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Full Blown: Me And My Bipolar Family (2010)

by David Lovelace(Favorite Author)

3.51 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

0007281323 (ISBN13: 9780007281329)

languge

English

genre

Memoir & Autobiography

publisher

Harper Element

review 1: My on/off friend from college took me to a used book store that is legendary in our home state. She told me she had credit and was willing to buy me whatever I wanted - this was part of my haul. The book only came with the title and headline, and a few reviews on the back; there was no summary to give me an idea of what to expect, beyond "My Bipolar Family." I decided to purchase it because several members of my family, including myself, have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder (and several other diagnosis.) I am very happy I purchased this book. The family portrayed is haunted by mental disorders - each person who suffers, suffers severely. Mrs. Lovelace has severe postpartum depressions that last for years, and religious paranoia. Mr. Lovelace is bedridden for years due... more to depression, and his feverish manias fuel religious hymns. The eldest son switches from bedridden and unable to feed himself to a man so manic he rearranges his friends' whole apartment. The youngest son follows a similar inactive depression, yet his mania is anger fueled and he makes a cape and beats the shit out of a neighbor. Good stuff. I'd like to note that not every case or every family with several cases is so haunted by mental illness - this is a family with a very bad genetic lottery.It was interesting to see how the eldest son, the author, was influenced by his father's illness. His father fell ill before the two sons, and as he experienced his first mania, David began to realize what his illness really could entail. I felt I could really, really identify with David's struggles when it came to accepting his disorder - and the many games we play to stop using treatment/justify going off treatment, and the humiliation that occurs when others see us at our "mad" moments.I did not agree with all of David's arguments - his struggle with hospitalizing his manic father, for one - I do not think others should have the right to hospitalize someone unless they are going to harm themselves/others (although I am surprised the neglect of his mother at that time did not constitute as "harm" and no legal ramifications came of that) but I understood his struggles. The amount of humiliation he felt, that drove him to close his bookstore, seemed an overreaction to me. One manic incident over years and you're done? Also, it was so dangerous when Roberta told him to get off of his meds ... I took issue with that, too. But, those are issues/disagreements with the author, as opposed to criticisms of the book itself.Overall, the writing style was good. At first the opening scenes seem like they may be the craziest of the whole book, but it becomes clear that David's story of his bipolar disorder is not the only thing interesting here - he's led a very interesting life. He bums around South America and squats in New York. I'd suggest this for anyone with a genuine interest in the experience of someone with bipolar disorder, anyone with bipolar disorder, or anyone who wants to read about a punk rock guy with some life struggles. Overall a very good book.
review 2: My rating is most likely because I found the book to be...disturbing...frustrating...slightly unbelievable. Except I am sure it all is completely believable to those who have lived with and witnessed bipolar. As Lovelace begins to explain his family history I thought to myself, "What are the odds that his parents found each other, married, and both have bipolar? I mean really what are the odds? And do his parents truly both have it or does one have something different that looks like it?" Those were/are just a few questions I had throughout the reading of David's memoir. His family history is a little frightening - on both sides - and it just makes you wonder what the heck happened in the gene pool for all of this to rise to the surface. I don't say that to sound unsympathetic or cold, it's just a curiosity. Lovelace chronicles how bipolar made itself known in the lives of his immediate family. He takes us on a journey of his particular struggle to deny its existence and then finally his resignation to accept it. I think what frustrated me was he knew he was unhealthy and yet did unhealthy things that only made it worse. Almost like inviting disaster. Is this typical of people who have bipolar? It was okay. I felt bored through the middle section of the book. It was David's accounts of his crazy efforts to outrun his family and bipolar. And I wasn't all that fascinated by his efforts, just bored. Maybe it's just me. Maybe if I was more intimately acquainted with bipolar because of a loved one or myself I would have been more taken by this account. less

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