Gloria's Road: A Schizophrenic Woman's Perilous Path to Christ

by Gloria Lovejoy

Many people thought she was crazy. If you read this book, you might think the same thing. But this is a story of hope. Hope in the midst of torment and torture. Gloria Lovejoy’s memoir is an unabashed account of a troubled woman’s life coping with family strife, drug abuse, alcoholism, promiscuity, and suicide attempts. Later came the paranoid delusions, voices, demonic apparitions and hallucinations that were the tell-tale signs of a schizophrenic disorder. Gloria painfully tells of her rejection by friends and family. She recounts her years in therapy, and the revolving door of mental institutions. However, Gloria’s Road demonstrates that the mentally ill are not outside of Christ’s mercy and grace. Gloria tells her story of how she came to find peace in Christ, and how her relationship with God helped her to cope with her struggles and live a fulfilling and fruitful life.

98 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2012

Reviews

[Ms Amanda Jane Fraser]

Recovery

The book speaks some of my experiences. Honest biography. Gives me hope. Very reassuring and inspirational. God has a plan

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This poor woman! My heart was so sad for her as she struggled with her mental illness and all of the things that that entails. Hallucinations, voices, suicide attempts, stays in mental institutions, trying different medications to find what works. There are so many things about mental illness that we don't understand and it was nice to read it from a schizophrenic's point of view. Am I an expert on schizophrenia now? Absolutely not, but it gave me a bit more understanding of what she goes through. I struggle with depression and anxiety disorders, which for the most part, can be managed through medication. I cannot even imagine hearing voices and having hallucinations. At least she has a happy ending (to the book, anyway)! I really think that it's important for people to read this book to give them a better understanding of the world of a mentally ill person. There is such a stigma surrounding mental illness which I think would dissipate some if people would just educate themselves a little.

Disclaimer: I received a free print copy of this book from BookCrash in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own and may differ from yours.

[Josiah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Plot: C
Writing: F
Vocabulary: D
Level: Easy
Worldview: unorthodoxly Christian
Rating: PG13 (extramarital sex, recreational drug use, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder,

I really don't want to be harsh, but this book was not ready to be published. The writing is extremely convoluted and sophmoric; lacking a conclusion or even a point; and (possibly unintentionally) name drops like nobody's business! Gloria poses some good questions, such as what constitutes sin when you're sick, but she doesn't provide answers (because she's unable to?). It's encouraging to see Gloria stepping out and sharing her story in hopes it will help other people. I'd maybe recommend this to mental health professionals in order to get an idea of how so people's minds work.

This book received for free via Goodreads Firstreads program!