The acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of Ellen Foster, Kaye Gibbons paints intimate family portraits in lyrical prose, using as her pa... read full description
reviews
Jan 02, 2009
Antof9
rated it: 
The back cover blurb says this is "an unforgettable tale of unconditional love".
Well, I did read this one shortly after I got it, but I'm a lazy gus and didn't write my book review right away :)
Referring back to the cover blurb, although I did like this book, I didn't think it was "an unforgettable tale of unconditional love". I had a few other thoughts about what I could write if I were doing the blurb:
Well, I did read this one shortly after I got it, but I'm a lazy gus and didn't write my book review right away :)
Referring back to the cover blurb, although I did like this book, I didn't think it was "an unforgettable tale of unconditional love". I had a few other thoughts about what I could write if I were doing the blurb:
<UL><li>A grown woman's searchMore...
Jul 21, 2009
TBML
rated it: 
This was the Branigan BookClub selection for May 2005.
Kay Gibbons has written a riveting tale of a family unraveled by depression and the struggle to keep up appearances. As someone who has experienced depression firsthand, there were times that I felt I knew exactly what the characters were enduring!
Ultimately, I found SIGHTS UNSEEN a book about the resilience of the human spirit. There were some pretty bleak moments, in fact, more than moments, but in the end, it was More...
Kay Gibbons has written a riveting tale of a family unraveled by depression and the struggle to keep up appearances. As someone who has experienced depression firsthand, there were times that I felt I knew exactly what the characters were enduring!
Ultimately, I found SIGHTS UNSEEN a book about the resilience of the human spirit. There were some pretty bleak moments, in fact, more than moments, but in the end, it was More...
Feb 02, 2009
Lisa
rated it:
I really enjoy Kaye Gibbons' books. The characters are always fantastic although the funny thing about them is they are such quick reads that I tend to forget about them soon after finishing. This is narrated by a young girl telling about growing up in a household with a manic depressant mother. The characters are very real and you can just feel the embarassment and also the love that the narrator has for her mother. I'll probably forget having ever read it, but I am glad I picked it up.
Apr 17, 2011
Charisse
rated it: 
Beautifully written. Praise for Kaye Gibbons for this wonderful novel.
Sights Unseen is an unforgettable tale of unconditional love, and of a family's desperate search for normalcy in the midst of madness. The story of tragic, emotionally devastated Maggie, "the Barnes woman with all the problems", and daughter Hattie, a child struggling to find a place for herself in her damaged mother's heart.
Sights Unseen is an unforgettable tale of unconditional love, and of a family's desperate search for normalcy in the midst of madness. The story of tragic, emotionally devastated Maggie, "the Barnes woman with all the problems", and daughter Hattie, a child struggling to find a place for herself in her damaged mother's heart.
Aug 09, 2011
I have read alot of Kaye Gibbons, and I really enjoyed this one. I had no idea how she would end the novel with such turmoil throughout due to the mom's bipolar condition, but the ending definitely did not disappoint. And, I could feel so much for Hattie throughout that I wanted to go and give her the hug that her mother just couldn't.
Aug 14, 2009
Mark
rated it:
This was the Branigan BookClub selection for May 2005.
Kay Gibbons has written a riveting tale of a family unraveled by depression and the struggle to keep up appearances. As someone who has experienced depression firsthand, there were times that I felt I knew exactly what the characters were enduring!
Ultimately, I found SIGHTS UNSEEN a book about the resilience of the human spirit. There were some pretty bleak moments, in fact, more than moments, but in the end, it was More...
Kay Gibbons has written a riveting tale of a family unraveled by depression and the struggle to keep up appearances. As someone who has experienced depression firsthand, there were times that I felt I knew exactly what the characters were enduring!
Ultimately, I found SIGHTS UNSEEN a book about the resilience of the human spirit. There were some pretty bleak moments, in fact, more than moments, but in the end, it was More...
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Apr 21, 2010
Sandy
rated it:
Mental illness (bipolar)from the inside out. A child of the mother who is yanked from one mental extreme to another narrates. The author struck a fine balance with a delicate use of (with frequently indelicate) words and emotion and accomplished an insightful communication with the reader.
Nov 23, 2011
Ashley
rated it:
This book felt more personal than other books I've read by her. The description of her bipolar mother felt too real, and seeing as how Kaye Gibbons has struggled with mental illness, I'm wondering if this is a description of herself, or her own life. I enjoyed this book. 3.5/5
Dec 21, 2008
Katie
rated it:
I read the original edition; the later edition had more added to the story. humorous and touching story of a family in which the mother is manic depressive and in and out of institutions. told through the eyes of the 12 yr old daugther. set in North Carolina in the 50s and 60s.
Dec 05, 2011
Moxsl
rated it: 
This is the story of a young girl who wishes for a relationship with her mother who is bipolar and never really "there." I kept reading this book waiting for something real to happen....but it never did. The book does not compare well to Kaye Gibbons _Ellen Foster_ which was an excellent read. I got through this one.....
Nov 03, 2010
Mominisrael
rated it:
Novel about a woman recalling her childhood with a depressive mother and a dysfunctional family. Poignant. Gibbons realistically describes the absence of a mother and the effect it had on the narrator. I love the way she describes the characters and their interactions.
Sep 30, 2010
Sara-Ellen
rated it:
I think this is my favorite Kaye Gibbons novel. As a manic depressive herself, Kaye Gibbons nailed it in this book. I understand that she writes best when she is in a manic state-as difficult as that must be-I am so thankful for her voice.
Aug 22, 2011
Jules
rated it:
Not the fluffiest of plane reading, but an absorbing, intimate look at a mother's mental illness and the emotional and practical impact it had on her children. Felt more like reading a memoir than a novel.
Jul 15, 2009
Mary
rated it:
Here's one where I really wanted a rating halfway between "really liked it" and "it was amazing." Kaye Gibbons never lets me down. I have a manic depressive niece, single mom of three, and this one really hit close to home.
Jan 02, 2011
Donna
rated it:
Sights Unseen is a story of unconditional love & a family's desperate search for normalcy in the middle of mental illness. All everyone wanted was a normal family life like everyone else had.
Nov 28, 2010
Wendy
rated it:
After this book I have decided that Kaye Gibbons is indeed a favorite author of mine. Her writing grabs me and holds me thoroughly until the book is complete. Wish she was currently writing.
Sep 30, 2009
Easy reading, poignant subject. Written from point of view of a young girl with a mentally ill mother whose egregious neglect left here Maggie, the young girl, constantly search of love.
Sep 16, 2011
Rosie
rated it:
very informative and honest thoughts about the subject matter--a young girl and her family dealing with a bipolar mother
not sure if it is fiction or not....but it is a good book
not sure if it is fiction or not....but it is a good book
Oct 20, 2010
Leslie
rated it:
Reads like a memoir. Woman remembers her childhood with manic-depressive mother. Fortunately it is short, because it is painful and very real, going by my experience.
Dec 04, 2009
Heatherannwurtz
rated it:
Compelling book about a girl growing up with a mother with untreated manic depression. I couldn't stop reading it but I also kept waiting for the story to start.
Jun 17, 2008
Christy
rated it:
Ok, so I really love this author. She writes really excellent characters in stories that are both interesting and original. I really liked this book. It was a quick read and I was drawn into the story and really felt like I was reading a memoir instead of a novel. My only issue with the book was that I felt that it was unrealistic that the main character came through life with a bi-polar mother pretty much unscathed. I thought she did an excellent job describing what living with a bi-polar
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Jul 26, 2009
Wendy
rated it:
Another tough read about mentally ill parents. The relationship to the maid mom surrogate is not as clear as in The Help by Stockett.
Aug 08, 2010
Cassie
rated it:
Easy read. But the entire book felt like an introduction to me. I kept waiting for it to progress to plot, etc. Odd little story.
Mar 12, 2009
Lisa
rated it:
Excellent look at the affect of bipolar disorder on a family. Well written, with memorable characters and wit
Aug 04, 2009
Steph
rated it:
A family, but mostly a daughter, trying to live with the mystery of the mother's bi-polar disease. Arresting.
