About the Book

In classic books such as "Girl, Interrupted" and "When Rabbit Howls", the mentally ill depict their own harrowing worlds. "Mad House" offers an account of the devastating effects of mental illness on the lives of those who share their world--the healthy siblings of those afflicted.

Book Synopsis

A compelling and compasionate memoir about coming to terms with the unique pain of living with a sibling's mental illness

In classic books such as Girl, Interrupted and When Rabbit Howls, the mentally ill depict their own harrowing worlds. In Mad House we have an account of the devastating effects of mental illness on the lives of those who share their world: the healthy siblings of those afflicted. Clea Simon was shattered when her older brother, Daniel, a freshman at Harvard, began hearing voices, making it impossible for him to function. He later committed suicide. Schizophrenia next claimed her sister, Katherine, who has moved from one institution to another after refusing any help from her family. Simon, who spoke with hundreds of other siblings of the mentally ill and with experts in the field, confronts the issues healthy siblings face, from guilt (Why do I deserve to be okay?) to fear (Will illness claim me or my children next?) to anger at being neglected by parents overwhelmed by the needs of the mad child.

Review Quotes

"An evocative, sensitive, and beautifully crafted memoir by a journalist whose older sister and brother each suffered from schizophrenia; the brother ultimately committed suicide. ... Simon does so many things well. She clearly explains the two major psychoses (schizophrenia and bipolar, or manic-depressive, disorder), as well as related psychological concepts. She also provides a short, useful reading list and succinctly explores some important economic factors influencing the care of the mentally ill. ... Absorbing and moving - must reading for siblings of the mentally ill, members of their immediate and extended families, their friends, and all who work with them." -- Kirkus Reviews

"A strong, fascinating work." - Boston Phoenix

"A moving memoir ...The cycles of hope and despair are portrayed with the harrowing precision of Dante." - Boston Globe

About the Author

Clea Simon: is the Boston Globe-bestselling author of three nonfiction books and 30 mysteries, including World Enough and Hold Me Down, both of which were named "Must Reads" by the Massachusetts Center for the Book. A graduate of Harvard University and former journalist, she has contributed to publications ranging from Salon.com and Harvard Magazine to Yankee and The New York Times.