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1st out of 55 books
—
61 voters
Nowhere Near Normal: A Memoir of OCD
by
Traci Foust
In the bestselling tradition of Augusten Burroughs, a compassionate, witty, and completely candid memoir that chronicles growing up with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
When all the neighborhood kids were playing outdoors, seven-year-old Traci Foust was inside making sure the miniature Catholic saint statues on her windowsill always pointed north, scratching out bald patche
...moreHardcover, 384 pages
Published
April 5th 2011
by Gallery Books
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An extreme case of the condition, but cathartic to read.
“Parents,” an old roommate of mine said after an exasperating phone conversation with his mother. “Don’t ever have them.” The joke still resonates because it captures the absurdity of family drama: The only way to escape it is to avoid being born. One of the comforts of literature, however, is to remind us that no matter how great our suffering might be, there are those who have it much, much worse.
That’s the impression one gets reading Nowhere Near Normal, Traci Foust’s memoir about growing up...more
That’s the impression one gets reading Nowhere Near Normal, Traci Foust’s memoir about growing up...more
This is a dark and unique memoir of living with OCD. Traci Foust is very open about her lifetime of living with this difficult disorder.
While having its humorous moments, the reality of the disorder is not at all funny. Traci takes us back to the beginnings of her OCD, her childhood. While her manner of retelling her memories may be funny to us, the actual memories, which was her reality is quite sad.
The childhood that Traci recalls may seem normal; in many ways we can relate to certain recollec...more
While having its humorous moments, the reality of the disorder is not at all funny. Traci takes us back to the beginnings of her OCD, her childhood. While her manner of retelling her memories may be funny to us, the actual memories, which was her reality is quite sad.
The childhood that Traci recalls may seem normal; in many ways we can relate to certain recollec...more
Oct 27, 2011
Newmantherapies StephanNewman
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone who appreciates solid yet complicated writing
This book grabbed me from the first chapter, not just from the content of the way the author struggles to maintain some sort of balance in a mind that is anything but, I was smitten with all the characters. The hypochondriac mother who goes overboard with her own calling in God; the absentee father who, much like the main character, uses humor and outward appearances to disguise dysfunction; the weird apron-stringed sister who has no sense of what her place is in a family that seems to revolve a...more
This is one of those Your Mileage May Vary books, so all I can do is give my impression that the book is rather flawed, with some redeeming value. Goodreads has no 2.5 star option, and two stars feels a bit unkind, so three here isn't as much of an endorsement as it'd be for others I've thus rated. Anyway ...
The first part of the book deals with Traci's dysfunctional childhood, with much of that generated by Traci's behavior. Her folks split up when she's in grade school, although she's well int...more
The first part of the book deals with Traci's dysfunctional childhood, with much of that generated by Traci's behavior. Her folks split up when she's in grade school, although she's well int...more
Nowhere Near Normal is an interesting look at OCD from the perspective of someone who's issues began at age 8. Traci quickly realized that she wasn't "normal", but could not help unplugging appliances, checking and triple checking all the door and window locks, and becoming extremely upset with odd numbers which made math homework especially difficult. Her family was pretty crazy and often had no idea how to deal with Traci and all her problems. She was diagnosed with OCD in her early teens, but...more
This is what memoir should be. Nothing in this book seems plastic or tied in a pretty box. Traci Foust turns out all her skeletons, making us love her sometimes, hate her sometimes, but most of the time we just want to read more. I love the kind of writing that takes risks with run-on sentences and imagery liken to a "Naked Lunch" dream. There is not self gratification in this book. This is not an all about ME-MOIR. This is a tale of a family falling apart while trying to fall towards the same t...more
I recently read Jeannette Walls's The Glass Castle and by comparison, Nowhere Near Normal shows poorly. Where Walls demonstrated pluck in the face of adverse circumstances, Foust is determinedly flippant. It recounts the outer appearance of a childhood with OCD in the decade before SSRIs arrived on the scene, but, until the very late chapters lacks any true introspection. She shows little compassion for the child she was or her troubled family, rendering them all as one-dimensional "freaks" of o...more
I had the opportunity to see this author read from her memoir and she is just as funny and open in real life as she is on the page. There were parts of this book that made me laugh so hard I would have to email to friends who I know would love it. Traci's way of describing her illness goes beyond what the book calls dark humour, she has a keen observation about what other people feel and think when it comes to the way we view "not normal" . I couldn't put it down and hope to see more from this t...more
A compelling look at Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Nowhere Near Normal doesn‘t shy away from the painful reality of this disease. Author Traci Foust begins her memoir at age 7 when she is already staying up at night to lick door locks and unplug all appliances in order to protect her family from certain death. In her early teens she’s finally diagnosed with OCD and begins talk therapy. Unfortunately, this is only a partial solution which she augments with massive doses of Nyquil and Benedryl to...more
What an amazing window into the often tormented mind of someone suffering from OCD. At times difficult to read because of the author's exhausting detail of what was going through her mind - yet this is also what gives the reader a real sense of her nearly constant struggle to try to "be normal". That she is now "near normal" is a tribute to her determination and resiliency. The book offers insight for those of us who struggle to understand mental illness and hope for those of us who struggle to...more
When I saw this one on Simon and Schuster's Galley Grab last month I knew I'd have to read it. It's a memoir written by a woman who grew up with severe OCD. I was particularly interested in the religious facets of her OCD because I had some similar obsessions as a child. For example, if I knew someone was travelling and I thought of that person, I had to stop and pray for them for a sufficient amount of time in order to keep them from dying. If I didn't pray, and they died in a travel accident,...more
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Jan 16, 2012
Hedra Phelps
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone who loves dark humor memoir
A beautifully written story. Foust has a gift sprung from that magical place of a bad upbringing and a touch of madness. Following the narrative flow was a bit difficult at first until you realize this is what the reader must do to be in the head of a person with OCD. Not many writers can pull something like that off and still come away with a magically crafted, at times poetic and heartbreaking, style. Reminded me a bit of She's Not There mixed with The Bell Jar
Stayed up all night reading this. I felt as if I'd been through everything the author went through. She had me laughing and cringing right along with her. This is one of the most honest books I've read about mental disorders. No glossing over of the difficulties, no easy solutions, just telling it like it is.
With the subtitle, "A Memoir of OCD," this book accomplishes what it sets out to do: it accurately captures the frantic and agonized voice of a woman suffering from OCD. Unfortunately, this very voice and the repetitive and relentless nature of OCD are what makes the book become almost unbearable to read. I persevered to the end, but by that time I had lost all patience with Foust, for whom I had felt true empathy and almost affection toward at the beginning. I am not sure if this is the sign of...more
I really enjoyed this memoir. The authors experiences with OCD are shared in an honest manner, sometimes painfully so. My favorite moments are those of discovery.. especially when she learns of her diagnosis. One of the best memoirs on this subject that I've read.
Traci is touching and funny and makes me appreciate the little things that make my daughter tick that much more. I loved reading her stories and getting a better feel for her life and kinda, sorta understand a little bit better what drives my own kid (who has OCD tendencies). It took a lot of courage to bare this story, and I'm glad Traci found that kind of courage.
Really enjoyed this book - in portraying her experiences in growing up and coping with her mental illness (OCD), the author was also very frank in describing what her family had to endure in coping with her.
One of the few memoirs I've read about The Crazy that's incredibly well-written, leaves me wanting to read the next chapter of her story. Also, her description of panic attacks is the most real & comforting I've found.
Just into the third part. I love this book and the kind of snarky style. Most of it is absolutely gorgeous, sometimes very sad but all the time intriguing
Disturbing.
If you know someone with ocd you should read this.
Felt like she was trying to get the point across of how sick she was.
If you know someone with ocd you should read this.
Felt like she was trying to get the point across of how sick she was.
A interesting glimpse of days gone by for a young girl suffering from OCD. Definately worth reading!
Loved the beautiful writing. This is a great read, sometimes dark but so very funny. Loved it!
One of the most interesting books I have read in a long time. Prior to this of course I had heard about OCD, but never really thought about what it would be like to have it and have to deal with it every day. This book was very well written, funny, sad, thoughtful, just amazing. Some of the things that the author went through growing up I cannot even imagine doing. Really good glimpse into what it would be like to have to constantly do different things for fear of other people being hurt.
OCD frames my world as a mother and yet I constantly crave more--more truths, more understanding, more shared stories. I loved this memoir and have recommended it to many people inside and outside the OCD community. I think anyone who enjoys reading memoirs would be drawn to the voice, the writing, the quirky humor. Yes, it's dark, but NOWHERE NEAR NORMAL is also an honest story of survival. I want MORE from Ms Foust!
This is a very smartly written memoir about a dysfunctional family and a girl trying to cope with her crippling anxiety and OCD. Traci Foust's story is compelling, beautifully written and honorably believable. I loved it!
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I was really interested in this book but it was so chaotic and boring I couldn't get past the first chapter. I wanted details on the author's OCD tendencies but the first chapter was a rambling story about the end of her parents' marriage and sprinkled with a few of her foibles.
As an un-diagnosed but readily admitted OCD-lite, I wanted to connect with this book and I was disappointed that I didn't.
As an un-diagnosed but readily admitted OCD-lite, I wanted to connect with this book and I was disappointed that I didn't.
Poignant story about the author's life mostly of her undiagnosed OCD while growing up. Using dark humor, the author vividly conveys to the reader what it is like to deal with OCD.
I could relate to just about everything Traci went through in her book as a fellow person with OCD. At points the book was very depressing on how terrible her life was. One of my all-time favorites.
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