Hurry Down SunshineMichael Greenberg
Hurry Down Sunshine is one father’s account of his daughter’s descent into the maelstrom of madness. Although I have railed against the glut of memoirs I’ve encountered recently, Hurry Down Sunshine never seemed unnecessary or pointless. It isn’t the best memoir I’ve read, nor is it the most compelling account of mental illness I’ve encountered (that honor goes to Greg Bottoms’ Angelhead), but Greenberg’s memoir provides a lesson we can all benefit from: that the mentally ill are not freaks who should be treated like pariahs; rather, they are seriously ill individuals who need our patience and support.
Greenberg's daughter, Sally, was only fifteen when she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The events that led up to her hospitalization took her father by complete surprise, even though, as he notes in retrospect, the signs had been there. Hurry Down Sunshine chronicles Sally's fight against the disease, as well as the struggle faced by those who love her. Readers can clearly see how Sally's illness greatly affects not only her life, but those of all around her.
While other soon-to-be tenth graders spend their summers lounging seaside, Sally spends hers in a psychiatric hospital, slowly regaining the right to perform even the most basic of rights, rights (like keeping a pen) that she once took for granted. Her recovery is not an easy one, nor is it final. Sally's disease is one that can be controlled, but never fully cured. Greenberg's work proves that the mentally ill are more than just their diagnosis; behind every mental illness is a fragile soul just wanting to be free. The fact that the soul in question is so young makes Sunshine an even more compelling read.
That's not to say Hurry Down Sunshine is perfect; it's not. Certain places drag and Greenberg glosses over other parts that could use more detail. Still, for those interested in such topics, this memoir is an informative and sympathetic look at an engrossing disease.
In a nutshell: Both compelling and informative, Hurry Down Sunshine shines despite its flaws.
Bibliolatry Scale: 4 out of 6 stars
Greenberg's daughter, Sally, was only fifteen when she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The events that led up to her hospitalization took her father by complete surprise, even though, as he notes in retrospect, the signs had been there. Hurry Down Sunshine chronicles Sally's fight against the disease, as well as the struggle faced by those who love her. Readers can clearly see how Sally's illness greatly affects not only her life, but those of all around her.
While other soon-to-be tenth graders spend their summers lounging seaside, Sally spends hers in a psychiatric hospital, slowly regaining the right to perform even the most basic of rights, rights (like keeping a pen) that she once took for granted. Her recovery is not an easy one, nor is it final. Sally's disease is one that can be controlled, but never fully cured. Greenberg's work proves that the mentally ill are more than just their diagnosis; behind every mental illness is a fragile soul just wanting to be free. The fact that the soul in question is so young makes Sunshine an even more compelling read.
That's not to say Hurry Down Sunshine is perfect; it's not. Certain places drag and Greenberg glosses over other parts that could use more detail. Still, for those interested in such topics, this memoir is an informative and sympathetic look at an engrossing disease.
In a nutshell: Both compelling and informative, Hurry Down Sunshine shines despite its flaws.
Bibliolatry Scale: 4 out of 6 stars
2 comments:
I read a review in TIME over the weekend, thank you for this review.
I had much the same reaction to this one. Having help raise two daughters in my time,I could easily identify with what the young woman was going through and how difficult it was for her parents to watch her suffer through it. Knowing that her disease, like you say, is controllable, at best, made the story all the more heartbreaking to me.
Post a Comment