Finding Alice by Melody Carlson Summary and Reviews
|
List Price: Our Price: $4.99 You Save: $9.00 (64%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $2.59 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Finding Alice
Book Review: What a Great Find!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book gives readers an opportunity to jump into the head of a schizophrenic. Alice at first seems to be like any average college student, until she begins hearing voices and seeing a hallucination named Amelia who convinces her that everyone is out to get her, that her food has been poisoned, that there are no safe people in the world. Eventually, Alice does find help and hope, which brings this story to a very satisfying ending.
I enjoyed looking at the world through Alice's eyes, as disturbing as that view could occasionally be. I also appreciated the treatment of Alice's restored relationship with her mother toward the end of the story. Alice finds healing because there are people around her who show her love and grace, something she was not getting before. This book is a great testament to the power of one life touching another life - not necessarily by preaching or handing out tracts or direct witnessing- but by living and showing love every single day, both on good days and bad days.
I am impressed with the author's ability to jump inside the head of a schizophrenic, and to write a book that is Christian in worldview without being another cheezy fiction book where everyone gets saved by the end. This one, my friends, is definitely worth reading.
Book Review: Wonderful book on mental illness
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is about a young woman, Alice, who struggles with schizophrenia. At first, her mother's church tries exorcising the demons out. When that didn't work, she is dragged to a horrible mental hospital where she is doped up. She then escapes to the streets, until she is led to a kind woman (Faye) who takes her and her cat in. She then finds help at the Golden House through Faye's nephew, Simon.This book is very thoroughly researched, with different treatment approaches presented, from the tradition approach, used at Forest Hills, to a more progressive approach, used at the Golden House. Carlson talks about all the different symptoms and things people with schizophrenia deals with. I've visited some of the websites listed in the back of Carlson's book and have found that what she has in her book is in line with what is on the website.
Carlson also talks about the view that some churches hold on mental illnesses. Some churches believe that mental illnesses are caused by sin problems. Unfortunately, that point of view is not helpful to the person with the mental illness and that is brought out in this book.
I also liked how Carlson told the book from the first person perspective. This gave the reader an idea of what all Alice was going through, her feelings, fears, and how she perceived the world. All this gives an accurate description of what a schizophrenic goes through.
And I wish we had more treatment places such as the Golden House for people who are mentally ill. Patients are treated with so much respect and dignity, as opposed to some of the traditional mental institutions where patients are treated more like animals than humans.
Book Review: Wonderful!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was extremely insightful- while I thought I knew quite a bit about schizophrenia, this book shed light on the way those who deal with the illness really feel. It was very interesting to see how Alice struggled with herself- half the time she was aware that something was not right and was referring to herself as 'crazy,' and the other half she was knee-deep in the symptoms of schizophrenia. The other loveable characters in this book added to overall depth and warmth of this wonderful story.Book Review: You've Become Your Worst Enemy
Summary: 5 Stars
Alice is a twenty something college student who seems to be living a normal life. But then after her boyfriend breaks up with her, something in her snaps. Thus begins Alice's journey of life with schizophrenia. It's a a terrifying ride that robs Alice of all her senses and is definately not a trip to Wonderland. Shunned by the church and taken into an institution where drugs are forced on her, she hides out in the street, with her mind becoming her worst enemy. But there is hope and with a little help from new friends, a way where Alice will finally find herself again.
This was one of the hardest and most impacting books that I have ever read. It was a definite eye opener with a subject you don't hear much about. I cannot even imagine what I would do if I was in Alice's situation. It would be a daily struggle to survive every day. Frankly it was quite scary to read about Alice's schizophrenia and what it did to her. The voices inside her head almost drove her to kill herself because they made her doubt everything and everyone. It was really frightening to think about how many people have to suffer from this every day and even if they get help, still have to deal with it for the rest of their lives. The worst part, for Alice, is how her church (which to me seemed more like a cult) completely shunned her and banished her because they believed her mental illness to be a demon. I really appreciated how the author handles this, showing the reader that while there are Christians who do understand and will help you out, there is also a darker side that won't acknowledge this situation. It's painful yet refreshing to show how there are severely flawed Christians who need to be taught not to be judgmental or walking around with planks in their eyes. I'm glad though that there was a glimmer of hope for her and that she was able to cope with her mental illness. I really love how Melody Carlson writes about subjects that many Christians shy away from and don't want to talk about. She writes these books with such conviction and grittiness because these are topics that we shouldn't avoid. This is edgy fiction at it best and I believe that it rivals mainstream fiction. This is not just a Christian novel, this is a novel that EVERYONE should read to learn more about what mental illness is really like. If you want a book that will leave you impacted, pick this book up.
Book Review: finding myself as well
Summary: 5 Stars
'finding alice' is a wonderful journey so wonderfully laid out by melody carlson. aboard this ship i felt a strong connection with alice and began to learn certain subtle meanings in life and what it brings daily. this is by far one of the best quests i have ever been brave enough to take through a novel. thank you, melody.