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libraryladykati's review against another edition
5.0
Compelling! I'm always fascinated by things I don't know about, like mental illness. This was hands down one of the best memoirs I have ever read. I want everyone to read this.
lmdesai11's review against another edition
5.0
I was completely engrossed in this book and enjoyed reading it - partially because my background is in working clinically with children. This is one man's heart-wrenching tale of trying to help his daughter find a place in the world. Her diagnosis makes sharing his world challenging and frustrating at best, and impossible at worst...I often wanted to yell at the professionals in the story right along with the author/father. While remembering that this is simply one family's experience with the profession of pediatric mental health, this story shows just how much more is needed to help children and their families, from access to services to availability of appointments, and being taken seriously in hospitals that are ill equipped to handle mental health to begin with. I would highly recommend this book, but know that you are reading an intense memoir.
readingari's review against another edition
3.0
Another book that I don't know how I feel about. I have watched the documentaries about Jani and her amazing displays of schizophrenia and I remember always being bugged by her and the book was more of the same. In fact, it was more of the same of what I already knew, with added information of how the dad kept harping on how genius his child is, as if that was an excuse for her behavior.
However, it's hard to keep in mind that she's not being bad, it's the schizophrenia... but just generally, it was hard to connect with anyone in the book. I did fly through the book because I wanted to read some form of happily ever after, even if it's nonfiction. I was left wanting more.
However, it's hard to keep in mind that she's not being bad, it's the schizophrenia... but just generally, it was hard to connect with anyone in the book. I did fly through the book because I wanted to read some form of happily ever after, even if it's nonfiction. I was left wanting more.
juwell's review against another edition
1.0
Selbst ohne das Wissen, um die Geschehnisse nach Entstehung dieses Buchs (kommerzielle Ausbeutung der beiden Kinder, Entzug des Sorgerechts durch die Behörden aufgrund von Misshandlung) hinterlässt es beim Lesen einen unangenehmen Nachgeschmack. Hier geht es dem Autor klar mehr um sich selbst, als sein Kind, die Selbstbezogenheit trieft aus jeder Zeile.
abraid1014's review against another edition
2.0
If I were at all on the fence about having kids, this book would have pushed me right off. Both sides of the family have a history of mental illness and they decide to have a kid... And their kid is obviously "not right" so they have another.....? I did some more reading on this guy and it seems their son is now suffering from mental illness. Just unbelievable. 291 p.
jeannepathfinder's review against another edition
5.0
I picked up this book today and couldn't put it down until I finished it. A heartbreaking story of a child with schizophrenia. The story was so compelling, so captivating, so raw and somehow even uplifting.
sarahhyatt's review against another edition
1.0
I read this book in one sitting, because it was fascinating, but it wasn't really enjoyable. I was struck by a few things: first, that way the father describes Jani's behavior is familiar. I've known a handful of children who acted exactly like Jani - I don't say this to normalize it, because nothing about these children's behavior was normal. I also don't say it to indicate that Jani isn't schizophrenic, or that on the other hand, these children were. But the violence, the hitting, the lack of remorse, the "switch" where something that seems like not the child, the apparently genuine confusion about "what did I do?" - I have known children like this. Maybe I'm jaded, but I expected more from "the worst case doctors had ever seen."
With those children, it was 8 out of 12 in a small suburban daycare classroom. Two-thirds. (Yes, those are high numbers. Yes, that's ridiculous). I don't believe all those children (if any) had schizophrenia. They may have had a handful of behavioral disorders mixed with inconsistent parenting.
This book, similarly, leads more to the side of awful parenting. Something is NOT RIGHT here. And would somebody just send me Honey? Honey, you want to live life as a dog should? Come over. You're welcome. I will love you.
Reading this book was less about discovering what Jani's life and world was like and more about watching the bad life choices made by her father. It made it difficult to have sympathy, because he continued to act heinously throughout the book, and described this honestly but with no apparent remorse. It was an adventure in bad dog ownership, bad teaching, bad parenting, and marriage problems. To the point where these problems and issues eclipsed anything that was going on with Jani. There is something not quite right in the parents that stands out as needing help and intervention more than anything Jani does in this book.
With those children, it was 8 out of 12 in a small suburban daycare classroom. Two-thirds. (Yes, those are high numbers. Yes, that's ridiculous). I don't believe all those children (if any) had schizophrenia. They may have had a handful of behavioral disorders mixed with inconsistent parenting.
This book, similarly, leads more to the side of awful parenting. Something is NOT RIGHT here. And would somebody just send me Honey? Honey, you want to live life as a dog should? Come over. You're welcome. I will love you.
Reading this book was less about discovering what Jani's life and world was like and more about watching the bad life choices made by her father. It made it difficult to have sympathy, because he continued to act heinously throughout the book, and described this honestly but with no apparent remorse. It was an adventure in bad dog ownership, bad teaching, bad parenting, and marriage problems. To the point where these problems and issues eclipsed anything that was going on with Jani. There is something not quite right in the parents that stands out as needing help and intervention more than anything Jani does in this book.
sandra_goodson's review against another edition
2.0
Having the kooky parents this little girl has certainly doesn't help the situation. Sad. Oh yeah, but she's a GENIUS!!!