This is the story of a woman who successfully deals with, and overcomes mental illness in herself. She does so from the perspective of the person who is suffering from it; the author herself! The author primarily delves into her family's history of mental illness, going as far back as he grandfather, who was tortured during WWII. She then deeply discusses how, while in the 5th grade, her own mother not only suffered a mental breakdown, but was suffering from depression. Linda describes the details of her mother's mental disease, in particular how the mental breakdown occurred as a result of her grandfather's constant harassment and mind games. She goes on to show how it affected her family, her dad in particular, and most of all her.
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Growing up she shares how the mental illness affects her, and how she sees the effects it has on her dad, who basically becomes a prisoner within his own home, becoming both mother and father to her. She goes on to say, how by the age of 24, Linda discovers that she too is suffering from mental illness, is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and begins to seek help. It is also during this time she, loses her mother to cancer, meets her now husband, loses her father, and begins a journey of learning about what she has, and how to overcome it. She also discovers that she is unable to have any children, as a result of a series of miscarriages. During this, she discovers the stigma that even her community has about mental illness, but is determined to get help for herself and does.
Best part of story, including ending:
I loved it because it gave a personal and heart felt account of struggle with an illness that still has stigmas to it.
Best scene in story:
There is even an unnerving point in the book, were she describes having an Abortion with one of the deceased infants.
Opinion about the main character:
I truly loved Linda's desire/goal in tackling her disease and how she succeeded in it.
