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78th out of 264 books
—
98 voters
His Bright Light: The Story of My Son, Nick Traina
Paperback, 409 pages
Published
1999
by Corgi
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This was one of the kinds of books you both love and hate. At least it was for me. I had started reading after a gap and I hated that I started off with it. But now looking back, I think it was definitely a good book. The way Danielle Steel takes us through the rollercoaster ride of bringing up a son like Nicholas Traina was fabulous. Only a mother who brought up a person like him could write such a moving tale. However I hated that since she had money as celebrity, Nick had a lot of access to t...more
Second time around, it's been years since I read this touching, inspiring, yet tragic story. It not only tells the story of Danielle Steel's son but also sheds light on bipolar disorder in so far as at what age can you diagnosis and medication treatments available. It shows both sides of the mental health community- the good and the bad.
All the money and access to treatment her son had and we, as a society, wonder why there are so many less fortunate people struggling and suffering with mediocr...more
All the money and access to treatment her son had and we, as a society, wonder why there are so many less fortunate people struggling and suffering with mediocr...more
I read this book because of my own bipolar daughter. She's also been suicidal several times, but she'll soon die anyway from hepatitis C or liver cancer. You see, bipolars don't want to take their meds but, since their body needs the meds, they're drawn to cocaine or pain pills or heroin. I say hep C or liver cancer because people who do drugs lie and lie and manipulate and manipulate, but I can see her dying before my eyes. I have to wonder what help I could have given her had I possessed Danie...more
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This is my favorite Danielle Steel book. Yes, it is partly because I share her experience of parenting a child with mental illness (though Nick had childhood-onset bipolar disorder and my Ben has schizophrenia which began to appear gradually in his mid-teens) - but, this common thread aside, I couldn't help but applaud Steel's candor and courage in sharing her experiences with the world.
Her Nick is vibrant, charming, brilliant - and troubled. Steel struggles to understand, especially in the ligh...more
Her Nick is vibrant, charming, brilliant - and troubled. Steel struggles to understand, especially in the ligh...more
Having a child with Bipolar disorder and suffering from it myself I can only say that Danielle Steel is not only and amazing writer in my opinion but a damn good mother! To have lived through the trials and tribulations of Nick's precious short life, to fight to help him win and only lose him in the end must have been more then hell. I can only imagine what this woman went through.
From the other perspective though, Nick's as it is told by Danielle Steel, wow she really did understand.
I know he m...more
From the other perspective though, Nick's as it is told by Danielle Steel, wow she really did understand.
I know he m...more
This was a heartbreaking book. As a mother of a bipolar son, it was a difficult read. After reading part way through the first chapter, I tossed the book across the room and couldn't pick it up again for months. I was frustrated with the mom's lack of education about bipolar illness and the many freedoms her money allowed him to gain access to without proper supervision. Ultimately, Nick was bent on a path of self-destruction, as many who suffer from bipolar are. His death was a tragedy and I cr...more
Aug 06, 2011
Donna
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Donna by:
Kathleen Carrick
Shelves:
biography
In 1998, when Danielle Steel’s son Nick died, what is now “bipolar disorder” was still called “manic-depressive.” In this book from the heart, Steel documents what this condition does to those who have it and those around them, in the context of her son’s short but remarkable life. I admire the author’s courage in sharing her story.
Although much is now known about the brain and common mental disorders, including bipolar, there is still a general lack of understanding and awareness in our culture...more
Although much is now known about the brain and common mental disorders, including bipolar, there is still a general lack of understanding and awareness in our culture...more
I just read this book for the second time. I've encouraged so many people to read this book. Danielle lets us into her personal life and that of her son who is bipolar. What you gain from this book is immeasurable. It's raw and told from her heart.
There are many, many informative books about bipolar disorder. This book is the most touching, raw and unique book you can ever read about this ravishing disease. It's real. Nick Traina was real. Their struggles were real.
I laughed and cried along wi...more
There are many, many informative books about bipolar disorder. This book is the most touching, raw and unique book you can ever read about this ravishing disease. It's real. Nick Traina was real. Their struggles were real.
I laughed and cried along wi...more
I'm not sure how to feel about this book.
It was interesting, but I felt she wanted to explain her mistakes, to gain absolution. Of course it is hard, but sending to that many doctors, pushing him to take medicines a lot and strengthen the feeling in him, that he is so different, he is sick?
In Europe there are more calm and gentle therapy for this. Even in the past, it wasn't that pushy like the American style. So much drugs, so much doctors. Not even one calm moment.
Yes there is a chance to co...more
It was interesting, but I felt she wanted to explain her mistakes, to gain absolution. Of course it is hard, but sending to that many doctors, pushing him to take medicines a lot and strengthen the feeling in him, that he is so different, he is sick?
In Europe there are more calm and gentle therapy for this. Even in the past, it wasn't that pushy like the American style. So much drugs, so much doctors. Not even one calm moment.
Yes there is a chance to co...more
I remember hearing about this tragedy when it happened. This is the tragic story of the author's son, Nick who suffered from Bipolar Disorder. He was an enchanting person who could charm the socks off of you, just a few people I know who suffer from Bipolar disorder as well. The author looks back on his life and celebrates the unique person her son was. She knew from infancy that something was different about her son, and she was his confidante and protector his whole life. I am glad I read this...more
This is the only book I have read by her, but I bought it out of curiosity many years ago, before I was a wife and mother, because I had been fighting some of my own demons and feeling/acting like Nick did. I read it and didn't only learn about Nick Traina, but also about myself.
I now have so much respect for Danielle, no parent should see their child die, and she was humble and brave to put his story on paper. That has to have been the most difficult task ever to her.
The book made me cry sever...more
I now have so much respect for Danielle, no parent should see their child die, and she was humble and brave to put his story on paper. That has to have been the most difficult task ever to her.
The book made me cry sever...more
Mar 14, 2009
kathi
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone suffereing from bi-polar of their families
Recommended to kathi by:
No one
Shelves:
books-read-in-2009
This book was mostly sad although there were some parts that were a little bit happier...but not many. Author Danielle Steele wrote about her son, Nicky, who exhibited signs of bi-polar from the time he was very young...it mentioned 'baby' bi-polar....the book documented Nick's life as well as his mom's stuggle to find help for him.From my point of view the system failed Nick in all ways. His mom knew something was wrong with him but nobody helped her. She tried every avenue she could and the ot...more
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Rate 5/5 Having raised a daughter with bipolar disorder, like so many others, I wanted to know what could have been done differently to save her life. The author had much wealth and power to treat her son, had access to good psychiatrists and doctors, but in the end, lost him anyway. As mothers we will go to our graves wondering if there had been anything that would have changed our child's eventual outcome. Mental illness is always difficult to live with, for the whole family, and one can only...more
Jul 01, 2012
Rossana
added it
This was the story of Danielle Steel's son who committed suicide and struggled with manic depression. He was an amazing and beautiful boy. It was a celebration of his life and interesting to see how Danielle Steel has limitless resources, and yetbbbbbb she could not save her son, who had handlers, psychiatric inpatient care, and access to the finest doctors in the world. Imagine how difficult it must be to try to help your child when your insurance won't kick in and you have no money to get your...more
I read this book many yrs ago. It is my favorite of all Daniells books. I related to everything both she and Nick were going through as i too had a son that was so similar to Nick on so many levels. It was as though she had been watching our lives unfold and wrote a book based on our lives. At the time my son was in his mid teens and I feared every day that one day I would loose him. While reading this book my heart went out to Danielle when in the end Nick took his life .. jump ahead 6 yrs and...more
Not Danielle Steel's typical novel. This time she's writing the story of her son's much too short life. Nick Traina dealt with many personal struggles in his life but was still able to inspire many people with his music as a part of Link 80 and Knowledge. Steel chronicles his life from a mother's point of view and you can tell she wishes she could have done more. I've read that his friends weren't happy with the book because it paints them in a slightly negative light and they say it wasn't that...more
Danielle Steel's first non-fiction novel about the true story, life and death of her son Nick Traina is so mesmerizing, spellbinding and absolute page turner. I've read Nick's life story and struggle with bipolar disease ( manic depression)about 4 times since I've purchased the book. Steel's portrait of her son made feel and cry for him and his family.
Whoever thought that Steel could write only fiction is surely mistaken and this book is proof of that. Nick was a lost soul on earth , I hope he...more
Whoever thought that Steel could write only fiction is surely mistaken and this book is proof of that. Nick was a lost soul on earth , I hope he...more
Read a long time back when first trying to understand early childhood bipolar disorder. Amazing how this book has since affected my perspective as so many symptoms run parallel with other kids with his condition, and a little illumination on what being a sibling might have been like. Wasn't impressed by some of the moral values, but was impressed by the creative solutions at a time when bipolar disorder wasn't diagnosed or treated in children. Author/mom had to BEG for a lithium prescription whe...more
Everyone is giving this book 5 stars simply because it's a tragic story. Yes, it's an unfortunate loss that makes for a good book, but come on... from his 17th birthday on, the book was sooooo repetitive and dragged on. Not to mention the way she described her son was borderline creepy with the way his bulging muscles looked on stage and how sexy he was. All the letters she wrote to him were just page fillers, so skip those parts as everything thing they say we're previously mentioned a thousand...more
This book brought me to tears. I have the same disorder as Nick. This book was a wake up call to my mother about how serious bipolar is and was a good look into living with it. She said it scared her. I read this while on a family trip to a funeral. I want to reread it one day cause I originally read it when I was in a really bad state before I was ever medicated cause no one, not even I took bipolar serious. I related to this book very much and it was a wake up call to me. I recommend it to any...more
Daniel Steele's hopes in writing about her son's life-long struggle with the condition 'manic depression' now known as Bipolar Disorder are expressed in her quote -
"I want to share the story, and the pain, the courage, the love, and what I learned in living through it. I want Nick's life to be not only a tender memory for us, but a gift to others...
I would like to offer people hope and the realities we lived with. I want to make a difference. My hope is that someone will be able to use what we l...more
"I want to share the story, and the pain, the courage, the love, and what I learned in living through it. I want Nick's life to be not only a tender memory for us, but a gift to others...
I would like to offer people hope and the realities we lived with. I want to make a difference. My hope is that someone will be able to use what we l...more
I hated this book from the opening paragraph. Yes, I ached for her as a mother, but my personal experiences got in the way. She had finances beyond what most of us will ever obtain and those finances and lack of supervision led her son down more dangerous paths. As a mother that was not able to receive needed medical help for my own child because of a lack of finances, made this book even more difficult to take. Some stories should be written for yourself and kept to yourself.
Very touching book. I am very into psychology and this book has been a inspiration for me. Its about a boy who suffers from bipolar for many years and such a short life. Many people look at mental disorders in a negative manner but not knowing that those who are diagnosed with an mental disorder are very intelligent individuals just struggling through an illness that is genetic. I advise everyone to read this book and it will change your way of thinking towards people in general.
This was such a sad book. Danielle Steel's son Nick suffered from Bipolar disorder which was undiagnosed for a long while. She continually searched for new schools, hospitals and summer camps to help him. She found a counsellor who eventually worked with him full time alongside 2 carers.
Their whole family were suffering with his outbursts and it was an upsetting insight into how disabilities affect everyone in the family.
Their whole family were suffering with his outbursts and it was an upsetting insight into how disabilities affect everyone in the family.
I read this book my senior year of high school at the request of my AP English IV teacher, Linda Williams. It was one of the only non-fiction books I've read that I actually enjoyed. Nick is Steel's son, who suffered from manic depression and other issues his entire but short life. His story is incredibly tragic, but enlightening. After reading this, I never looked at mental disorders the same way.
I read this book because I had skimmed it several times at the book store. I found that it read a little dramatic at times, but overall, it seemed to be an honest portrayal of a family dealing with a child that was suffering from some serious mental illness. It was sad and at times I was confused by the choices she made, but I would recommend it to someone interested in the subject of mental illness.
I loved this book! Danielle Steel takes us through all the bumps on the road to her son Nick's bipolar/ ADD diagnosis. Just like in her novels Danielle Steel drew me in to the true life drama that played out between herself, her family and her son Nick during the entire span of his mental illness and the aftermath of his suicide. Nick's voice is contained within the pages. So much so that I feel very connected to him. He was a bright light in life and continues to shine in death. I would highly...more
This book was about her son's life and his suicide. It was sad, as a mom, you really empathize with her. She described the pain that her son was going through and the pain she and her family were going through as well. It took me a while to finish it- I think maybe because of the subject matter. It's not a book that keeps you wanting to read more, and you don't feel that great after reading it.
The only Danielle Steel book I own. Not her typical story.
It is the biography of her son. It is a walk through his disease, what it did to him and what it did to the family.
I have read this several times, and recommended it to family. With a bipolar brother, it is hard to read and not draw all the parallels. It is easier to understand that the behavior is a product of the disease, not the person.
It is the biography of her son. It is a walk through his disease, what it did to him and what it did to the family.
I have read this several times, and recommended it to family. With a bipolar brother, it is hard to read and not draw all the parallels. It is easier to understand that the behavior is a product of the disease, not the person.
Best-selling author writes about the challenges of raising her handsome and talented son, Nicky, who suffered from manic depression. At nineteen, he took his life. Her goal in writing was to 1) preserve her son's memory and 2) help parents who are trying to raise a child with severe emotional issues. As a mother who also lost her son to suicide, I could relate to her pain and grief even though her story is very different than mine.
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| Danielle Steel Bo...: His Bright Light: The Story of Nick Traina | 1 | 2 | Nov 20, 2012 08:45pm |
Since 1981, Ms. Steel has been a permanent fixture on the New York Times hardcover and paperback bestseller lists. In 1989, she was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for having at least one of her books on the Times bestseller list for 381 consecutive weeks. But Guinness was premature. The fact is that one or more of Ms. Steel's novels have been on the New York Times bestseller list for...more
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