A family story that is painful to read. The author’s insights into the characters
suggests that he must have a close, personal experience with mental illness and
the strains placed on a family when it is present in one or more members. Michael, Celia, and Alec are the children of
Margaret and John. Margaret met the
charming, confident, and charismatic John in England, his home country. But before they marry, he has an episode of
depression that leads to hospitalization.
This will echo down their lives and into the next generation as Michael,
the brilliant and quirky eldest son, fights his own demons and the other family
members struggle to find their places in the world while coping with his
erratic behavior and overwhelming needs.
In addition to being a moving story, it is also an indictment of the
pharmaceutical industry and the drugs used to treat anxiety and bipolar disorder
which come with their own complications. 368 pp.
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