Hidden Valley Road Informal Buddy Read with Alissa, Ioana and Lea

[Lea]

Since we are starting this one tomorrow, here's the thread for our discussion!

[Patricia]

I mentioned in another thread that I was reading The Henna Artist for a library book group. Funnily enough, we will be reading this one for March, so I'll be picking it up some time in the next week or two. I think this is going to be a tough read, but interesting.

[Lea]

Patricia wrote: "I mentioned in another thread that I was reading The Henna Artist for a library book group. Funnily enough, we will be reading this one for March, so I'll be picking it up some time in the next week or two. I think this is going to be a tough read, but interesting."

Maybe Alissa and I need to follow your library book groups reading list - sounds like we have similar taste in books. I agree with your thoughts regarding this one being a tough read, but interesting topic.

We will try to put anything not totally obvious under spoilers with the chapter number, so as you read, you can read whatever we thought up to the chapter where you are at, hopefully it won't spoil anything for you.

What are you all reading next month? Haha! :-)

[Patricia]

I had to look it up, after Hidden Valley, we're reading Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted & in May The Midnight Library. Looks like two tough ones in a row, then ending (we don't meet in the summer) with maybe a little more light-hearted?

[Lea]

Patricia wrote: "I had to look it up, after Hidden Valley, we're reading Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted & in May The Midnight Library. Looks like two tough ones in a row, then ending (we don't meet in the summer) with maybe a little more light-hearted?"

You know, I wouldn't call The Midnight Library light-hearted, it has a very heavy premise, but it reads very easily and I agree that as a comparison, it probably is a little more light-hearted than Hidden Valley and Between Two Kingdoms. I haven't read Between Two Kingdoms yet, but let's see how we're feeling after Hidden Valley. I've already started it and I am feeling for this family already.

[Lea]

So, I'm 5% into the book, finished the prologue and in the middle of Chapter one. Not really a spoiler, but just in case someone REALLY doesn't want to know anything...(view spoiler)[I don't know much about schizophrenia, except that there's no known cure. There's so much about this disease that is completely unknown. On a side note, it's surprising to me that the family has a hawk as a pet as well as a dog. (hide spoiler)]

[Alissa]

I'm starting this today!

[Ioana]

I'll start in a day or 2, as soon as I finish my current audio.

[Lea]

Yay! I'm learning a lot from this one!

[Lea]

And now I'm in Chapter 13 (33% of the way into this book) and (view spoiler)[ ugh...I feel so badly for these children. This is tragic. Illness of any type shapes a families dynamic, but this type of illness is particularly concerning...my heart goes out to the youngest set of children...so vulnerable... (hide spoiler)]

[Ioana]

I don't remember exactly what chapter, but I'm on part 5 (of 12) of the audiobook...I agree, what a tragedy, I think I just passed the section you're probably referring to.
I can't imagine having to deal with 6 sick children, but it seems the parents were not even willing to accept there was a problem, and mentally health problems don't resolve with time, this is not a cold. This will get worse...

[Lea]

Ioana wrote: "I don't remember exactly what chapter, but I'm on part 5 (of 12) of the audiobook...I agree, what a tragedy, I think I just passed the section you're probably referring to.
I can't imagine having to deal with 6 sick children, but it seems the parents were not even willing to accept there was a problem, and mentally health problems don't resolve with time, this is not a cold. This will get worse..."

I'm at 84% right now, part 11 of 12 of the audiobook, and what you've said has stuck with me. It's frustrating about the lack of acceptance that there was a problem, and also the deflection as to who might have caused the problem. It's also frustrating that there are so few solutions for those diagnosed with this disease, and the part it was suggested that a reason might be that those who are sick can't advocate for themselves and those who caring for them are too tired to fight after caring for their patients all day long is particularly concerning.

[Ioana]

I've been in the same part 11 of 12 since Sunday, but life/work got in my way.
Sadly, I agree with you on all these things: the inability/unwillingness of the parents to see/accept the truth (and I've seen this in families in real life), at the detriment of the healthy children, and the lack of support/solutions/treatment (and I've seen this too, it's an uphill battle with no real resolution).
Schizophrenia has no cure, and as adults, the sick ones are expected to take care and advocate for themselves, even if they are actually not capable to do so. Throw in HIPAA rules, and even if a parent wants to do the work and fight the system, there is no legal way to do so.
This is such a tragedy, for everybody involved.

[Alissa]

I'm a bit behind, 48%/ Chapter 12. I find myself looking forward to the girls' chapters to see how they are faring with everything. I am enjoying this book very much but I feel like I'm reading it so slowly because it makes me so sad on how little to no assistance these children are getting with their mental health issues.

[Ioana]

Heartbreaking on so many levels...

[Kim. E.]

Just checking into the discussions about this book (I read last year). I encountered this professionally and witnessed both sides (advocating and not, trying to pretend no issue, and seeing them in all the wrong places. ). Many, including myself will tell you the actual person with this illness is usually absolutely fascinating, vivid, and engaging in a million ways that just keep the heart open.

[Ioana]

Kim. E. wrote: "Many, including myself will tell you the actual person with this illness is usually absolutely fascinating, vivid, and engaging in a million ways that just keep the heart open.."

I know a young man with schizophrenia. Before this terrible disease, he was one of the funniest and smartest guy I knew, not to mention extremely talented in music. Sadly, he is a totally different person now...

[Lea]

Ioana wrote: "I've been in the same part 11 of 12 since Sunday, but life/work got in my way.
Sadly, I agree with you on all these things: the inability/unwillingness of the parents to see/accept the truth (and I've seen this in families in real life), at the detriment of the healthy children, and the lack of support/solutions/treatment (and I've seen this too, it's an uphill battle with no real resolution).
Schizophrenia has no cure, and as adults, the sick ones are expected to take care and advocate for themselves, even if they are actually not capable to do so. Throw in HIPAA rules, and even if a parent wants to do the work and fight the system, there is no legal way to do so.
This is such a tragedy, for everybody involved."

I agree with everything you said. This book was strangely compelling, I kept having to stop because I was getting upset, and then I'd want to know what was going to happen, so I'd return to read more. It's far from obvious what to do if faced with a similar situation, it feels as though there were not any good options then and there aren't many more now. I hope that scientific research can progress, I think there are so many people out there who are suffering from this. What must it be like to not even feel safe in your own head??

[Lea]

Alissa wrote: "I'm a bit behind, 48%/ Chapter 12. I find myself looking forward to the girls' chapters to see how they are faring with everything. I am enjoying this book very much but I feel like I'm reading it so slowly because it makes me so sad on how little to no assistance these children are getting with their mental health issues."

Take your time, it is a very painful read, and there are certainly moments when I put it aside. I was very impressed with all that Lindsay did to help her family after all that she suffered at their hands, but I fear I'd have been more like Margaret, not capable of so much sacrifice, needing boundaries for my own personal space. It's a heartbreaking story.

[Lea]

Kim. E. wrote: "Just checking into the discussions about this book (I read last year). I encountered this professionally and witnessed both sides (advocating and not, trying to pretend no issue, and seeing them in all the wrong places. ). Many, including myself will tell you the actual person with this illness is usually absolutely fascinating, vivid, and engaging in a million ways that just keep the heart open."

After all of your experience with this professionally, Kim, do you have an opinion on what you think should be done?

I would imagine that there is not one solution for all; in fact, the part where the book considers the potential of Schizophrenia to be a symptom, similar to how a fever is a symptom, of another issue was something I had never considered before.

I hope more research can be done so that we can have better options to provide those who are suffering.

[Alissa]

I ended up giving it 3 stars. I enjoyed that it was part science, part family drama. Some parts of this book were just so incredibly sad. It raises a lot of interesting questions about nature vs nurture and about the disease itself. I felt it was incredibly interesting and well written!

[Lea]

Alissa wrote: "I ended up giving it 3 stars. I enjoyed that it was part science, part family drama. Some parts of this book were just so incredibly sad. It raises a lot of interesting questions about nature vs nurture and about the disease itself. I felt it was incredibly interesting and well written!"

I agree. And there were times when I was reading it and had to set it aside and go be grateful. Life is never easy, but it could certainly be even harder when there are so many people around with so many urgent issues and needs. I felt for every member of the family.

[Ioana]

Such a sad family story, I hope they find a cure soon. And a way to help (medically, emotionally, financially) not only the affected ones, but their families too.

[Patricia]

I finished this book last week and our book club met yesterday. Had a very good discussion. I liked the book overall. Found it very interesting though, of course, incredibly sad and almost unbelievable. A couple of people found the science a bit overwhelming. I did skim some of that, but thought overall it was interesting to read of the history of how mental illnesses have been and are treated. A strange coincidence: one of the ladies in our group, her ex-husband is not only schizophrenic but he was at the hospital talked about so much in the book. (Can't think of the name now). We were impressed that she was able to get through the book & share some of her experiences with us.