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A Book of Light: When a Loved One Has a Different Mind
In fiction and in cinema, we see people retreat into the family when they are hurt. There they are surrounded by love and warmth and they can lick their wounds in peace. But what if it is your mother who is wounding you and then soothing you by turns? What if it is your father who seems distant or desolate, living in a dark tower that you cannot enter?... What of the family where someone commits suicide and leaves behind a vacuum, a space that seems to mock every attempt at love and holding on? What of the family which must institutionalize one of its members? How does it manage?’
In 2012, Jerry Pinto published his debut novel, Em and the Big Hoom, which drew upon his experience of living with a mother who was bipolar. It touched thousands of readers, among them many who had similar experiences—of living with someone with a mental illness or infirmity. Some of these readers shared their stories with him and agreed to share them with the world. A Book of Light collects these harrowing yet moving, even empowering, stories—about the terror and majesty of love; the bleakness and unexpected grace of life; the fragility and immense strength of the human mind.
In 2012, Jerry Pinto published his debut novel, Em and the Big Hoom, which drew upon his experience of living with a mother who was bipolar. It touched thousands of readers, among them many who had similar experiences—of living with someone with a mental illness or infirmity. Some of these readers shared their stories with him and agreed to share them with the world. A Book of Light collects these harrowing yet moving, even empowering, stories—about the terror and majesty of love; the bleakness and unexpected grace of life; the fragility and immense strength of the human mind.
216 pages, Hardcover
Published June 7, 2016
23 people are currently reading
736 people want to read
About the author
Jerry Pinto
78 books369 followersJerry Pinto is a Mumbai-based Indian writer of poetry, prose and children's fiction in English, as well as a journalist. His noted works include, Helen: The Life and Times of an H-Bomb (2006) which won the Best Book on Cinema Award at the 54th National Film Awards, Surviving Women (2000) and Asylum and Other Poems (2003). His first novel Em and The Big Hoom was published in 2012.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
July 29, 2018
A Book of Light is a harbinger of pretense. An anthology of thirteen personal accounts, this book opens up a seemingly large void that we so lovingly nurture. Tears and sadness seems like a luxury after reading this book. The mummification of mental health problems makes life appear to be full of flowers and roses, so much that the inevitable thorns move from our field of sight and lies in waiting. Light is trying to deride us all: the question is, are we going to let it?
February 10, 2017
What would I do without Jerry Pinto?
Such stories...so many families that seem dysfunctional...but pull through each day as, well...what other option is there?
This is the opposite of the success stories that people like to bandy about, in a way. These are not 'failure' stories. But stories where life gives you the worst deal and you manage with it, or maybe not, sometimes getting scarred yourself.
There is so much to be said about wanting a normal Facebook life filled with its everyday milestones and Euro trips for others to look at. And then there are lives that have to deal with health issues of their loved ones and never quite manage that normalcy.
There is never closure, even death doesn't give you that. All you are left with is questions.
Such stories...so many families that seem dysfunctional...but pull through each day as, well...what other option is there?
This is the opposite of the success stories that people like to bandy about, in a way. These are not 'failure' stories. But stories where life gives you the worst deal and you manage with it, or maybe not, sometimes getting scarred yourself.
There is so much to be said about wanting a normal Facebook life filled with its everyday milestones and Euro trips for others to look at. And then there are lives that have to deal with health issues of their loved ones and never quite manage that normalcy.
There is never closure, even death doesn't give you that. All you are left with is questions.
January 2, 2021
• r e c o m m e n d a t i o n •
When I read Em and the Big Hoom last year, I was visibly shaken. It was darkly humorous but equally heartbreaking to read about Em's mental illness. A majority of the book was autobiographical and to think that a family can go through such hardships was harrowing to read. This year, Jerry Pinto presented to us an anthology of 13 stories curated by a bunch of talented writers one of them being by Amandeep Sandhu whose Sepia Leaves was an interesting read. Although the book spans over just 170 pages, it is in no way an easy read. Because baring the lives of someone we love for thousands to read is a herculean task to do. Most of the stories aren't about the people affected but brings into focus the people who carry the burden of living with them. A Book of Light is an empowering read and one that squeezes your heart every time you see an unfortunate event approaching. But it is also a book of love and endless sacrifices.
I have never lived with nor known a person with a different mind so I can only live through the experience of what the writers had to say. Parents with bi-polar disorders, an uncle who's an alcoholic, a mother who doesn't bat an eye about her daughter's abuse, a beautiful son with autism, a brother who suddenly commits suicide; a lot of unanswered questions and many lives without closure. Jerry cleverly uses the word 'different' because that's what they are. Different. It becomes abundantly clear that our society plays a rather significant yet harsh role in understanding mental health so much so that they seek other ways to deal with it. Few of the stories are extremely hard-hitting making it seem almost impossible that these actually happened. As a reader, you have a responsibility of lending an empathetic ear, to understand where the writers are coming from and to be non judgemental. This book carries a lot of courage and light so it's apt that Jerry chose the subtitle so carefully.
Rating : 4.4/5.
When I read Em and the Big Hoom last year, I was visibly shaken. It was darkly humorous but equally heartbreaking to read about Em's mental illness. A majority of the book was autobiographical and to think that a family can go through such hardships was harrowing to read. This year, Jerry Pinto presented to us an anthology of 13 stories curated by a bunch of talented writers one of them being by Amandeep Sandhu whose Sepia Leaves was an interesting read. Although the book spans over just 170 pages, it is in no way an easy read. Because baring the lives of someone we love for thousands to read is a herculean task to do. Most of the stories aren't about the people affected but brings into focus the people who carry the burden of living with them. A Book of Light is an empowering read and one that squeezes your heart every time you see an unfortunate event approaching. But it is also a book of love and endless sacrifices.
I have never lived with nor known a person with a different mind so I can only live through the experience of what the writers had to say. Parents with bi-polar disorders, an uncle who's an alcoholic, a mother who doesn't bat an eye about her daughter's abuse, a beautiful son with autism, a brother who suddenly commits suicide; a lot of unanswered questions and many lives without closure. Jerry cleverly uses the word 'different' because that's what they are. Different. It becomes abundantly clear that our society plays a rather significant yet harsh role in understanding mental health so much so that they seek other ways to deal with it. Few of the stories are extremely hard-hitting making it seem almost impossible that these actually happened. As a reader, you have a responsibility of lending an empathetic ear, to understand where the writers are coming from and to be non judgemental. This book carries a lot of courage and light so it's apt that Jerry chose the subtitle so carefully.
Rating : 4.4/5.
October 10, 2019
To read this book is a privilege.
I feel deeply grateful to be a reader. It actually felt like I was hearing these stories as if the narrator and I were sitting together, talking about our lives in a safe cocoon somewhere - each story immensely powerful and honest. It's a book I took time to read slowly. Each story has so much to tell, or leave unsaid.
Reading this book left me acutely aware that no matter what we think we are dealing with, there is so much pain that the human spirit is able to endure. More than pain, more than everything else in this book, love shines through. Love from unexpected quarters, or from the troubled loved one. Thank you to the contributors and to Jerry Pinto for bringing together these stories that will leave you feeling less alone in the world.
Stronger somehow.
What an apt title. 'A book of light' is just what it is.
I feel deeply grateful to be a reader. It actually felt like I was hearing these stories as if the narrator and I were sitting together, talking about our lives in a safe cocoon somewhere - each story immensely powerful and honest. It's a book I took time to read slowly. Each story has so much to tell, or leave unsaid.
Reading this book left me acutely aware that no matter what we think we are dealing with, there is so much pain that the human spirit is able to endure. More than pain, more than everything else in this book, love shines through. Love from unexpected quarters, or from the troubled loved one. Thank you to the contributors and to Jerry Pinto for bringing together these stories that will leave you feeling less alone in the world.
Stronger somehow.
What an apt title. 'A book of light' is just what it is.
April 28, 2022
Such a needed book, this. We all know what impact mental illness has on us. But what about caregiving? What about those who have to ‘manage’ the wounds of that illness? Jerry Pinto wrote the much-acclaimed Eh and the Big Hoom and has been a strong advocate of mental health. Here, Pinto has gathered stories from different caregivers, including one from a dear friend of mine, Amandeep Sandhu, who writes a ‘too-difficult-to-read’ story about his mother.
These are difficult stories to read. Wrenching. But it’s a book of light. That it is.
These are difficult stories to read. Wrenching. But it’s a book of light. That it is.
August 1, 2016
A wonderful collection of personal accounts which serves as a reminder that humans are full of errors and prone to weaknesses but in midst of all the fragility, there is hope. Jerry Pinto's Em and the Big Hoom was about his bipolar mother and in this collection edited by him, people have recounted the gut-wrenching, heart breaking personal tales of loss, despair and agony arising from within their families.
We need to talk about psychological illnesses and treat them like other common illnesses. This is a step in that direction. Hope things improve with it.
We need to talk about psychological illnesses and treat them like other common illnesses. This is a step in that direction. Hope things improve with it.
September 8, 2017
An anthology of 13 real life stories narrated by the dear ones of those 'of a different mind' in some way. An extremely difficult book to read, I needed time between stories to absorb the sadness and process it. Brought back memories of similar individuals and events in my life, and I was stunned at how close to the surface tears were when I had thought I had dealt with these feelings.
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October 11, 2021It's always difficult to rate a book that's about someone's experience - an experience that's so personal to you. So I'm not going to rate it but I am going to say that I am very glad that this short collections of essays exist.
September 10, 2020
I read this just after finishing Em and the Big Hoom. In a way, this was the perfect non-fiction compendium to it. Caregivers feel different emotions at different times. Living with and caring for someone who has a different mind definitely takes its toll. Many of the excerpts shared here are told through childhood remembrances. Children have even greater difficulty in understanding why their lives are not 'normal', why they are not living like 'everyone else'. This is a humbling, honest read which sheds much light on forgotten aspects of mental health issues in India, foremost among them is - how the family copes up and how the society views it.
March 3, 2024
I came across this book at a Literature festival where the Editor himself was one of the spokesperson. Observing his energy and aura made me curious to read one of his books. Coincidental one could say, I caught hold of this book because it felt related personally. It has a collection of short stories on people who have dealt with a family member having a different mind. That is very beautifully put, the subtitle. A very humble tone given to the whole traumatic experiences in it. But in real, the stories are very loud on that note, what all the orators of the stories have gone through silently in those times and how their lives have changed thereafter.
Jerry Pinto has put them together in way that will touch you, cause you to tremble and sigh deeply for the orator's helplessness. It is not a bad read but I wouldn't call it a good read either, knowing the book is about experiences of mental trauma. I would rather very proudly call it a strong read, one of the book that requires courage while you read it.
Jerry Pinto has put them together in way that will touch you, cause you to tremble and sigh deeply for the orator's helplessness. It is not a bad read but I wouldn't call it a good read either, knowing the book is about experiences of mental trauma. I would rather very proudly call it a strong read, one of the book that requires courage while you read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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May 5, 2025I cannot possibly rate a book that gives real-life experiences of people who have had friends or family with mental disorders. But, all I can do is be glad that this book exists. For one, it has made me feel so much less lonelier seeing bits and pieces of my life within these stories although it is heartbreaking to see how many people struggle with mental illnesses, and how their loved ones are torn between loving them, witnessing their lowest lows, and not “hating” (for lack of a better word) them. The guilt and the heart ache never goes away, but I am glad we are part of a society where experiences like these are not buried under shame.
Thank you for compiling this book, dear Jerry.
Thank you for compiling this book, dear Jerry.
May 28, 2020
In a word, second readings are homely.
They are probably not as much delightful as first ones go, but are far more resourceful than given credit for. The moment you open a book for the first time, take in the odor and flip the pages, a bond has been formed. It doesn’t matter whether you decide to buy it later on or not. You were there first, you chose to pick it up before the others. It’s quite similar to making friends with a puppy - long lasting and forever joyful to return to. Which is more than what you can say about human relationships. But books are neither humans nor pets. They can be described with the same adjectives that fill them.
The moment you open a book for the second time, you waft in something else along with the odor. Memories are what spruce up your unused book while it waits to be opened again. The mark of a shriveled page. A dog ear there, a mark here. Your wet fingers might have touched the pages once and made one of them a shade lighter. Darker, if you had oil on them.
That is what I experienced with 'A Book Of Light', edited ever so deftly by Jerry Pinto. Most of the stories were strong and impacted me, while others left me thinking.
They are probably not as much delightful as first ones go, but are far more resourceful than given credit for. The moment you open a book for the first time, take in the odor and flip the pages, a bond has been formed. It doesn’t matter whether you decide to buy it later on or not. You were there first, you chose to pick it up before the others. It’s quite similar to making friends with a puppy - long lasting and forever joyful to return to. Which is more than what you can say about human relationships. But books are neither humans nor pets. They can be described with the same adjectives that fill them.
The moment you open a book for the second time, you waft in something else along with the odor. Memories are what spruce up your unused book while it waits to be opened again. The mark of a shriveled page. A dog ear there, a mark here. Your wet fingers might have touched the pages once and made one of them a shade lighter. Darker, if you had oil on them.
That is what I experienced with 'A Book Of Light', edited ever so deftly by Jerry Pinto. Most of the stories were strong and impacted me, while others left me thinking.
February 10, 2017
When we think about mental illness, we usually talk about the hardships and difficulties that are faced by the person who suffers from the various symptoms. But, we forget about the repercussions of these illnesses on the near and dear ones. No doubt the troubles of the person suffering from the illness is very much, but it also has a great impact on the lives of those around them; family, friends and caregivers.
The summary of the book explains everything from why you need to read this book and what you can expect from it. This book is a wonderful collection of the personal accounts of people who had someone suffering from mental illness. The book has all the emotions from sadness, grief, agony, loss, hurt, anger, love and care. It should be read by all caregivers of mental health as it tells you that you aren’t alone in your struggle. Other people are also facing similar or far worse situations than you are.
The summary of the book explains everything from why you need to read this book and what you can expect from it. This book is a wonderful collection of the personal accounts of people who had someone suffering from mental illness. The book has all the emotions from sadness, grief, agony, loss, hurt, anger, love and care. It should be read by all caregivers of mental health as it tells you that you aren’t alone in your struggle. Other people are also facing similar or far worse situations than you are.
June 1, 2019
"When a loved one has a different mind" - says the description below the essay, which is a wonderfully sensitive and affectionate way of referring to medically difficult persons in your family. This book is a gem, a revelation, and one in which I have no favourite stories - because one cannot favour narratives when they are deeply moving and personal accounts of challenges lived and buried within the 4 walls of a home. More moving, perhaps, is the prologue which comes from Jerry's own life, and the perspective and empathy he developed over the course of living with a bipolar mother.
On a personal note, the book gives me courage to get over guilts of my own past, when I had to give up on the closest of my friend because of the same condition - bipolar disorder - and my inability to cope with it. This one is, literally, the Book of Light.
On a personal note, the book gives me courage to get over guilts of my own past, when I had to give up on the closest of my friend because of the same condition - bipolar disorder - and my inability to cope with it. This one is, literally, the Book of Light.
March 19, 2018
It is a unique memoir of its kind.. mental illness is not a topic constantly discussed openly or even acknowledged openly, despite the modern scenario, where we are yet to learn to be accepting about it as it has been in the West.... after all the habits and practises that we pursue now.
It revolves around depression,bipolar disorder and even unexplained suicide... each story a true incident narrated by a relative or spouse...
The compilations are short and thought provoking... that it did make me think twice about every person’s attitude to a relative with mental illness...
It revolves around depression,bipolar disorder and even unexplained suicide... each story a true incident narrated by a relative or spouse...
The compilations are short and thought provoking... that it did make me think twice about every person’s attitude to a relative with mental illness...
June 27, 2018
Just finished this beautiful, insightful, heartbreaking and riveting set of 13 stories. I can’t help but wonder how much courage it took even to put these accounts down on paper. Thank you for sharing your stories and giving us perspective, and hope.
August 23, 2020
The title says it all : A book of light .
This one is a tough book to read, would be tougher for people who have been close to or taken care of a loved one with mental health issues. ( Or in my opinion, even a long term illness or a physical handicap).
Take this as sort of a trigger warning too.
A collection of 13 true stories, offering you a glimpse into the family dynamics, emotions, struggles, stories, conflicts, achievements of people coping with a loved one's illness.
If you can resonate, you will have a hard time getting over the "Maybe I know what it feels like".
If you can't resonate, you would still be left with a turmoil of emotions, and a thankfulness for having never experienced this.
Each story has a different flavour and tone as they are written by different people. Bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia..You meet them all.
The emotions are just so raw and bare that you can't escape getting affected by them.
Don't pick this one if you aren't ready for it.
This one is a tough book to read, would be tougher for people who have been close to or taken care of a loved one with mental health issues. ( Or in my opinion, even a long term illness or a physical handicap).
Take this as sort of a trigger warning too.
A collection of 13 true stories, offering you a glimpse into the family dynamics, emotions, struggles, stories, conflicts, achievements of people coping with a loved one's illness.
If you can resonate, you will have a hard time getting over the "Maybe I know what it feels like".
If you can't resonate, you would still be left with a turmoil of emotions, and a thankfulness for having never experienced this.
Each story has a different flavour and tone as they are written by different people. Bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia..You meet them all.
The emotions are just so raw and bare that you can't escape getting affected by them.
Don't pick this one if you aren't ready for it.
January 10, 2021
All of us have some idea about the sufferings of people with mental illness. We do empathise and sympathize with them or may feel repulsive towards them, depending on our own mental health. But more often than not, the condition of their immediate relatives are overlooked. Most of us are not in a position to feel the situations they have to face. This book is a collection of 13 real life stories seen through the heart of people who suffered and/or coped with the situations when a close/immediate family member was suffering with mental illnes.
Many unanswered questions keep on haunting the family members. They might feel that they could have done this or that to avoid the loved ones migration towards mental illness which many times lead to death by suicide even. They might go through a feeling of guilt for whole life even.
The very first story is by Sukant Deepak, son of famed Hindi writer Swadesh Deepak. Swadesh Deepak suffered from bipolar disorder, did a couple of suicide attempts, lived away from the world for many years, did a come back, wrote his famous book on his own mental illness and then one fine morning, in the year 2006, went for a walk and never returned. On his disappearance, there was a collective sigh of relief in his family. The son, the daughter, the wife hoped to never see his face again.
There is another story about an abusive woman who made the life of her husband and her daughter hell. Here the woman was schizophrenic. The daughter, the one who is telling the story to us, ends the chapter with following lines -- "Two years after her death, I lie in bed sometimes and sniff the air for her smell, the smell I remember, the smell of home. And I wonder: have I forgiven?"
Then there are stories about a single working guy who had to nurse his schizophrenic mother who later developed cancer also, an abandoned new born baby girl who found caring family but the childhood trauma was permanently itched in her psyche, a girl from a matriarchal society suffering from depression which lead to suicide, a career wise failure guy in a family of high repute turning to alcoholic and being abandoned to death, a couple with autistic child, a bold and independent girl falling in love with a foreigner and just a couple of days before tying the knot his schizophrenia comes to light, an alcoholic doctor who was good for his patients but just a breathing sack for his family, a jovial doctor who gradually slipped into bipolar disorder, a successful mathematician lady who lost her sanity and one day she would have literally slit the throat of her daughter in her sleep but somehow bette sense prevailed at the nick of time. This girl wanted her father to get rid of this mad mother but her father always replied, "You didn't know her when she was Normal."
After reading these stories one can feel that how much courage would have required to write about that particular part of their life.
A must read book.
Many unanswered questions keep on haunting the family members. They might feel that they could have done this or that to avoid the loved ones migration towards mental illness which many times lead to death by suicide even. They might go through a feeling of guilt for whole life even.
The very first story is by Sukant Deepak, son of famed Hindi writer Swadesh Deepak. Swadesh Deepak suffered from bipolar disorder, did a couple of suicide attempts, lived away from the world for many years, did a come back, wrote his famous book on his own mental illness and then one fine morning, in the year 2006, went for a walk and never returned. On his disappearance, there was a collective sigh of relief in his family. The son, the daughter, the wife hoped to never see his face again.
There is another story about an abusive woman who made the life of her husband and her daughter hell. Here the woman was schizophrenic. The daughter, the one who is telling the story to us, ends the chapter with following lines -- "Two years after her death, I lie in bed sometimes and sniff the air for her smell, the smell I remember, the smell of home. And I wonder: have I forgiven?"
Then there are stories about a single working guy who had to nurse his schizophrenic mother who later developed cancer also, an abandoned new born baby girl who found caring family but the childhood trauma was permanently itched in her psyche, a girl from a matriarchal society suffering from depression which lead to suicide, a career wise failure guy in a family of high repute turning to alcoholic and being abandoned to death, a couple with autistic child, a bold and independent girl falling in love with a foreigner and just a couple of days before tying the knot his schizophrenia comes to light, an alcoholic doctor who was good for his patients but just a breathing sack for his family, a jovial doctor who gradually slipped into bipolar disorder, a successful mathematician lady who lost her sanity and one day she would have literally slit the throat of her daughter in her sleep but somehow bette sense prevailed at the nick of time. This girl wanted her father to get rid of this mad mother but her father always replied, "You didn't know her when she was Normal."
After reading these stories one can feel that how much courage would have required to write about that particular part of their life.
A must read book.
October 15, 2019
The book talks about issues which are neither acknowledged nor discussed in Indian society. It shares stories of family members living with their loved ones who suffered from different disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar, autism etc., the how they coped with the challenges it brought and what it's like to be at the receiving end of it. You feel bad for some, and happy for some.
The stories are not sugarcoated. You get the hard truth about how it affects people's lives when they witness something they don't understand, don't want to understand or completely ignore the situation altogether.
Mental illness is still a taboo in our society and it makes me sad that the stigma prevents people from getting the help they need. The book made me question. Would their life be different had there been more information about the illnesses?
Everyone needs to read this book. It's time we talk about mental health and its problems.
The stories are not sugarcoated. You get the hard truth about how it affects people's lives when they witness something they don't understand, don't want to understand or completely ignore the situation altogether.
Mental illness is still a taboo in our society and it makes me sad that the stigma prevents people from getting the help they need. The book made me question. Would their life be different had there been more information about the illnesses?
Everyone needs to read this book. It's time we talk about mental health and its problems.
July 19, 2020
There are so many conversations around mental health that I think we can have and “A Book of Light” is definitely one of them.
A series of real life experiences by people who are and have been close to those grappling with mental illness, this book is an eye-opener.
I read “Side Effects of Living” right before this, which was also very enlightening, albeit in a different way. Both contain viewpoints and stories that need to be heard and read and understood.
The truth is, as shown in this book, the experience of taking care of a loved one with a different mind is not one thing but many - and the diversity of experiences in this book, are the takeaway. We like to put things into boxes, categorise them and define them. This book breaks that box, at least for me.
The candidness with which the writers spoke about experiences that are painful, is beautiful, and heartbreaking at times. It is definitely a book worth reading for understanding different approaches to mental healthcare, as well as some things that transcend the boundaries of mental illness.
'My Mother’s Breast', is something that my parents, after caring for an elderly parent with dementia, could completely relate to. It reminded me a lot of our experiences during my grandmother’s last days. 'Some Questions for a Brother' contains questions we all might ask ourselves in a similar situation.
But my favourite story in the book by far, is 'Daniella'. It broke my heart, but was powerful and moving. While all of these stories will stay with me for a long time, this one lingers in my mind a little more - for reasons I cannot explain.
We need to educate ourselves about things in this domain, and I hope that more books like this come out - to help us with empathy and with understanding this complex topic much better.
A series of real life experiences by people who are and have been close to those grappling with mental illness, this book is an eye-opener.
I read “Side Effects of Living” right before this, which was also very enlightening, albeit in a different way. Both contain viewpoints and stories that need to be heard and read and understood.
The truth is, as shown in this book, the experience of taking care of a loved one with a different mind is not one thing but many - and the diversity of experiences in this book, are the takeaway. We like to put things into boxes, categorise them and define them. This book breaks that box, at least for me.
The candidness with which the writers spoke about experiences that are painful, is beautiful, and heartbreaking at times. It is definitely a book worth reading for understanding different approaches to mental healthcare, as well as some things that transcend the boundaries of mental illness.
'My Mother’s Breast', is something that my parents, after caring for an elderly parent with dementia, could completely relate to. It reminded me a lot of our experiences during my grandmother’s last days. 'Some Questions for a Brother' contains questions we all might ask ourselves in a similar situation.
But my favourite story in the book by far, is 'Daniella'. It broke my heart, but was powerful and moving. While all of these stories will stay with me for a long time, this one lingers in my mind a little more - for reasons I cannot explain.
We need to educate ourselves about things in this domain, and I hope that more books like this come out - to help us with empathy and with understanding this complex topic much better.
October 25, 2016
The book dares to talk on the issue which is still not acknowledged and discussed in Indian society. This is a well compiled collection of realities faced by ordinary people under extra-ordinary circumstances having a family member suffer from disorders like bipolar, schizophrenia etc.
As the editor put it, its not about catharsis or sharing guilt, this book is just about showing how ordinary people cope up when challenged by circumstances. Some might be good at handling situations, some bad.
It is not intended that you judge a person, just try and understand what he or she has been going through.
And this can happen to anyone.
As the editor put it, its not about catharsis or sharing guilt, this book is just about showing how ordinary people cope up when challenged by circumstances. Some might be good at handling situations, some bad.
It is not intended that you judge a person, just try and understand what he or she has been going through.
And this can happen to anyone.
January 24, 2019
Mental health issues are swept under the carpet in India. A taboo subject, families rarely speak of them. There is isolation in society. This book tells us about the real life experiences of family members of people suffering from psychological disorders. They go through trauma that most of us don't fully understand. All authors of this book tell us about their personal experiences and the stories are poignant and touching. Most of all, they help us understand these families. Many more stories and movies must be made so that we become a more sensitive society. This rare book is a must read...
June 21, 2017
13 people share their experiences of living with family members who suffer from disorders of the mind. Each story takes you into the lived experiences of these people. It makes you understand their point of view, their feelings of sadness,anger, helplessness and guilt. And most importantly it makes you aware of the different mental conditions existing and some early signs which we often dismiss as nothing. A bow down to those who chose to share their stories and provide strength to others.
January 6, 2017
I bought this book in the mad hurry of an Amazon sale and I didn't read it for quite some time, part in fear of hearing a (genetic) deterministic tone, and the rest in fear of identifying with anything in the book. But what a wonderful book it was with all its different voices!
February 13, 2020
The title gives away all the information. The writings from various points of brings out the effective need for the understanding of the people who went through a lot. It needs courage to pen them. Wonderfully written and crafted. It drains one emotionally but worthy of it.
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July 2, 2017It's called the Book of Light as it sheds light on the plight of families where a member has a different mind. Some of the stories do manage to do so! My favourite was Danielle.
July 29, 2018
Jerry’s mother was bipolar. It began when he (her second child) was born. When it got worst, she tried killing herself several times, by jumping in front of a bus or cutting her wrist or running off with Jerry, a toddler, on her tow. Jerry created a novel (read the review here) from his experiences of living with a mother who was mentally ill.
Jerry’s book unleashed many such stories from people who have read and loved EM. At one of his book readings, a woman asked him to collect all these stories and create a book called ‘A book of light’. To create awareness about mental illness in our society. This book is a testament to the fact that, it often takes one person’s action to move and mobilize many towards the same goal.
The introduction piece of this book is written by Jerry himself. He has written it delicately, choosing each word carefully lest he hurts his readers. He has pointed out some hard-hitting truth a family faces while taking care of a loved one. The entire piece is honest and hits just right. It is powerful enough to keep you wondering for days.
The book contains 13 stories. All revolving around the same theme of ‘when a loved one has a different mind’. Some are written fondly, some in grief, others in guilt, betrayal, remorse, and even regret. One could feel the helplessness, confusion, sadness, and denial a family goes through at such times. Each story is special in its own way because each gives glimpses of something very personal and intimate.
If I had to pick my favorites of these stories, I would probably pick these five. ‘Papa, Elsewhere‘, ‘Daniella‘, ‘The Man under the staircase‘, ‘Anna‘, and ‘Some questions for a brother‘. First one was about a bipolar father, who then went missing, the family took a sigh of relief. The second was about a mother’s denial about her daughter’s depression. The third was about depression, and how it rears its ugly head. The last one was about regret and guilt for not reaching out when there was still time.
Only thumbs down with this book is that writing is not consistent throughout, which is quite obvious, as all writers are different. Few stories are well written, while some are weak in their narration and flow. If writing style is something you can ignore, then it’s definitely a good read. Because what matters here is the emotions with which each story was written.
Jerry’s book unleashed many such stories from people who have read and loved EM. At one of his book readings, a woman asked him to collect all these stories and create a book called ‘A book of light’. To create awareness about mental illness in our society. This book is a testament to the fact that, it often takes one person’s action to move and mobilize many towards the same goal.
The introduction piece of this book is written by Jerry himself. He has written it delicately, choosing each word carefully lest he hurts his readers. He has pointed out some hard-hitting truth a family faces while taking care of a loved one. The entire piece is honest and hits just right. It is powerful enough to keep you wondering for days.
The book contains 13 stories. All revolving around the same theme of ‘when a loved one has a different mind’. Some are written fondly, some in grief, others in guilt, betrayal, remorse, and even regret. One could feel the helplessness, confusion, sadness, and denial a family goes through at such times. Each story is special in its own way because each gives glimpses of something very personal and intimate.
If I had to pick my favorites of these stories, I would probably pick these five. ‘Papa, Elsewhere‘, ‘Daniella‘, ‘The Man under the staircase‘, ‘Anna‘, and ‘Some questions for a brother‘. First one was about a bipolar father, who then went missing, the family took a sigh of relief. The second was about a mother’s denial about her daughter’s depression. The third was about depression, and how it rears its ugly head. The last one was about regret and guilt for not reaching out when there was still time.
Only thumbs down with this book is that writing is not consistent throughout, which is quite obvious, as all writers are different. Few stories are well written, while some are weak in their narration and flow. If writing style is something you can ignore, then it’s definitely a good read. Because what matters here is the emotions with which each story was written.
October 27, 2018
I happened upon this book by chance at my last trip to the local used book store and it seemed interesting so I picked it up. I was not prepared for how these stories would affect me. I couldn’t really put the book down once I picked it up.
Initially, the idea of the book made me a little wary, fearing that the mentally ill family members might all be demonized. That didn’t exactly happen here, but gave several voices the opportunity to show the personal difficulty of addressing mental health in modern India. It’s even more stigmatized there than in the US. I felt terribly for most of the families in this collection. Most of the tales are heartbreakingly sad and end in the mentally ill family member’s untimely death or disappearance. I think the only light hearted story was the one with the parents of the boy with Autism.
Every story is told by a family member of someone who had lived with a severe mental illness. Most of the mentally ill people had a form of bipolar disorder but there were at least two schizophrenics, a cancer patient, and a boy with autism. These stories all took place between the 1970s and 2016 in India. For some of the families in the story, treatment wasn’t possible or extremely difficult to come by. It’s very sad that the authors had to live with parents, siblings, children, and other relatives who suffered but couldn’t receive treatment due to severe social stigma and lack of access to medicines/treatments.
Some of the stories were more similar to what people would be familiar with in the US. Most of the writers in this collection came from middle class and educated backgrounds so their experiences were similar to what might be experienced by a middle class family with mentally ill members in America. They had accounts of pill regimes, ECT treatments, and facing the various symptoms of an illness together.
I gave this collection 4 stars! This book will tear your heart out but if you are an empathetic person or have been affected by mental illness at all in your life, whether its a family member, dear friend, or yourself, this story collection will speak volumes. Mental health is a global issue and affects people from all nations, races, classes, genders, religions, and sexual orientations. While this gave me some hope, it just clarifies to me that the governments around the globe have to do a better job of providing good mental healthcare their people all around the world.
Initially, the idea of the book made me a little wary, fearing that the mentally ill family members might all be demonized. That didn’t exactly happen here, but gave several voices the opportunity to show the personal difficulty of addressing mental health in modern India. It’s even more stigmatized there than in the US. I felt terribly for most of the families in this collection. Most of the tales are heartbreakingly sad and end in the mentally ill family member’s untimely death or disappearance. I think the only light hearted story was the one with the parents of the boy with Autism.
Every story is told by a family member of someone who had lived with a severe mental illness. Most of the mentally ill people had a form of bipolar disorder but there were at least two schizophrenics, a cancer patient, and a boy with autism. These stories all took place between the 1970s and 2016 in India. For some of the families in the story, treatment wasn’t possible or extremely difficult to come by. It’s very sad that the authors had to live with parents, siblings, children, and other relatives who suffered but couldn’t receive treatment due to severe social stigma and lack of access to medicines/treatments.
Some of the stories were more similar to what people would be familiar with in the US. Most of the writers in this collection came from middle class and educated backgrounds so their experiences were similar to what might be experienced by a middle class family with mentally ill members in America. They had accounts of pill regimes, ECT treatments, and facing the various symptoms of an illness together.
I gave this collection 4 stars! This book will tear your heart out but if you are an empathetic person or have been affected by mental illness at all in your life, whether its a family member, dear friend, or yourself, this story collection will speak volumes. Mental health is a global issue and affects people from all nations, races, classes, genders, religions, and sexual orientations. While this gave me some hope, it just clarifies to me that the governments around the globe have to do a better job of providing good mental healthcare their people all around the world.
September 11, 2020
Well, after a long non-literary slumber, I ordered myself @mahimkajerry's 'A Book of Light' on a friend's recommendation, and set about apprising myself on.. wait. What, exactly? What's the book about? What do I take away from this anthology? What do I find myself enriched by?
.
Starting from the polite disclaimers in the Introduction that somehow makes you pause straight-up, followed by 170 pages of instances of grief, instances of guilt, of confusion, of pain, of questions that largely went unanswered, this book gives you exactly what the title promises. Some light, in periods of darkness. So, why should you pick up this book, you ask? We live in difficult times. We're surrounded by loved ones, or maybe we ourselves?, who find that they are unable to carry on any longer, be it a storm in their minds that needs calming or a struggle to break out of toxic patterns, addictions. This book won't serve as a weapon, no sir. But, it sits down with you and gives you the patience you deserve, as you struggle to understand the code to life, the formula for the 'normal'.
.
Jerry's easing you into awareness, once again, and has managed to deliver, note to admirers of 'Em'. I can't pick favourites, the way I do with most anthologies, for to each their own story of anguish and enlightenment. I can, however, show you some of the parts that made me ponder. Swipe right. Take a look. Oh, and get this book. Let some light in.
.
Starting from the polite disclaimers in the Introduction that somehow makes you pause straight-up, followed by 170 pages of instances of grief, instances of guilt, of confusion, of pain, of questions that largely went unanswered, this book gives you exactly what the title promises. Some light, in periods of darkness. So, why should you pick up this book, you ask? We live in difficult times. We're surrounded by loved ones, or maybe we ourselves?, who find that they are unable to carry on any longer, be it a storm in their minds that needs calming or a struggle to break out of toxic patterns, addictions. This book won't serve as a weapon, no sir. But, it sits down with you and gives you the patience you deserve, as you struggle to understand the code to life, the formula for the 'normal'.
.
Jerry's easing you into awareness, once again, and has managed to deliver, note to admirers of 'Em'. I can't pick favourites, the way I do with most anthologies, for to each their own story of anguish and enlightenment. I can, however, show you some of the parts that made me ponder. Swipe right. Take a look. Oh, and get this book. Let some light in.
October 9, 2021
Jerry Pinto - a book of light..
Rating - 5/5
Please note this book is about writings or experiences of people, who have had relatives, friends, who have experienced depression or are bipolar or have schizophrenia
The first thought which comes to my mind when I write this review is, is there a second part for the book. This book was simply amazing. my experience with Em and Big hoom by Jerry Pinto was an utter disappointment. But this book was a pleasant surprise. My disappointment was owing to the fact that, Em and Big hoom was fiction, this book, this series of writings was factual, brute, raw and to the point.
I cannot really thank enough the people who have contributed to the book and the effort Jerry Pinto has put into this. In the era where humans are competing against one another in various fields, attaining success (in societial terms), here are stories of people who are altogther different.
We take so much for granted, these stories leave you humble, if not anything else. We often tend to procrastinate, crib over small things which we may have missed by whisker. We tend to overlook our normal lives over the want of something more jazzy. This book teaches you a lot to be grateful.
One of the best reads of 2021.
I read the book in under 7 hours. Its a fairly quick read. But be aware, you need to read through different situations of people most of which may evoke different emotions or thoughts.
Rating - 5/5
Please note this book is about writings or experiences of people, who have had relatives, friends, who have experienced depression or are bipolar or have schizophrenia
The first thought which comes to my mind when I write this review is, is there a second part for the book. This book was simply amazing. my experience with Em and Big hoom by Jerry Pinto was an utter disappointment. But this book was a pleasant surprise. My disappointment was owing to the fact that, Em and Big hoom was fiction, this book, this series of writings was factual, brute, raw and to the point.
I cannot really thank enough the people who have contributed to the book and the effort Jerry Pinto has put into this. In the era where humans are competing against one another in various fields, attaining success (in societial terms), here are stories of people who are altogther different.
We take so much for granted, these stories leave you humble, if not anything else. We often tend to procrastinate, crib over small things which we may have missed by whisker. We tend to overlook our normal lives over the want of something more jazzy. This book teaches you a lot to be grateful.
One of the best reads of 2021.
I read the book in under 7 hours. Its a fairly quick read. But be aware, you need to read through different situations of people most of which may evoke different emotions or thoughts.
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