives it wing in Past Forgetting. This is an amazingly original autobiography which takes the reader into the heart and brain of its subject as she struggles to recover memory, and in the process reclaims a fascinating life which began in Hollywood as daughter of MGM head Dore Schary, where she deveoped her writer's eye for the telling detail. What for others would have been a catastrophic event: the siezure which caused a brain storm and severe memory loss, is in her hands a deeply intelligent and entertaining tale of life and memory recaptured. It is also a rare love story of a husband's devotion, and of a woman's courage.



4. I was hooked on this book from the opening sentence. As a writer, the thought of losing my memory is terrifying; this chronicle of regaining one's most personal and valuable possession moved me beyond the realm of mere words. And that one apparently simple line -- "I couldn't taste the name" (of a soup) -- fills me with the worst kind of professional envy.

   Sure, there's some "self-indulgent stuff" in the book; but who can blame a writer for flexing her skills or a person who has come back from such a staggering blow for indulging herself? On the whole, however, this is a remarkably restrained piece of work. Jill Robinson deserves nothing but praise for "Past Forgetting."




5. I DID like the idea. How terrifying to lose your memory and how amazing to go through the process of getting it back! But it was very bizarre, and rather irritating, that what Ms. Robinson remembered best were the bygone days in Hollywood of her famous family and friends. The intriguing topics of not remembering what her relationships with her kids were like, forgetting that family members had passed away, etc. were just barely touched upon. I don't like to read Hollywood tales, and those are what seem most important in this memoir. I waffled over 2 stars or 3 stars for my rating... I decided on 3 only because I liked and admired her loyal husband so much.

1 comments about Have Crutch Will Travel: The Adventures of a Modern Day Calamity Jane.

1. Cale Kenney's adventurous free spirit flows through the stirring words and beautiful photos in this incredible book. She lost her left leg, hip, and pelvis due to a motorcycle accident when she was just 19. But Cale's joie de vivre propelled her to create the life of her dreams. Whether skiing down powder white slopes in Colorado, boogie-boarding in Kauai's intense surf, or chasing a neighbor's annoying pet pig in her apartment complex, Cale lives life fully and writes about her adventures with wit, humor, and grace. A must-read for anyone looking for inspiration!

   -- Graciela Sholander, http://dreamitdoit.net

No comments about Inside the Pinball Machine.

2 comments about Sweet Mystery: A Book of Remembering (Deep South Books).

1. I heard the author speak at a conference in Washington, D.C. last week. Afterwards, I immediately ran to the closest book store to purchase a copy. The very large store was sold out! I finally located a copy when I returned home from the conference. I couldn't wait to begin reading it and once I began, I was entranced and couldn't put it down. I felt like she was writing my own story. Her successful life journey and her beautiful writing makes me yearn to write my own story.

   This book by Judith H. Paterson should be in every library -- public and academic. It should also be required reading for every individual. It would be a wonderful book for class projects on family history in high school and college.

   Sweet Mystery is about the author's personal life journey; it is about sturggle; it is about survival; it is poetically written; it is heart-rendering; and it is joyful.

   Read this magnificent book immedaitely!




2. I first read about Judith Paterson in the University of Maryland Magazine. An article described a new television program called "The Writer's Tale" with Judith Paterson as creator and host. I wrote to Judith about my book, "How to Find a Fella in the Want Ads," and she invited me to discuss the writing process on her show. As soon as we finished taping, she said she had to go to the metro to meet the next author she was interviewing. As she left she gave me a copy of "Sweet Mystery." I'd never heard of the book. That night at bedtime I opened her book and began to read.

   Every night for the next week I read "Sweet Mystery." When I reached the next to last chapter, I went back to the beginning and began reading it again. I can't ever recall when I've been so reluctant to let a book go. It is enchanting, a brilliantly written story of love and so of-the-moment that I felt like I was there with her as she revisited her childhood.

   As a writer, I am in awe of Judith's skill at weaving the culture of the south into her personal story. It is seamless! As a historian, it is exciting to experience the south's history from an insider's perspective.

   The book is a series of gently told stories with space left for the reader's imagination. I suppose that's why I called all my friends. I am leery about foisting my taste in books on my friends because they are opinionated and choosy, but "Sweet Mystery" is the best book I've read in years.

   Above and beyond its value as a superb read, I want to urge two other groups to read it: families coping with alcoholism and battered women and the children of both.

3 comments about Surviving Black Ice.

1. Fierce shows that brain injury doesn't stop life. Life happens whether you are ready for it or not. This book is a great illustration of living with brain injury and how it affects every little thing.
   
   David's "never give up" spirit shows through as he refuses to stay a victim and, instead, become a brain injury survivor. One of my favorite stories was when David and his physical therapist spent hours practicing a walking move so he could impress his doctor. The doctor, of course, threw a couple of monkey wrenches into the plan. It's quite humorous.
   
   This is certainly one of the better books about living with brain injury and is a good illustration of that unexpected and unwanted lifestyle. This would be a good companion book for Brain Injury Survivor's Guide: Welcome to Our World.



2. Having survived a brain injury myself, I've read a lot of books on the subject. David's story is, by far, one of the better ones. It should provide inspiration for those living with this unfortunate turn of events.
   
   I agree with the other review I read about it being a good companion book to Brain Injury Survivor's Guide: Welcome to Our World. This book has detailed information about living strategies that make life with brain injury much more livable.



3. This book grabbed me in the first few pages and I couldn't put it down. It is a story of a man who overcomes all kinds of obstacles and pushes through to a new life. For friends and families of brain injury survivors it offers practical guidance and insight into the mind of the person struggling to find a way through some dark tunnels in recovery. From feeling like the "retarded little brother" to being accused of being "drunk" by folks who didn't understand...Fierce tells a tale of courage. Fierce talks about learning how to do many things that were once second nature including sitting in class learning how to write a check!
   
   One message that came across very clear was "don't give up!" Fierce has the ability to look at himself with both humor and hope and that makes this book both fun and easy to read.

1 comments about Scattered Shadows: A Memoir of Blindness and Vision.

1. This is a book for that special bookshelf of about a dozen classics that burn with relevance and can be read again and again. John H. Griffin was not only a skilled author, but he lived one of the most amazing lives of the 20th century, aptly described by Robert Bonazzi in the book's introduction. Of course, Griffin is well known for dying his skin, posing as a negro, and reporting on his experiences in the book Black Like Me. Amazingly enough, Black Like Me is only one episode in an improbable life. Scattered Shadows covers Griffin's developing blindness, and eventual recovery. Griffin reflects upon music, literature, and religion as his sight departs as a result of a World War II injury. The author has been underappreciated since his death. Hopefully Scattered Shadows will rekindle interest in Griffin, a person worth knowing

5 comments about Running With Walker: A Memoir.

1. As I read this memoir-I was struck by the intelligence and compassion that informs it. Of course-it is about a family with an autistic child. But it is also filled with insight and practical wisdom-about parenting and loving and guiding and coping and persevering. A superbly crafted book, "Running With Walker" is perceptive, imaginative, witty, poignant, humorous-all at the same time. Hughes has created remarkable portraits-not to be missed-of his family-even his city-and especially-of himself.



2. Care providers in Early Childhood and Developmental Delay need to see this book, for their own professional good. The author is an incredibly perceptive parent. He vividly draws the story of his son's experiences in the hands of a range of professionals. In doing so, Hughes shines a hard light on what appear to be the worst and best possible practices in today's arena. His descriptions elicit gasps -- of consternation or admiration -- page after page. Heart-rending frankness here is lightened by a saving sense of humor. As a fellow parent of a special-needs child, I am left in awe.



3. I began reading "Running With Walker" after brunch one Sunday, and didn't put it down until I finished it later that evening. I hope that peple don't make the assumption, as I did at first, that this is a "medical" book about an illness. This is no more a book about autism than "The Da Vinci Code" is a book about art. This is a story about a family and how they used thier stregnth and love for one another help them to overcome adversity. Hughes puts such a lighthearted, often humorous spin on events that many would have a hard time seeing the silver lining in, and you walk away from his story feeling that you have new good friends in the Hughes Family.



4. Faith, hope,courage,easy words to say ,even easier to aspire to, but Running With Walker tells of a family who lives these ideals as a matter of course.I read this book ,or rather devoured it, in a day and a half,its' story as compelling,its' characters as real as any best-selling novel.Running With Walker far exceeds the specifics of a family coping with an autistic child. The humor,warmth and some-times painful honesty of the fathers' narrative,the mom's undaunting hope and determination, the younger brother Davy's compassion and love in the midst of an unusual and difficult situation can speak to any of us in a heartfelt and profound way.
   Walker, as the focus of the story,is revealed as a joyous , energetic and loving human being who happens to be autistic.Because his family sees the real boy and not the autistic label, we can too , and join the Hughes'in their struggle to provide a satisfying and fulfilling life for both their sons and each other.I know I will reread this book many times for its' insight and uplifting message and recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone who appreciates a true story about family love.



5. This is a great story of what it's like to live, day to day with autism. I prefer this type of book to the type in which parents take credit for their children's miraculous recoveries. This book struck a chord with me. It feels real and true, and is not preachy. This father is an advocate for his son. These parents choose to home school their son rather than put him in a placement that they feel would not be the right fit for him or, in some cases of places they toured, places that would be harmful to him. I wish I had read this book before we accepted services from our local school district, which our son's speech therapist later called the worst program she'd ever seen. The wrong services are better than no services at all. These parents read their son's behavior and cues and persevere to find the best services for him. This book shows that people affected by autism are capaple of forming connections with others. I am hoping for a sequel.

5 comments about God Knows His Name: The True Story of John Doe No. 24.

1. On October 11, 1946, a black boy of indeterminate age was found wandering the streets of Jacksonville, Illinois. When police discovered he was deaf, mute, and suspected to be retarded, he was sent to the Lincoln State School and Colony, a state facility that bore little resemblance to its name. Had he been permitted to stay at the School for the Deaf, his life would have been completely different, but that school was not permitted to take retarded people.
   The Lincoln School was a self-contained city having a farm with price-winning cattle and a dairy processing plant. It generated its own power and returned thousands of dollars to the state treasury, thanks to the free labor provided by the residents (really inmates). These people varied from the very severely retarded to those of borderline intelligence. The place was vastly overcrowded, and the pecking order among residents was often established violently.
   John Doe, as he was called since they were unable to identify him at all, was given an I.Q. test, but much like any test, if you don't understand the value or importance of the test, there will be little incentive to do well, even assuming you can understand what is expected of you. A special test was used that had been designed for the deaf, but the examiner had difficulty conveying the purpose and instructions for the various tests that were disguised as games or puzzles. John's deafness and inexperience were a huge impediment, and, not surprisingly, he scored very low on the test. This result was to haunt him for years to come. After several unsuccessful escape attempts, John gradually adapted to his surroundings. He had no known relatives so there was no one to claim him nor to send him packages or money that might help alleviate his situation.
   By the mid-sixties, thanks in part to JFK's commitment to improving conditions and education for the mentally retarded and an Illinois commission, facilities and conditions were improving at the Lincoln School. John Doe had now been there close to two decades. Unfortunately, it was also the time of Chlorpromazine that the psychiatric profession had discovered could turn unruly or violent patients into virtually catatonic, but untroublesome, individuals. It soon became the drug of choice for nearly everyone in an institution. Despite regular doses, John was becoming one of the best students in the ASL class that had been started for the deaf residents. He became a trustee and was placed in charge of several other patients, helping them to dress and to get ready for the day.
   By 1973 the side effects of the drugs began to manifest themselves and John was inflicted with diabetes and glaucoma. In 1975, the Lincoln School was converted into a state prison, and John was sent to the Jacksonville Developmental Center. He was now totally blind, but thanks to a few dedicated individuals, his talents were recognized and he was sent to the Helen Keller School. This provided him with the skills he needed to subsequently live in a series of group homes.
   He died a few years later, but to this day no one has still been able to track down his identity.



2. that not that long ago in this country someone was found wandering the streets and there were no means to identify him. How sad that someone had raised him for 16 years and then "lost" him. This is a story about one man's dignity. Unlike a lot of stories involving institutions, it seems as though John encountered an awful lot of caring people employed at these places. I find it interesting that although he learned to communicate with others, he never discussed his past or gave any real clues as to his beginnings.

   It's a well written book about a sad subject. I recommend it.




3. Mr. Bakke has written a riveting book about a nearly unbelievable life. The reader is rapt by the circumstances 'Mr. Doe' meets at every turn, and Mr. Bakke has penned his words in a way that allows the reader to feel something of the feelings Mr. Doe must have experienced. The story told by the book is at once heartrending and hopeful; Mr. Doe is 'trapped' in 'the system,' but he is often shown mercy by compassionate people who even now deserve to be honored for their efforts.
   
   One question remained when I had finished the book: Why did no one---the police, a social worker, ANYBODY---allow Mr. Doe to take them back down the trail he had traveled? Let him be a passenger in a car, pointing his way back to his place of origin?
   
   Great book, though. I'd recommend it for almost anyone of any age. THANK YOU, MR. BAKKE, for showing us the twists and turns of this lost human riddle.



4. A very interesting story and topic best summed up by Mary Chapin Carpenter herself when she penned the words in her song that she included on John Doe 24's tombstone, "Well there's no doubt that life's a mystery, but so too is the human heart." I would suggest that many readers are drawn to this book through Mary Chapin Carpenter. For those that are, you are apt to find a 'Lewis' that is different than the one you may have envisioned since you first heard Ms. Carpenter's haunting melody. In many ways it is hard to distinguish the human being that lives inside this deaf and mute body. It is difficult to read because it tears us from the comfort of our own 'perfect' lives.
   
   The song apart, I learned a great deal about the history of institutional care through the journey that Lewis stumbles into in 1945. The picture is not pretty. Still, it is important to understand that institutional culture does exist in America. Having read this book, I am now compelled to learn where it is today with the hope that it has improved dramatically since the events I read in Mr. Bakke's book.
   
   Not a particularly 'fun' book to read, but one that should be on your list.



5. This is an incredible story of a deaf man who was found wandering the streets of Jacksonville, IL and subsequently institutionalized at Lincoln State School and Colony. It is an easy-to-read account that tells about all of the horrors and abuses that John Doe No. 24 endured and the way he survived it all. When he also went blind, he was almost totally disconnected from he world. Yet, somehow, he maintained a sense of humor and enjoyed the simple things of life.
   
   Anyone interested in the beginning of what is now called "Special Education" should read this book. Highly recommended.

5 comments about Cockeyed.

1. I really wanted to like this book. Some of the descriptions of the narrator's increasingly challenging interactions with the world are wonderful. After reading it, I can well imagine what it feels like to be in a noisy club when you can barely see, or what it's like to navigate a stariway with only a cane for guidance. Even the relationship challenges are interesting and (to me) unprecedented.
   
   But sometimes there is just too much of a good thing. The in-depth narration gets tiring when it strays to non-pertinent events like teaching overseas. There are some good anecdotes, but they break up the stark reality of the growing handicap.
   
   Is it right to only give 3 stars to a book about blindness? Probably not. The author is great! I'll buy his next book for sure. But this one just didn't "get" me.



2. I really did love this book and here's why: It's got life, depth, sparkle, sensitivity, honesty, humor, and the ability to educate me on the interesting life he's led. I laughed when Ryan was talking about how people shouldn't worry so much about the "sighted words" in language. He's got a way with words, which includes making the reader FEEL (and yes, SEE) things, not just read them. Ryan's imagery is colorful and clear, from the beginning when he's working his first summer job and itching to drive the forklift, to the end when he's trying to remember details of a favorite photograph. In between, we learn what it was like for Ryan to drive a car (briefly), date, study, use a walking stick (and adjust to it), teach, get robbed (almost), and deal with his going blind during it all - it's quite a read I'd recommend.



3. Of course this book is inspirational, but to view this memoir as another tale of overcoming obstacles is selling it short. If you take away the subject matter, and judge the writing itself--you'll find an extraordinarily well-written, incredibly witty, and extremely funny book from a writer that has a gift for story telling. Ryan Knighton's intelligence leaps off the page and engages the reader in thought-provoking discussions. He managed to make me laugh out loud as well as cry, and to effectively do both is no easy task. His introspection and fresh, intelligent take on blindness and its effect on his life (and those around him) is insightful and profound. I look forward to reading his next book, regardless of the topic, because I so enjoyed his writing style. His students are learning from a master.



4. Knighton did a fantastic job taking you into his journey of losing his sight. There were times when I felt terrible for him, but then there were also times when I laughed out loud!! There were scenes that did seem to drag on at times, but overall, a wonderful read. I will be looking for his next book!



5. This is an engaging memoir of an intelligent, articulate man who happens to be blind. As a teenager, the author developed the degenerative eye disease, retinitis pigmentosa, which slowly robbed him of his sight. He was about fourteen or so, when a portent of what lay in store for him visually began making itself manifest. He ignored the signs of his increasing visual challenges and even learned to drive a car, which he drove until it became clear that he was a danger on the road to himself and others. Some time would go by before he and his family would know what lay behind the author's seeming inability to see what was in front of him. When he discovered the reason, he would remain in denial for some time, stumbling about in a sighted world without the sight he needed to do so safely.
   
   Eventually overcoming his reluctance to admit that, yes, he was going blind, he decided to adopt the use of a cane rather than a guide dog. With stick in hand, he moves about the world in a way that most of us would rather not. Yet, for all that he is blind, he sees the world around him in ways in which many sighted people fail to do. His observations are witty, funny, and irreverent, as he takes measure of his life and some of the indignities that blindness has imposed upon him. The author takes the reader on an unsentimental journey through his descent into blindness, only for the reader to discover just how interesting that journey is. The reader comes away thinking of the author not as a blind man but, rather, as a man who happens to be blind.