More or Less Maddy (add-on) : Discussion Thread

[Trisha]

A breathless, riveting novel about a young woman diagnosed with bipolar disorder who rejects the stability and approval found in a traditionally “normal” life for a career in stand-up comedy.

Maddy Banks is just like any other stressed-out freshman at NYU. Between schoolwork, exams, navigating life in the city, and a recent breakup, it’s normal to be feeling overwhelmed. It doesn’t help that she’s always felt like the odd one out in her picture-perfect Connecticut family. But Maddy’s latest low is devastatingly low, and she goes on an antidepressant. She begins to feel good, dazzling in fact, and she soon spirals high into a wild and terrifying mania that culminates in a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

As she struggles to find her way in this new reality, navigating the complex effects bipolar has on her identity, her relationships, and her life dreams, Maddy will have to figure out how to manage being both too much and not enough.

With her signature “deep empathy and insight” (Booklist), Harvard-trained neuroscientist and New York Times bestselling author Lisa Genova has crafted another profoundly moving novel that makes complicated mental health issues accessible and human. More or Less Maddy is destined to become another classic like Still Alice.

[Vicki]

Through Ch. 10 / 25%

(view spoiler)[Boy, poor Maddy is really spiraling. It was so sad reading about her thoughts on cutting and how it made her feel.

I'm worried for her that she got on meds which were helping, but like so many mentally ill people (I've heard/read about) got off them because she feels so high on life and like she's well. Getting that letter from the dean really gave her the impetus to do what she had to and it just showed how smart she really is.

But now she's just met this comedian, Max, and totally made out with him night one. Not such a good move. I think she's going to spiral downward soon if she stays off the meds erroneously believing she's well now. She's literally all over the place in her thoughts and delusional. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Through Ch. 20 / 50%

(view spoiler)[I can't imagine how Maddy must feel. When she got so upset about the car and even slapped her mother. She must've been mortified when she realized what she did. And all of the charges she made...jeez!

Her mom needs to back off. I'm sure it would be difficult knowing your child (at any age) is self-damaging but she's not helping by constantly calling her and checking on her. Maddy needs help from professionals. It's just all really sad. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Through Ch. 30 / 76%

(view spoiler)[OMG! I feel so bad that she went off her meds, spiraled how she did and did the cocaine. Ugh...she was on such a good track. Now she's back to square one or even worse.

I was happy that she got a good response during her stand up comedy show. That seems to be her passion. I hope by the end of the story that she's learned to stay on her meds and she becomes a comedian like she wants to do, but as her therapist said the bars aren't the best place so maybe not. But her mom needs to stop being a helicopter mom! That would drive me nuts if my mom had even been even close to that! (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

through First Spring - 3 chapters

(view spoiler)[ awe man, that sounds tough - struggling so much with school, the lack of sleep and the eating terrible
but the not showering is concerning.
You can already kind of see where this is going (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

through 1st Summer - 6 chapters

(view spoiler)[ ugh, Adam doesn't seem good but I get her mom not fighting her. what a change, the rich stepdad and all the changes that money can provide

I wonder how Adam will change this college year. hopefully she makes it through (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

through 1st Fall - 15 chapters

(view spoiler)[ wow - that must have been so scary for her family to go through, her manic episode. And yikes, $20,000??!?! That is a tough lesson to learn, jeez.

but I worry her mom is terribly understanding. She keeps glomming onto that word "normal" and she needs to let that go. she needs to try to have compassion and patience with her kid and try to help her learn coping mechanisms and build some community and safety guards in place to help her manage this new diagnosis

(hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

through Winter / 22 chapters

(view spoiler)[ well, I don't blame her mom at all. it was all so scary, the car ramming, the 20K spent. . .and she's been here before, having the dad act that way - locking the kids in cars to protect them. I'm sure it really is hard to trust Maddy and she just has to hope like heck that Maddy is being honest.

But I am glad Maddy got out and is having some kind of life. She's working, writing, living a little. that comedy was scary but she did it!! AND she didn't stay out late - which was a solid good decision she made on her own.

I just really hope she doesn't stop taking meds (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

through Spring 2 / 32 chapters

(view spoiler)[ well. I worried she was going to go off her meds - I'm sad that she did that. I know it's common - for both bipolar and schizophrenia - but I was hoping Maddy was getting it together.

I'm glad they managed to stop her and that she was held. And wow, now her mom and grandma have saved her again.

so scary (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

and done

(view spoiler)[ wow, I'm so glad that her mom started going to therapy. I was sad she had another episode but the stress and excitement definitely seemed to push her there. I was glad the way the author had the family AND the MC accept the diagnosis and start trying to understand the way life would be now.

this was good! I thought it was informative and respectful of the diagnosis (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Finished

I love your comments, Trisha, and I'm glad we both liked this one. I don't think you can go wrong with Lisa Genova.

(view spoiler)[I was so happy that it ended on a positive note. I feel like they're on the right path now, including the mom. I understood how concerned she was but she just needed to tweak how she handled it. I don't know what I would've done as a parent but the constant calls and making her daughter feel almost like she couldn't make the right choices might have been part of the reason she didn't . Idk but the family accepting and also doing therapy is definitely going to help. (hide spoiler)]