Drusilla Campbell

This book explores the profound impact of loss on life decisions. Still reeling from her father’s suicide, sixteen-year-old Madora Wells finds herself sinking into a life of depression and drugs until, one night, she meets a handsome man named Willis who wants to save her from herself. Two years later, Madora is living in a desolate shack in the desert, where she discovers Willis has another agenda. When Django, a bright and inquisitive twelve-year-old boy, loses his parents and happens show more upon her, he immediately senses something is off. With courage and determination to find something they’re missing, these two bravely decide to change their lives by seeking the unknown. I found this book to be a fascinating exploration of how grief and fear can hold us back and how trusting yourself can set you free. show less

This is a very timely book given the number of soldiers - both male and female - returning from war currently. As a society we are recognizing the traumatic effects that living in a constant state of alert and fear combined with the brutality of war has on the psyches of these soldiers. For the first time in history a fair number of them are mothers coming back to families after having lived through hell on earth.

When She Came Home tells the story of Frankie Byrne, the daughter of a retired show more Marine general who enlists after 9/11. She says her decision to join is because of her need to protect her daughter and other children from harm in light of the horror of that tragedy but she has been seeking her father's approval her entire life; he lives and breathes the Marines. Will she finally get that love she seeks? Apparently not - he sees women in the armed forces as unnatural. Her husband is less than pleased with her decision as well; it seems she enlisted without discussing it with him.

Frankie serves 10 months in Iraq and does not experience any personal trauma but does come home with PTSD. After two months home, living with its effects her family feels she should be "better" already. She can't seem to admit she has a problem or how do deal with it or its effects on her daughter.

This was not an easy book to read. It was dark, unhappy and there is no way to tie up a story like with with a ribbon and neatly tied bow. I can't say it was a story I liked, but it is a story I'm glad I read. The characters were well drawn, real and have stayed with me. At times I wanted to shake any one of them. Not having ever served myself I can only draw on my experience with my brother's return during peacetime service. Even then he had trouble readjusting to "normal" life so I can only imagine after a war time deployment. The book is compelling with no easy answers. show less

3.75 stars

Dana’s marriage with her lawyer husband, David, is not doing well after their young daughter, Bailey, is kidnapped. David has been working long hours on a case defending a man he does not like, a man who may have murdered his neighbour’s little girl. Dana’s best friend, Lexy, is an Episcopalian priest, and their friendship also seems a bit strained.

As we go a little bit back in time, we learn more of what is making Dana more on edge. For the most part, I really liked the show more book and wanted to give it 4 stars, but it all just wrapped up a bit too perfectly at the end, so that brought my rating down just that little bit, the ¼ star. There is a lot going on the book, and we do see different character’s perspectives, but for the most part, I was ok with that. I didn’t think either Dana or David were particularly likable characters, though I disliked Dana more. show less

May 26, 2005. The day I stopped loving Tom Cruise. That is the day he slammed Brooke Shields for publicly announcing her reaction to postpartum depression. She chose medication. Gasp! Since then I've felt nothing but contempt for the man who has never had his body rewired while internal organs are pushed aside and changes in hormonal balance makes you cry because the cat coughed up a hairball.

On this particular day, my own body was waging a war with itself, having pushed a person the size of show more a pot roast through a hole the size of a nostril, and for some mysterious reason, my previously aesthetically pleasing breasts became as hard as granite were leaking sustenance for a child that was wholly dependent on me. No amount of positive thinking was going to magically restore my sleep deprived, physically rewired body. Nope. Instead I did what any sane woman would do.

I painted the family room. And the kitchen. And the entry.

To this day, I can't properly articulate my manic response to giving birth. I can only sit back, sigh and enjoy the ambiance of the colors.

And so, back to the book and painting. The author paints a clear path to Simone's thinking and thinking errors. The feeling of being overwhelmed and helpless as the demands continue to pile around her, looking for impossible solutions and eventually slipping past depression into psychosis. It is as disturbing as it is well articulated. A new mother may see a sliver of herself in Simone and feel uncomfortable.

The author adds to Simone's personality bipolar, learned helplessness, narcissism, and provides a breeding ground for Simone's role. At the same time, Simone's older sister, Roxanne, takes on the caretaking role from a very early age. Co-dependency is threaded throughout the story by not only Roxanne but others from Simone's life and ancestral chain.

This is a work of fiction however, the author lays her soul out by taking on such a difficult subject. This book covers so many different aspects of relationships and mental illness and health along with multidimensional characters, I would strongly suggest it for a mature Reading Group. Reading level is not difficult, the language does contain the "F" word at times. show less