Zig-Zag Boy: A Memoir of Madness and Motherhood
by Tanya Frank
Familiar Territory (3/5/2023)
As a single mother who went through early psychosis intervention with my son at fifteen, leading up to a diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia, I often have wondered how would we navigate this if he'd been older and had a taste of independence, if I'd had other children or a partner to balance, and this is definitely a variation of that story. So many little things throughout the book rang true for my lived experience, it was at times very painful to read, yet I'm glad I did. Also she makes me want to get involved in a NAMI group for families, peer to peer support is so valuable for both the consumer and the support.
Margot: A Novel
by Wendell Steavenson
Margot (1/15/2023)
It's hard to describe why a certain writing style doesn't work for one person, but may for another. This one wasn't my favorite, but I did find enough interest in the storyline to keep going, and after procrastinating at around 20 pages in, I tore through it in an afternoon. I felt a lot of emotion for the protagonist as she navigated a change of class, a quickly changing world, and tried to find herself within it's context. There are a lot of themes to reflect on within these pages, and it captured numerous aspects of the times during which my own mother was coming of age. I imagine this might be very interesting for someone who had less anecdotal knowledge of the times. I appreciate the STEM aspects. Thank you BookBrowse, for providing a review copy in exchange for my honest review.
The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise
by Colleen Oakley
Fun and layered story of friendship (10/18/2022)
Fun and engaging read. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters as their guards were slowly chipped away and we got a chance to see them more fully. This deals with some heavy and important subjects, but does so with humor and an air of mystery that keep it from feeling too heavy.
Now Is Not the Time to Panic: A Novel
by Kevin Wilson
Personal and creative storytelling (9/15/2022)
I loved experiencing this story so much that I devoured it in a day. Very intimate look at many important themes wrapped up in a quick and immersive reading experience.
The Book of Form and Emptiness: A Novel
by Ruth Ozeki
A Journey into Grief (8/6/2022)
I read this when it first released. The writing is gorgeous and the book balances magical realism and the struggle with mental illness and grief responsibly, which can be tricky. There are themes and scenes that stick with me months after I read this. The author's ability to illustrate a scene really sticks with me. A lot of depth to be found in this lovely book that held my attention well, throughout, considering it's length. Recommend.
