This is one incredible story of strength of a family supporting, and loving each other through the toughest times. It may not be even a story, as I have heard that there's an autobiographical element to it. It is told from the perspective of the younger sister, Yolanda. Yolanda, the narrator, is an aspiring author. She has married twice, and about to divorce out of her second marriage. She has two children from each of her marriages. She has moved to Toronto to enable her daughter to follow her dream of becoming a dancer. She is originally from Edmonton, where her mother, and sister still live.
Multiple unsuccessful suicide attempts of Yolanda's sister, Elfrieda, brings her back to her hometown. And why would Elfrieda want to take her own life? She has everything going for her; an established pianist who has reached fame and fortune very early in her career, and a married woman; her husband's life revolves around her.
This book is not going to answer your burning question about mental health. It is also not going to provide [false] hope that the system in place is efficient, and well equipped to care for patients in this category. But, it is going to tell you an honest story one family's courageous [futile] fight to keep their loved one safe.
I loved reading this book, but it left the desire of hearing Elfrieda's voice unanswered. I wish the author would had disclosed more of Elfrieda's emotions in this story.
No comments:
Post a Comment