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What I Had Before I Had You (2014)

by Sarah Cornwell(Favorite Author)

3.24 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0062237845 (ISBN13: 9780062237842)

languge

English

genre

Fiction

publisher

Harper

review 1: This had a questionable beginning as I sensed it might become "surreal" and disengage me. Without giving anything away, I will say that this book just kept gaining momentum as it went along and I ended up loving the writing and the story. Three generations were affected in different degrees by bipolar disorder. The narrative was passed back and forth between several time periods but it never became confusing. It was told through the point of view of Olivia, whose young bi-polar son disappeared on a visit to the beach. In the hours that Olivia is waiting and hoping for his return, she reflects on how her own mother's bi-polar disorder changed her life in most unexpected ways. Again, as I've said in previous reviews, it brings to mind the inadequacy of our society's r... moreesponse to the mentally ill. They are just marginalized. Period.
review 2: This book absolutely wore me out. I thought I'd never finish it and wonder what possessed me to but to perhaps have a better understanding of bipolar disorder. It was exhaustive sorting the real from the imagined. But, not having experience with bipolar disorder, I can only imagine how nerve wracking and confusing it is for those who suffer from it. This book explored the generational complexities which left me feeling hopeless and depressed. There were many four and five star ratings that speak to me that this just wasn't a book for me. less

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