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Sylvia T. (Rancho Mirage, CA)
Mixed Feelings
Daniel Mooney has written a story of grief, loss, mental health, friendship, and love. He presents Denis' vulnerability while also delivering doses of humor.
The main character, Denis is fighting with his inner demons and it's horrible, fascinating, touching and frightening to behold. The author handles this delicately and with compassion. For a book that I took a while to get into, I ended up absolutely loving it. You won't have read anything like this before and by the end I had a tear in my eye.
It's truly an unusual, quirky and bizarre novel, but only in the best possible way. It's a debut novel and perhaps
…more one that I wouldn't have chosen ordinarily. And, more so one would expect a book on men's mental health to be somewhat depressing, but not this book. It's funny, heartbreaking, sincere, enlightening. I highly recommend it. (less)Well - who'd have thought - a funny and charming read about a young man with a serious mental health issue. This debut novel is a highly entertaining read about a very real and dark subject, mental illness in the wake of a personal tragedy. The main character is an extremely likeable, borderline schizophrenic suffering from an obsessive compulsive disorder. His appeal is a testament to author Dan Murray's skills. This is the tale of a man who has lost his moorings so profoundly in the aftermath of an accident that he is literally unable to stand any human contact. Yet we smile at the absurdity of his situation
…more while we root for his recovery as he takes his first tentative steps to rejoin the living. I read this book quickly as I wanted to get to the "why" of the story - the "what" and the "how" was apparent very early on - but more importantly I wanted for Denis to come out the other side. This story was truly about the journey, and I was happy to ride along with Denis. Dan Murray is an excellent storyteller and I look forward to reading more from him! (less)In the Acknowledgements section of this beautifully constructed story, the author, Daniel Mooney, gives tribute to Luke Bitmead. The writer claims not to have met Bitmead, but that had they met, the two might have been friends. He follows with a sentence: Stand up and Fight. It leaves me to believe that the story may be based on this unmet person's struggles and that the writer prays for the real person's ability to have courage and tackle his demons. I found myself having the same wish for Denis Murphy, the main character in this beautifully constructed novel.
Mooney gives an excellent account of the way guilt
…more and tragedy can effectively make a mind become unglued when the hope for atonement seems out-of-reach. For Denis, the aftermath of such a tragic event allows him to make way for the presence of voices which control his life and prevent him from finding his own self and his own voice. The first few chapters of Denis' story are slow as the reader must become acquainted with the voices and their personas. However, as time goes on, the reader will find himself/herself glued to the storyline and quietly shouting, "Stand up and fight." Not just a great read, this book also gives an authentic picture of one of the possible outcomes of a person dealing with PTSD. (less)I grew to like this book very much as I got further into the story. The actions and dedication of Denis' friends in response to his pain were quite touching and Denis' explanations of his feelings are truly powerful.I think anyone who has ever tried to understand mental illness will be very, very touched by this story.
Betty T. (Warner Robins, GA)
A Sensitive Look at Surviving Loss
It seems almost perverse to say that this book is delightful. Denis was once a normal 23-year-old fun-loving man who enjoyed evenings with his friends, a loving family, and his beautiful girlfriend Rebecca. But one night seven years ago he suffered a tragic loss, a loss that he feels responsible for, a loss that he can only endure by cutting himself off from people and feelings. His guilt leads him to believe that he has brought everyone pain so now he must cut himself off from them, assuring everyone that he is just fine. In order to maintain control, he now lives a VERY strict life of orderliness. His day is
…more planned to the minute. "Walk into town – 40 minutes. Purchase a newspaper and select a coffee shop – 16 minutes. Spend some time with both of his friends – 120 minutes. Walk to the hospital – 50 minutes. Spend some time visiting Eddie – 20 minutes. Walk home – 90 minutes.' He cannot bear to be touched by anyone. He is in control – except for his four roommates, "four monsters", who create chaos in his home.
But then Rebecca walk back into his life. She is shocked to see the shell of his former life he has become and becomes determined to "fix" him. As he slowly begins to reconnect with his former self and begins to face his fears, his roommates feel threatened. They want to protect him, to help him maintain the orderliness and control he had before Rebecca returned. Now it is all out war for them. They are determined that Rebecca must go. Denis' life now spirals out of control.
Daniel Mooney has written a story of grief, loss, mental health, friendship, and love. He presents Denis' vulnerability while also delivering doses of humor.
This is a sensitively written book describing Daniel's fight to get his life back. One would expect a book on men's mental health would be somewhat depressing, but not this book. It is funny, heartbreaking, sincere, enlightening.
Thank you to the publisher and BookBrowse for the advance copy to read and review. (less)Enjoyable from its beginning to ending sentence, Dan Mooney creates characters that are both lovable and infuriating. Mooney does a great job in taking on a crippling illness like depression, developing a storyline that has the reader laughing, cheering and brooding--often at the same time. An amusing and stirring look at how depression can entirely consume a person's life, and how the power of friendship and love can pave the road toward healing.
Carol J. (Isle, MN)
A Peek Inside Grief
It did take me a bit to get into this book; but well worth the persistence! The book gives one a glimpse into one man's struggle with overwhelming grief and guilt. I was so touched by the love and persistence of his friends and family. Rebecca became the lifeline he needed. The description of his roommates was great. The tricks our mind plays on us. Would actually recommend this book to anyone, maybe we all should read it and then have a bit more acceptance of those around us who are struggling.
Susan Morris
A Most Unusual Read
This book is not for everyone and at first I felt I wasn't going to like it myself but it soon started to draw me in and by the conclusion it had me in tears. It brings out a wide range of emotions as the reader follows the fascinating path of Denis Murphy, an OCD vulnerable young man whose guilt over a tragic accident has taken over his mind causing him to dwell in a strange world of hallucinations and isolation from others. You are introduced to an outlandish group of characters who inhabit his mind and terrorize his home but due to his mental illness, he accepts them as housemates and puts up with their
…more antics. There is also a heartwarming love story involved and some good friends who believe in him. Thus, I ended up truly glad for having read this book and hope others will find it as powerful as I did. (less)
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