A review by msmse
While You Were Out: An Intimate Family Portrait of Mental Illness in an Era of Silence by Meg Kissinger

challenging dark emotional funny informative inspiring tense medium-paced

4.5

What a book! This was hard to read but I couldn’t put it down. It beautifully, tragically, and at times hilariously described her family’s experiences with mental illness (bipolar disorder, major depression, and anxiety). The last third of the book was a bit slower going as the narrative shifted into straight discussion of the state of mental care in our country, but overall I thought this book was filled with heart and passionate writing.