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emjay24's review against another edition
2.0
This is a memoir of a dad whose daughter has (maybe) schizophrenia, which started basically since she was born. But really, the focus of this book was how crazy the author sounds. His daughter may have the mental illness but he, and to some extent his wife, was the one who I was going OMG over. I didn't especially like this book, I just kept reading it as kind of a train wreck.
mommalee's review against another edition
1.0
This was the WORST book ever. As a parent of a special needs child, I was disgusted with how little they actually sought out help. Expecting the school and hospitals to cure (IMO) your child is NOT parenting.
wearethedepinets's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book within four hours of starting it. It was a good read and helped you understand the struggles the parents of January went through trying to understand and help her.
saram618's review against another edition
4.0
This is a difficult book to review. It seems wrong to say that I enjoyed this memoir about a young child struggling with mental illness. Maybe a better word would be that I was fascinated by this book (in the same way that you stare at an accident as you pass by on the road - you know it will be horrible to see, but you can't help but want to know what happened).
I noticed that several other readers were turned off by the parenting choices in this book. My feeling is that no one can judge how a parent (or any person) acts in a situation like this! Based solely on the journey of dealing with Janni, struggling to understand her and to do what's best for her, and the effects it has on the entire family I thought this book was excellent. From chapter 1 I was hooked and couldn't put it down until I found out how this family dealt with such an ordeal (needless to say, I also now want to find out about Janni as she goes through life). I cannot imagine the hell that both of these parents went through to try and do what was right for their daughter and themselves. I think the father was brave to put this story out there to the public and hope that it can help other families cope with similar situations as well as help the rest of us better understand mental illness.
I noticed that several other readers were turned off by the parenting choices in this book. My feeling is that no one can judge how a parent (or any person) acts in a situation like this! Based solely on the journey of dealing with Janni, struggling to understand her and to do what's best for her, and the effects it has on the entire family I thought this book was excellent. From chapter 1 I was hooked and couldn't put it down until I found out how this family dealt with such an ordeal (needless to say, I also now want to find out about Janni as she goes through life). I cannot imagine the hell that both of these parents went through to try and do what was right for their daughter and themselves. I think the father was brave to put this story out there to the public and hope that it can help other families cope with similar situations as well as help the rest of us better understand mental illness.
slc54hiwi's review against another edition
1.0
An interesting read but very disturbing, and not for reasons that the author-father might imagine. First, I totally agree that mental health services, particularly for minors with major problems, are woefully inadequate and greatly underinsured, and the support available is greatly handicapped by a poor understanding of serious conditions (e.g., schizophrenia) in young children. Nonetheless, it seemed to me that the author & his wife made a lot of bizarre choices and did not wisely use what services were available to them.
I especially did NOT understand why they chose to have a second child apparently in part because their first child (the subject of this book) expressed a desire for a sibling, and this AFTER it was already clear to them that she was very disturbed herself. Also, given that their own family histories apparently had unambiguous patterns of inherited mental illness in very serious forms I did not get why they would compound the difficulties facing their family by having another child. At that point, my sympathy for the parents' plight decreased greatly but I felt even more sorry for their daughter and now son who were/are at the mercy of two adults who apparently can't make rational decisions. I also agree with others here who have noted the inherent creepiness of the PR efforts the author has undertaken to both publicize his book & blog and to make money off them.
I especially did NOT understand why they chose to have a second child apparently in part because their first child (the subject of this book) expressed a desire for a sibling, and this AFTER it was already clear to them that she was very disturbed herself. Also, given that their own family histories apparently had unambiguous patterns of inherited mental illness in very serious forms I did not get why they would compound the difficulties facing their family by having another child. At that point, my sympathy for the parents' plight decreased greatly but I felt even more sorry for their daughter and now son who were/are at the mercy of two adults who apparently can't make rational decisions. I also agree with others here who have noted the inherent creepiness of the PR efforts the author has undertaken to both publicize his book & blog and to make money off them.
labtracks's review against another edition
4.0
This was also recommended to me by a friend. Not something I would generally be interested in but the library had it so I started reading... And reading and reading. I loved the writing style of this book. He writes like a father, sounds like a father. Some things he writes are not flattering of himself, at all, but I loved it all because it gave credibility to it all. I felt this was real. Not meant to make anyone look good but to tell this story, as it happened, and hope it helps someone else.
How devastating, frustrating and heartbreaking. I enjoyed this book.
How devastating, frustrating and heartbreaking. I enjoyed this book.
vnessc's review against another edition
3.0
I really wanted to like this book, the story of Jani’s schizophrenia is heartbreaking and fascinating...however I kept waiting for that moment where Michael realizes how unfair he’s been to everyone around him and it never comes. Almost every medical professional is put down or insulted or called an idiot. In his description of Susan and Bodhi you would think he was an acquaintance, not a husband and father. Every time he explained something to Jani it seemed like he was just showing off his own intelligence. The story I’ll remember, Michael’s perspective of it I’ll try to forget.
dgignac's review against another edition
4.0
NOTE: This review is specific to the content of this book only. My comments below are not reflective or in regards to any online “current” information about January or her family.
I put off reading this book for several years because of the horrible reviews. However, now that I’ve read it, I’m guessing that some of the “reviewers” did not. Yes, of course the father has mental illness, he opening admits to depression and a suicide attempt… there is also allusion made to his mother having some sort of severe mental Illness. There was also commentary about the author changing the spelling of his daughter’s name half way through the book. The reason for this is clearly explained in the book.
This book is no doubt told through the father’s point of view, and needs to be taken as such… that being said, I was able to see through his commentary and focus on January’s story.
I put off reading this book for several years because of the horrible reviews. However, now that I’ve read it, I’m guessing that some of the “reviewers” did not. Yes, of course the father has mental illness, he opening admits to depression and a suicide attempt… there is also allusion made to his mother having some sort of severe mental Illness. There was also commentary about the author changing the spelling of his daughter’s name half way through the book. The reason for this is clearly explained in the book.
This book is no doubt told through the father’s point of view, and needs to be taken as such… that being said, I was able to see through his commentary and focus on January’s story.