Status
Checked out
Collection
Description
Sakeenah Francis describes her life as a Cinderella story in reverse. She grew up in a well-respected, middle-class African American family. She went to college, was homecoming queen, married, began a career and had children. Then, schizophrenia struck and she lost everything. She went from homecoming queen to being homeless and institutionalized. Sakeenah Francis tells her daughter about her darkest moments of living with schizophrenia in a series of letters that chronicle the first time she heard voices in her head, her hospitalizations, her struggle to parent, and her arduous path to long-term recovery. Both shaken and moved by her mother's revealing letters, Anika faces the haunting effects her mother's mental illness had on her. After years of keeping the secret about her mother's illness, Anika breaks her silence voicing what it was like to grow up with a mother with a severe mental illness.She describes the emotional roller coaster created by her mother's bouts of recovery and how this impacted her well into adulthood. Though Sakeenah lost many bouts in her early struggles with schizophrenia, she kept striving. Through it all, there was love which at times was the only thing that made sense to Sakeenah and Anika. Love gave them the strength and resilience to heal and piece together that which schizophrenia had torn apart in our lives. This sobering story carries a message of hope that will be inspiring to people affected by a severe mental illness and the web of people connected to them.… (more)
Physical description
260 p.; 5.98 inches
User reviews
LibraryThing member Bridgeross
Sakeenah Francis describes her life as a Cinderella story in reverse. She grew up in a well-respected, middle-class African American family. She went to college, was homecoming queen, married, began a career and had children. Then, schizophrenia struck and she lost everything. She went from
Both shaken and moved by her mother’s revealing letters, Anika faces the haunting effects her mother’s mental illness had on her. After years of keeping the secret about her mother’s illness, Anika breaks her silence voicing what it was like to grow up with a mother with a severe mental illness.She describes the emotional roller coaster created by her mother’s bouts of recovery and how this impacted her well into adulthood.
Though Sakeenah lost many bouts in her early struggles with schizophrenia, she kept striving. Through it all, there was love which at times was the only thing that made sense to Sakeenah and Anika. Love gave them the strength and resilience to heal and piece together that which schizophrenia had torn apart in their lives. This sobering story carries a message of hope that will be inspiring to people affected by a severe mental illness and the web of people connected to them.
Show More
homecoming queen to being homeless and institutionalized. Sakeenah Francis tells her daughter about her darkest moments of living with schizophrenia in a series of letters that chronicle the first time she heard voices in her head, her hospitalizations, her struggle to parent, and her arduous path to long-term recovery.Both shaken and moved by her mother’s revealing letters, Anika faces the haunting effects her mother’s mental illness had on her. After years of keeping the secret about her mother’s illness, Anika breaks her silence voicing what it was like to grow up with a mother with a severe mental illness.She describes the emotional roller coaster created by her mother’s bouts of recovery and how this impacted her well into adulthood.
Though Sakeenah lost many bouts in her early struggles with schizophrenia, she kept striving. Through it all, there was love which at times was the only thing that made sense to Sakeenah and Anika. Love gave them the strength and resilience to heal and piece together that which schizophrenia had torn apart in their lives. This sobering story carries a message of hope that will be inspiring to people affected by a severe mental illness and the web of people connected to them.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Vorobyey
Light-weight account of a mother's devastating schizophrenia and the traumatic effects on her daughter.
I did not get on with this book at all. Partly it was spoilt by typos (you're for your and eves dropping for eaves-dropping are just two examples - does no-one use spell checkers and proof-readers
I found it surprising that there are no groups supporting child carers (they certainly exist in the UK), the unwillingness of anyone to explain a serious health issue to the sufferer and her supporters and the terrible lack of monitoring of medication and its side-effects. The UK health service has its faults and poor practitioners but it all seems better than what is available in the US.
I did not get on with this book at all. Partly it was spoilt by typos (you're for your and eves dropping for eaves-dropping are just two examples - does no-one use spell checkers and proof-readers
Show More
any more?). Partly because I find aspects of life in the USA totally alienating and this book highlighted some of them - the extreme harshness of the barely existent mental health system, the lack of social care - though these are not reasons for the low rating. That was due to the shallowness and simplicity of the book. However that maybe was deliberate and the intended audience is expected to have a different educational background to my own.I found it surprising that there are no groups supporting child carers (they certainly exist in the UK), the unwillingness of anyone to explain a serious health issue to the sufferer and her supporters and the terrible lack of monitoring of medication and its side-effects. The UK health service has its faults and poor practitioners but it all seems better than what is available in the US.
Show Less
LibraryThing member arlenadean
Author: Anika and Sakeenah Francis
Published by: Bridgeross Communications
Age Recommended: YA - Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Review:
"Love's All That Makes Sense A Mothers Daughter Memoir" by Anika and Sakeenah Francis was a very interesting read for me. I was just able to get through this
she is found 'homeless and institutionalized.' There was one thing going for her and that was her daughter..Anika love who faced the bad effects this disease had on her mother and for a long time was silent about the issue...but finally Anika breaks out letting it all out what it was like growing up with someone with someone who had 'severe mental illness.' We will find Anika quite shaken up by her mother's letters remember her mother's many bouts that she went through well into her adulthood. It has been quite a bumpy road for Sakeenah, but she was striving somewhat each day. Through much love and hope between this mother and daughter they were given "the strength and resilience to heal and piece together what had been torn apart in their lives." Indeed, this was a very inspiring story for any one affected by this terrible mental illness and even the ones affected by them. Sad, yes but a story that needed to be told for this Mother and Daughter in the end ... "Love's All That Makes Sense."
Published by: Bridgeross Communications
Age Recommended: YA - Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Review:
"Love's All That Makes Sense A Mothers Daughter Memoir" by Anika and Sakeenah Francis was a very interesting read for me. I was just able to get through this
Show More
memoir without crying. It is a very emotional subject: living with 'Schizophrenia.' Sakeenath was once a beautiful person...coming from a middle class 'Aftrican American Family'..."went to college, was homecoming queen, married, began her career and had children." Truly this was a 'Cinderella Story' but wait...things changed when this illness came on Sekennah and thenshe is found 'homeless and institutionalized.' There was one thing going for her and that was her daughter..Anika love who faced the bad effects this disease had on her mother and for a long time was silent about the issue...but finally Anika breaks out letting it all out what it was like growing up with someone with someone who had 'severe mental illness.' We will find Anika quite shaken up by her mother's letters remember her mother's many bouts that she went through well into her adulthood. It has been quite a bumpy road for Sakeenah, but she was striving somewhat each day. Through much love and hope between this mother and daughter they were given "the strength and resilience to heal and piece together what had been torn apart in their lives." Indeed, this was a very inspiring story for any one affected by this terrible mental illness and even the ones affected by them. Sad, yes but a story that needed to be told for this Mother and Daughter in the end ... "Love's All That Makes Sense."
Show Less
LibraryThing member maib2
This book was intense.
It really shows how hard it is to deal with a mental illness from two points of view. How much people may suffer and how important support is.
The book had some grammatical errors and formating problem an it can get annoying.
It really shows how hard it is to deal with a mental illness from two points of view. How much people may suffer and how important support is.
The book had some grammatical errors and formating problem an it can get annoying.
LibraryThing member BStreeper
I am so glad I got this book from the Early Reviewers. This book seemed to be a backwards Disney movie (a dark Disney movie... I don't think that phrase did it justice...) Starting out in a middle class family, she did well the first part of her life. But once schizophrenia become present, her life
Having a psychology degree I enjoyed reading the book. It really stressed the importance of support.
I would have given this book 5 stars, but there were several grammar errors that become cumbersome throughout the book.
Show More
unraveled. Having a psychology degree I enjoyed reading the book. It really stressed the importance of support.
I would have given this book 5 stars, but there were several grammar errors that become cumbersome throughout the book.
Show Less
LibraryThing member jurai2
This is a beautiful memoir that is told in alternating views between Anika (the book’s author) and her mother Denise. The book chronicles the years in which Denise lived with schizophrenia that was, at times, treated in the form of hospitalization, but for the most part, went untreated. Having a
I appreciate that the author includes a list of additional books and documentaries on the same subject.
Show More
mental illness was a “hush hush” subject while Anika was growing up, so the fact that her mother is sharing her secret makes this memoir that much more precious. Denise tells her story through letters, and in between each letter, Anika shares her reflections with the reader. The story ends with trip to Mexico that proves to be healing for both mother and daughter. Perhaps the best piece of advice I’ve heard this year can be found in this book: “As long as you have a breath in you, it’s never too late to do something.” That was Denise’s advice to her daughter in one of the final letters she wrote Anika.I appreciate that the author includes a list of additional books and documentaries on the same subject.
Show Less
LibraryThing member TinaC1
I was hooked at the first chapter, admiring the candidness of the writing and it reflected a little a personal journey I was in the middle of when I started this book. I became less hooked as the story progressed, not because of the content, but because the writing style did not change pace or
Show More
differ in any way. What stood out for me was the support of family for mother and daughter eventhough because of mental illness it was not always appreciated. Certainly a worthwhile read! Show Less
LibraryThing member rhondavanae
An encouraging and uplifting story for anyone to read and savor. This is about a families struggle with an illness called schizophrenia. The letters from the mom to her daughter was a great way to experience both sides of the condition. That of the patient and the family dealing with the effects of
Show More
getting treatment and the times when the patient resisted help. The ups and downs that they shared dung the good and bad times of their relationship. The healing that finally took place in both of their hearts when they sought forgiveness. In exchange they received a greater love and peace where hurt and turmoil once lived. The love they had for each other was evident all throughout the book and I think the way they dealt with this challenge can be applied to other lives today who are going through their own battles. So I feel this would be a great story for others to read who have hurts in their relationships and want to know how to get past them. This was a beautiful testament to a mother and daughter's love. Show Less
LibraryThing member MichaelaJans
The double voice of a daughter who tells the story of her mother's schizophrenia, coupled with the first hand letters from the mother, gives an account of life with mental illness. Though the writing comes over as touchingly and sometimes brutally honest, i do believe the book would benefit from
Show More
some re-editing, it would gain in strength if it was not so long. Nevertheless, i have much respect for the effort to come to grips with a difficult childhood and the traces it leaves in later life. Powerful and touching by its openness and honesty. Show Less
ISBN
1927637007 / 9781927637005
UPC
884463144460