Three remarkable female authors - Lisa Genova, Brianna Craft and Suleika Jaouad
“She’s bipolar. That word gets thrown around without a medical license all the time, mostly by boys to describe girls as crazy. It’s a derogatory dart meant to demean and dismiss its target. This latest book from Lisa Genova is funny, stark, poignant, and at times very dark. It is the journey of college freshman Maddy Banks as she receives a life altering diagnosis of bipolar disorder. As Maddy swings in cycles between her manic state, to one of severe depression, and tries to find a balance with the support of her medication, her therapist and some close friends and family - the reader also learns how to tread the waters of mental illness with empathy and hope. Like other books from Lisa Genova, this is a significant book with immense potential for contribution to the understanding of mental health challenges and the severity of bipolar disorder. Maddy struggles, sinks to the lowest points, but remains resolute, and stand-up comedy seems to be her coping mechanism. After months ...