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There are currently 25 member reviews
for North of Crazy
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Bea C. (Liberty Lake, WA)
Plodding Memoir
I thought the first half of the book was so boring I actually quit reading it and read another book before I could make myself get back to this book. Her plodding on and on about day to day events just don't seem interesting to me. Her time in Wyoming was much more interesting, and while it reminded me of the way women were treated back in the 60s and 70s (your husband signed to buy a house) it still wasn't a page turner. I found it almost whining, and she did make a lot of stupid choices, but I guess her upbringing made her naïve. It did make me want to look up some of her artwork along with works from other artists she mentioned in the book.
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Carol T. (Ankeny, IA)
Excellent writer
Neltje is an excellent writer. I wish she'd spent more time on her life in Wyoming and less on her unfortunate childhood, but if you enjoy reading superior writing, this is it.
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Nancy L. (Staunton, VA)
True North
This memoir of Neltje Doubleday, a member of a totally dysfunctional high society family found me wishing for more while I was also wishing for less. The journey of this very accomplished woman to find her "true north" away from the demands of family and society was inspirational to my feminist soul. But I could have done with far less of the nasty mother, alcoholic father, and selfish brother as well as the countless dinners, parties, and business meetings full of one important person after another. I loved the second half of this book when Neltje moves to Montana. It is here that I think her writing is vivid and dynamic. On balance, I think it is a well written, interesting story.
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Amy S. (Fort Wayne, IN)
Left me lacking...
This memoir just didn't do it for me. Just because you know writers doesn't necessarily mean you are a writer too. I found the writing dull-like Neltje was just going through the motions-emphasizing the unfortunate aspects of her fortunate life. There was a lack of connectedness for me as she described the lack of love from her parents, her sexual abuse, and the alcoholism. the writing was rather rote without much emotion. Just as Neltje seemed on the brink of disclosing a feeling or making a discovery, she shut it down. I got the sense that Neltje was much more at peace with who she is now, and that made for much better writing and a much better story.
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