| Reading memoirs, especially those that include words | | | | find when she finally reached "happily ever after". She |
| like "epic tragedy" may not be your very first choice | | | | and her siblings were a tight crew. They supported |
| when you're looking for a good read. To tell you the | | | | each other, even beyond their mother's mental illness. |
| truth, I'd probably not have bought it either. I tend to lean | | | | They lost one sister to murder, a brother to AIDS, and |
| toward books that are going to lift me up, not remind | | | | various other horrors that would certainly have broken |
| me of the less-than-joyful experiences of others. This | | | | the best of family ties. Not this family. Their courage |
| book, however, is an exception to my rule. The fact | | | | and humor were their saving grace, even when it |
| that the author also included "Happily Ever After" in the | | | | seemed as if there would never be light at the end of |
| title was enough to nudge me off my cozy little shelf | | | | their very dark tunnel. |
| and give it a read. | | | | Approaching Neverland is one of those books that will |
| Peggy Kennedy, author and living proof that there IS | | | | move you, and make you really appreciate your life, |
| 'happily ever after', hails from the San Francisco Bay | | | | regardless of how tough it may have been. It is both |
| area. She grew up during those turbulent 60s, when | | | | thought-provoking and inspiring. It took me a bit longer |
| mental illness was a secret safely guarded by families | | | | to read than is my norm, mostly because there were |
| who had to deal with the daily terrors of psychosis, | | | | moments when I was so overwhelmed by what they |
| and the state of medical treatments were nothing | | | | went through. She tells her story with such honesty, |
| short of horrific. Back then, electroshock therapy was | | | | such deep feeling, you feel as if you're right there with |
| as common as Xanax is today. Fact is, they just didn't | | | | them, going through it all, hanging on by a thread. |
| know enough to help these people, and the methods | | | | If you've ever experienced any kind of family tragedy, |
| were often reminiscent of old Boris Korloff films. Not | | | | regardless of what that tragedy may have been, you |
| pretty, not very effective, and certainly not something | | | | will certainly appreciate Approaching Neverland. And |
| folks wanted to talk about. | | | | even if you haven't, there is great humanity in this |
| Ms. Kennedy's story is not so much about her | | | | work. Ms. Kennedy should be applauded for having the |
| mother's mental illness as it is about the bonds of | | | | courage to tell her story, especially with such honesty. |
| family, the love and humor that brought them through | | | | It is a book I highly recommend. |
| their ordeals, and the amazing grace she managed to | | | | |