The Centre of Winter

Sunday, October 15, 2006
Good reading
Last Saturday I was digging through the shelves for something to read. A trip to the bookstore wouldn't fit into the agenda. My little town's library is usually closed by the time I can get to it, and nothing on my shelves appealed. This meant raiding the womanchild's room. C., getting rather annoyed with my shuffling around in her room while she was there, asked what I was looking for. My response sent her into action, and she gave me a stack of books and the order to read them. The kid did good.

First on her list was The Center of Winter by Marya Hornbacher. This book tells the story of a family hit by mental illness and suicide. It's a tale told as cleanly and starkly as the cold plains in which it show more is set. The central theme is the quiet courage it takes to keep living when it would just be so easy to stop. The book is peopled with rich characters and filled with tiny details that make it real. I found myself wanting to button the character's sweaters, give them their medications, and refill their drinks. These people needed someone to take care of them but found the ability within. I was both rushing to the end, desperate to find some evidence of recovery and hope and unwilling to put the book down. I'm going to enjoy re-reading this book. Hornbacher is also the author of Wasted, the best book on living with an eating disorder that I've ever read. show less

This story stakes place in Motley, Mn in the late '60's. Claire and Arnold have two children. Esau and Kate are both very unique children. Esau, a 12 year old boy, suffers from a mental illness that is unnamed, but the description of his actions and thinking cause you to climb inside his head and understand his demons and fears. Little 6 year old Kate is a very precocious, opinionated child who has learned how to understand and care for her brother when he has one of his 'episodes'. Arnold is a Viet Nam vet dealing with his own demons and depression. He cannot escape his life, no matter how much he drinks, so he escapes permanently by "shooting his head off'. In trying to deal with this death, the neighbor, Donna and her son Davey show more become intertwined in the story. All the characters are so ready, especially the children, including Davey who is Kate's best friend. A stunning book! show less

This is a powerful book. I read this after I read Ms. Hornbacher's memoir, "Madness" and I really felt that the mental illness described in this book is made real because of her personal experiences. The story deals with subjects that we can hardly deal with in real life. But at the same time, it is a hopeful novel, that invites the reader to recognize that life can go on with meaning, even in the face of tragedy.

I absolutely loved this book and its child's view of adult problems.

I don't know how to change the cover picture to the white one with the window (the edition I have), but this one is quite pretty so I'll keep it. Is it bad that I want to buy another edition of the book just for the pretty cover?

Nach dem Selbstmord ihres Vaters ermöglicht Katie ihrer Familie den Glauben an das Leben nicht zu verlieren.