Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolker

42 reviews

kellyofcali's review

challenging dark informative sad slow-paced

2.5

This is a fascinating look at mental illness and schizophrenia based around a single family's experience - the author clearly did a lot of research, and it's truly informative. At times, it does feel a bit long/repetitive, but if you are interested in (and not triggered by) mental health it's a good nonfiction read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Death, Gun violence, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Abandonment

Moderate: Addiction and Drug use

mandi4886's review against another edition

emotional informative medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cancer, Chronic illness, Infidelity, Sexism, Terminal illness, Dementia, Medical trauma, Abortion, and War

lbock317's review

dark informative reflective slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault

Minor: Death and Death of parent

alrauna's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative tense medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

Minor: Bullying, Violence, Blood, Abortion, and Death of parent

kat_e81's review against another edition

hopeful informative reflective sad slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, and Death of parent

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Grief, and Murder

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Infidelity, and Suicidal thoughts

gloriazthompson's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative sad slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Incest, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicide, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

chloemakesbooks's review

emotional informative sad slow-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

beebeereads's review

informative medium-paced

4.25

  Fascinating, horrifying, tragic... 
This book is a thoroughly researched narrative of the Galvin family which consisted of two parents and 12 children, six of whom had schizophrenia. Woven through the family drama are chapters dedicated to examining the prevailing treatment theories of the time.  The author had full access to primary sources and was meticulous in labeling the source in the narrative.  I consistently resist the urge to comment on the content of a memoir which this resembles. Everyone is entitled to their own story so I  simply follow the story where it leads.  I appreciate Kolker's journalistic style combined with a strong storytelling ability.  The strength of this book is perhaps its weakness as well.  With a few exceptions he stays totally focused on one family-thus the memoir reference. To discover how other families coped in similar circumstances would require more reading.  I believe this was Kolker’s charge when the family approached him to tell their story.  For their cooperation he owed them exclusivity.  

Highly recommend. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Pedophilia, Forced institutionalization, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Death of parent and Murder

alaina's review

challenging dark emotional informative slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Murder

froge's review against another edition

challenging informative sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Child death, Death, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Death of parent