What do readers think of North of Crazy by Neltje? Write your own review.

I started out enjoying this book. A sad story that proves that money and status do not always equal happiness. The book just ended up very slow moving and I had a hard time finishing it. She led an interesting life that is for sure but the writing was a bit sluggish.

North of Crazy is the story of a very wealthy woman, Neltje Doubleday, from the famous book publishing family. We read about her alcoholic father, her very selfish mother, her spoiled brother and many, many famous family friends over and over again. How she ever grew up to become an accomplished artist and mother is a miracle. The last third of the book is the best. This is about her life in Wyoming and how she has planned to share her inherited wealth.

This book would not appeal to book clubs except those in the state of Wyoming perhaps. I have the distinct feeling that this was written by Neltje as a form of therapy in order to set the record straight and to ease her mind.

Didn't like this one too much, at least not the first half. My favorite parts were about the natural settings in Wyoming. Despite her wealth her life was certainly not ideal, but many people's aren't. The writing was good, especially in the second half, very descriptive. Still, not a favorite of mine.

Another poor little rich girl story...A seriously dysfunctional family forces Neltje to claim her own way in the world. Unfortunately, getting to her new life in Wyoming takes up a lot of the story and I found the writing to be uninteresting, "and then, and then"....Once established, her story and writing becomes more passionate and interesting; however I would find it difficult to recommend.

I found the first half of this book to be slow reading. To me, that part was tedious as there was little or no conversation, just a simply written litany of Neltje's growing up in a dysfunctional family. I forced myself to read and about half way through, the book became more interesting to me. The format didn't change; first person narratives of the author's life. However, her life became more varied and positive, so my interest increased. Her life as an adult remained often dysfunctional, but she was making progress in escaping the traumas of her childhood and creating a safe haven for herself and her children. Her choice of men didn't seem to improve much, but she became strong enough to realize that she could get along without a man emotionally supporting her. I would enjoy seeing some of her art work. What a life line for her that must have been. I liked reading the details of the various forms of art with which she worked, and quite successfully it seems. Good for her. I recommended this book to those who can make it through writings of her early years and then enjoy reading of her art, her struggles with her brother and her mother and her now apparently serene life in Wyoming.

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.

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.

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.