Suicide Books

I got this book out of the library in March and I have been reading and rereading it up until today when I finally have to return it....but I'm buying my own copy here and now. I don't really care about Sylvia or Ted, but Anderson can write rings around most others: an authentic voice, vocabulary that makes my dictionary a necessity (like Thomas Wolfe's "Of Time and the River") but not in a pedantic way. You can fall in love with the English language again here, because it is in the hands of a master. Descriptions so well-crafted.
This haunting, intricate novel captures the times, places, and people in a startling new perspective, and I lived through the 60's by the way.

R.A.: What a bleak, anticlimactic, eschatological PR caper that Birthday Letters charade made for.... Ted made his last buck.

Does wRAng NOT see the irony?? Just because wRAng has a shortage of idols does not give him the right to dismember Plath's perceived enemies in a super-literary effort that will no doubt prove profitable.

If you respect Plath, you will read HER works, not wRAng's distortion of them.

Readers who are familiar with the Gwyneth Paltrow film, Silvia will probably find a lot to admire in this poetic, original and totally sprawling novel by Robert Anderson. The book basically takes up where the film left off - both including the scenes where Silva finally decides to gas herself, but this book goes much further than the film, portraying the troubles and disparate lives of the people that Silvia has left behind. Little Fugue is told from the point of view of Silvia's husband Ted Hughes, his mistress Assia Wevill, and a narrator named Robert, who is looking at the death of Plath from the perspective of his own life experiences in America.

Silvia waits anxiously for Ted to return. She knows that he's a womanizer and she also knows that he's probably gone off to see his mistress, but it isn't until later in the novel when Silvia's voice is no longer that we finally meet Assia, and witness the narrative unfold from her point of view. Through both Ted, Silvia, and Assia the reader witnesses short snippets of their lives: We are brought into the heart of Sylvia's tragic desperation, of Ted's flailing self-absorption, of Assia's ultimately heartrending need, and her frantic efforts to make Ted feel better at Silvia's wake - to be the woman to him that she thinks he needs. Ted and Assia stumble through blackness days and years after Sylvia's death, with Ted struggling to come to terms with how little he knew of his wife and Assia jealously forging Sylvia's identity.

Interspersed with Ted and Assia's story are Robert's experiences growing up in the sixties and seventies. He went to a New York City parochial school in 1962, and witnessed the 1968 riots on the Columbia campus, and a massive power failure in 1969. He also experiences the drug-ridden, counter-culture of New York in the 1970s and the AIDS epidemic of the '80s. Robert freely admits to his obsession with the poetry of Sylvia Plath, and to his extreme dislike for Ted, and his musings feel like an extended coming-of-age story that at times doesn't quite fit in.
While the stories of the trio are linked by both tragedy and ambition, Robert continues to struggle with Ted and Silvia's impact on his life through the tumultuous events of Sept. 11.

Herein lies the problem with the novel: Robert's narration, although interesting, sometimes seems like its from a separate novel, and at times his musings bare little or no resemblance to the lives of Silvia, Ted or Assia. There's also a problem with Anderson's style, which at times reads with such self-importance and literary clutter that it rapidly becomes tiresome and exasperating. The author often seems more concerned with the impressing the reader with his storybook dexterity, rather than writing a tightly plotted and entertaining narrative.

The novel, however, does have some beautifully lyrical moments and the assembly of distinct voices and themes play off each other and then come together to a harmonious finale. The events portrayed in the sections describing Sylvia, Ted and Assia are well grounded in fact and have a sense of quiet desperation that is both emotional and metaphysical in nature. Savvy Plath readers will have fun picking up the subtle references to her final collection, Ariel, but readers unfamiliar with Plath's work may find Little Fugue rather heavy going and somewhat maudlin. Mike Leonard January 05.

You know, writers just wanna be heard, okay? This guy, Robert Anderson, needed a subject... Now why in the hell it was Plath and Hughes is beyond me because the tale has been beaten to death. But, obviously, it has been difficult for Robert in NYC (before his first book won that kick ass award) and he needed a subject that could land him good press. Now me: I could never pimp myself out and write about Plath and Hughes to get NY Times-grade press. That's why I'm reviewing his book on amazon at 5 AM instead of shooting my own wad into the literary world. So, leave Robert Anderson alone and let him do his thang. By the way, I really am over the age of 13.

PS: The actual prose is less indicative of the intricacy of that essentially musicological structural device of the fugue and more indicative of hyperbole and histrionics. But, I'm giving the book 5 stars to compensate for the 1 that the other wronged reviewer below gave RA.

This is simply the best book on Oscar Wilde that I've ever read. A must read for Wilde scholars and an enjoyable read for Wilde enthusiasts.

This psychoanalytic biography of Wilde explores more aspects of his life than many of the better known biographies, even Ellmann's. Well-researched, well-written, fun to read. Wilde's isolation, complicated relationship to his young sister who died and his parents, and terror of syphilis, are all explored in this interesting and enjoyable book

It is remarkable that this sensationalistic and inaccuate text has gained the respect and attention that it has amassed both among the scholarly and popular press alike. Knox's "research" is pure Freudian fantasy, and her thesis reliant upon hyperbole and a serious misreading of Wilde's work and more importantly (for the sake of her argument), his family dynamics. The success of this book is puzzling to me as a Wilde scholar; there are enough factual inaccuracies and flights of rhetorical fancy here to lead me to conclude that the educated, late-20th century reader, like his Victorian counterpart, loves a good scandal enough to ignore both logic and whatever overwhelming evidence may prove to the contrary. Scholarship this certainly is not; I recommend those curious about Wilde's life and work attend to Ellmann, Freedman and other scholarly Wilde critics and biographers for more factual and less trendy fare. As a Ph. D. candidate in Victorian Literature and long-time Wildean scholar, I was surprised and disappointed with both Knox's premise and her text.

I'm a graduate student studying Wilde, and really appreciated this thoughtful and challenging book. So much of the scholarship on the most interesting issues--gender, sexuality, identity--is original only in its jargonistic neologisms. This book is different: straightforward, solidly researched, beautifully written, and sympathetic to Wilde.

This book is not only an eye opener but it also expresses Kevorkian frustration with the governments control over medicine. It's kind of nice to see that old people have issues they like to fight for as well. At one point talks of his quest to encourage the government to allow peoplle on death row to donate their bodies to science but the government. Kevorkian is a good man and it saddens me to think what the media has done to him.

I purchased this book here from Amazon and after reading it I sent it, along with a nice letter in support of Kevorkian to him. Within 2 weeks he personally signed and returned my book to me.

I enjoyed this book. It explains how and why he got into assisted suicide.

If you are against what Dr. Jack does, be open minded and read this book. He is not a weird old man, he is a humanitarian. He makes no salary, and does this because he doesn't want people to suffer.

You will enjoy this book... I couldn't put it down.

``Dr. Death'' got his start with campaigns to allow death row inmates to donate their organs (currently organ donation is impossible). If you take a heart, a liver, two kidneys, two corneas, and bone marrow from a willing donor with a known execution date, and you can save quite a few lives with his death.

It's common-sense arguments like these, not grisly death-obsession, that makes this book worth reading. I expect that some readers will find the sections on euthanasia distasteful, but the subject is handled carefully and smartly.

For all his faults, Kevorkian is a strong and articulate voice who is too often written off automatically as a crank and a murderer. Read this book in order to balance your perspective, then judge him if you wish.

This is a very boring book about some of Dr. Kevorkian's early years in medicine. His quest to help give death row inmates the chance to volunteer their unconscious body for medical experimentation, or to donate their organs for transplantation before being executed.

Suicide is a death sentence for the soul. To believe otherwise is non-christian. People distort the word to be politicly correct, and I guess in KY suicide may be the christian thing to do. This book may offend those who have loved ones who killed themselves and have not come to terms.

Absolutely excellent. Well written, thorough and truthful. This is a tough love book, but it tells it as it is without allowing some helpless person to kill themselves thinking they will go to Heaven because they've supposedly been saved. Bible students know you have to be resurrected and judged before you to to Heaven - your spirit is in the presence of the Lord while you are resting for those two events to happen, but if you kill yourself, your name will be erased from the Book of Life.

I read the review from Kentucky and I have to say the review was written by someone with no religious knowledge of scripture. I have the book and there are no mispellings or errors. The book is tough love and pulls no punches. As the author says, he is not passing out tickets to heaven - there is no short cut to getting to heaven. Scripture tells in I Corinthians 3: 16-17 that God will destroy you if you destroy yourself. This is the best book on suicide on the market, only "once-saved, always saved" Christians will have a hard time with it because they don't want to face up to the fact that they can lose their salvation by having their named erased from the Book of Life, Revelation 3:5 and Psalms 69:28. . .sorry, it happens! No scripture taken out of context here, it is crystal clear and will probably save a lot of lives, wherein the reader from Kentucky is giving folks the go ahead to kill themselves because he has some mystical assurance and firsthand knowledge that they will go directly to heaven. Some people have never heard of the resurrection and the judgment, they just see a direct line to God after death. . .so, why the resurrection and judgment? Get real Kentucky and read all of your Bible. From one Kentuckian to another - get a church that teaches Biblical canon is more important than rules and teachings made my man.

This book was awful. The author gives a hard-hearted view of suicide. The scriptures used are taken out of their original context. Also, the editing is pitiful with misspelled words and bad grammar through-out. Awful!
I assure you, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. John 5:24

This biography should be subtitled "The Life and Times of Gloria Grahame's Lips," as first-time biographer Vincent Curcio spends the majority of the first 200 pages of this disjointed volume describing the B-movie actress's ever-changing lips more than her life, art, or career.

Written in a disconcerting train-of-thought style, it is impossible to get a sense of Grahame's emotional and psychological development as Curcio relates Grahame's history of bizarre behavior (everything from multiple unnecessary facial surgeries to her having sex at the age of 28 with her 13-year-old stepson!). It would have been enlightening for the author to offer some explanation behind these unsavory episodes, instead, Curcio - who apparently is Grahame's biggest fan - fails to offer any insight into why such a beautiful and talented woman would behave in such a self-destructive manner. Was she mentally ill? Abused as a child? Did she have a substance abuse problem? Or was she just a weirdo? I've read the book and I still don't know.

The failure of the author to explain Grahame's horrifying, erratic and unprofessional behavior, added to the disjointed, unchronological and poorly written prose makes for one really tedious read. Quotations at times go on for pages - I found myself backtracking several times just to remind myself who was being quoted. Even the 16-page b&w photo insert is a disappointment, containing some of the oddest photos one could have chosen for the book. One would think, with the endless discussions about Ms. Grahame's appearance (specifically, her lips) he would have included some photos to illustrate his assertions - but no.

Overall one of the worst biographies I've ever read and definitely not worth the $30+ it is currently fetching. I actually wish I'd never read this book, as I will never again be able to enjoy Gloria Grahame's work without being reminded of her bizarre private life.

Gloria Grahame was an extraordinarily talented woman and actress. She lived a very interesting life, both on and off the screen. Her performances are as good or better than some of the most famous actresses of her time, and I think she deserves the same respect and recognition they have received.

Suicide Blonde is the only biography of Gloria Grahame that I have found. The back and forth style of writing, e.g. career life to home life, then back again, is not the kind of writing style that I normally enjoy. I got a little confused from time to time as to what films she was in at the time so and so happened in her life and then had to go back to try and figure it out. However, even with that said I can't find fault with either the content, which was very interesting to say the least, or how well written it was, especially the ending, which I found to be a beautifully written and moving piece.

All in all it was a great biography and I hope she is never forgotten.

This book is a book that keeps you turning pages. It is the most ravishing book. To tell you the contents is to tell you the story. It is a story of life love and pain. Something we all live with on a day to day basis. It will inspire you yet you will see yourself. A book that should be read over and over till your brain works no more.

This is, as far as I know the only biography of Gloria Grahame, and once you start reading it you can't put it down! Her life and film career are explored in depth, using eyewitness accounts as well as Gloria's own words. Gloria Grahame is best remembered today for her awesome femme fatale roles in such classic noirs as "Crossfire", "In a Lonely Place", "Macao", "Sudden Fear", "The Big Heat", "Human Desire", "The Naked Alibi", and "Odds Against Tomorrow". In short, she was THE female icon of 1950s film noir, with a wonderful combination of sensuality and vulnerability in her screen characters.

While reading this book, I was very surprised to learn of Gloria's lifelong obsession with improving her appearance, and I had no idea about her many operations on her face (which was beautiful to begin with!). Obviously she suffered heavily from a lack of self-esteem, although she (usually) didn't let that interfere with her acting. Her troubled and often controversial marriages are explored in depth, although not in a degrading, National Enquirer-like manner. Much of the book covers Gloria's tough but ultimately futile fight against cancer, and I am simply amazed by the courage with which this talented actress faced this final battle of her often tragic life.

Gloria Grahame left this world far too early, but thanks to the popularity of film noir as well as her underated performances she will never be forgotten. She was a great actress and a very friendly person, and this book pays fitting tribute to her. My only complaint is that there is no filmography listed at the end of the book (although all her films ARE discussed in the book). Overall, I highly recommend this outstanding biography to any Gloria Grahame fan.

I just recently discovered Gayle Wilson. Suicide Club will keep you on the edge of your sit. The characters are well drawn and all too real. These could be any "Smart" teenagers down the street.
If you enjoy Mariah Stewart and Heather Graham then you'll love this author too. Great Summer Read.

This book is about kids who are extremely smart, so they go to a special school, the Randolph-Lowen School.

Someone in the community has been burning down churchs, so the police think since there are no clues left behind that it has to be gifted kids doing the vandalism.

Jace Nolan, a detective who is investigating the fires goes to the Randolph-Lowen School where the gifted kids in the community attend. He thinks they have to be the ones setting the fires.

Lindsey Sloan has worked at Randolph-Lowen for 10 years with the gifted kids. When Jace asks her who she thinks is capable of doing the crimes, she is upset that he would suggest any of their kids there would be involved. To her, they are all good kids.

The church fires are over but new things start happening. Suicides, but are they really suicides?
Then it escalates to other bad acts.

This book was very disturbing in the way that I was wondering why Gayle Wilson would write it at a time when so many bad things are happening at schools around the country.

I guess I am just tired of all the killing and heartache that goes along with school violence.
I would not have read this book if it wasn't sent to me in my book club, and then I had reservations about it.

But you can see for yourself, but It was not for me.

Gifted Coordinator teacher Lindsay Sloan rejects as ludicrous Sheriff's Department Detective Jace Nolan's theory that at least one if not more of her students is involved in serial church arsons even though he claims he is working with FBI profilers. However, her students notice the cop and the teacher talking; they wonder if she is ratting on them. Soon afterward, someone tries to kill her in a fire.

Still she rejects his supposition until a series of student suicides occur that make her reconsider what is happening to her gifted pupils. She vows to help Jace learn the truth in order to insure her students are safe. The cop and the teacher are willing to risk their lives to prevent more appalling consequences from occurring.

The recent Virginia Tech tragedy reminds the audience how plausible the story line of THE SUICIDE CLUB is. Readers join Lindsay praying that it is not the students committing arson and wondering what has happened to these geniuses who are suddenly killing themselves. Although the romance between Jace and Lindsay is well written, it seems more like a superficial sidebar requirement (even with the life threatening final confrontation) to a strong suspense thriller as the superb mystery takes center stage.

Harriet Klausner

This is one of the best suspense stories I have read this summer. While it was disturbing...and all to relevant to what is going on in our current culture, there is no denying the compelling story and the ability that Wilson had in keeping you reading. I could not put this one down. It was chilling and scary and well written! Great love story that came across as real...excellent read. I highly recommend.

I was warned by the author (my son) that I would not like this book and he was right. The main reason is that it wasn't the genre of story I enjoy reading. Evidently I'm not a very deep thinker. I felt there was an over use of metaphors. After reading the book I checked out the study guide on his web site and it did help me appreciate the book more. I do agree with the reviewer who mentioned it could be used in psychology to study a different view of suicide.

First-off, my very own definition of what a good writer is. That's somebody who can create consistent, believable female characters. And indeed, I have been able to-if not recognize myself, as a woman, in Claudia, because we're really worlds apart, she and I-then at least to think to myself time and again, Yes, that's exactly what I would have done/said/thought in that particular situation, too. So she's okay, she's cool, she's indeed very human and REAL enough to trick the readers into believing that the novel is not so much a work of fiction, but rather a documentary on that huge turning point in her life. Which really means, the novel seems to me to be rather her story than Paul's, or than the story of them both as a couple. I don't know if that's what the writer meant it to be, but I do hope that I did get all the points right.
Speaking of which, I keep thinking of the great movie this novel could be made into. And even more often, I keep thinking that the author should send this book to as many professors of psychology around the States that he can find the names and addresses of. I, for one, know nothing of psychology, except what my common sense makes of such stuff. And now my common sense is telling me that there's a lot of psychology buried there in those pages, in or between the lines. And I'm terribly curious of what a trained psychologist would make of it. Still, I suppose that not every professor would have the same approach to it. There are lots of ways to read a book, and lots of ways to analyze people. So it would be interesting to see what those professors, as representatives of different schools of psychology, have to say about the relationship between P and C. And then somebody else should compare/contrast those reviews and maybe write a Ph.D. thesis on that.
But, back to the novel. Back to P, that is. Well, he may be some sort of a genius, but that still makes him [unusual]. Even the characters Walter and Markus hint at that. He's really some kind of a spirit hunting not only the life and dreams of C, but of other people (who come in contact with his work) as well. But that's perfectly all right, that's probably the best possible approach to the kind of character he stands for.
So the book starts with him, and then there's a perfect balance throughout it, between the scenes from his life, and the scenes from C's life, until they eventually get together. Then at some point he leaves the stage (of life), but oddly (and nicely) enough, the reader does not get a horrible sense of loss from it. Ben and Regina step into C's life at the exact right moment, when both she and the reader needed them to.
On the other hand, I like it how the book tries to convey a sense of timelessness, which really fits in with the way the author uses the words Art, Artist, and Muse. Which all makes me think that the whole story could also be read as some sort of a parable.
Now, I would have to quote the whole book if I were to make a list of the scenes I liked in it. So I'll just round off saying that what I most like about it is the way it's written, the depths reached with each sentence. So it's not really that P understands C, but rather, that the writer has a good insight of women's souls. It's not that C makes observations on M and on the other men in her life, but rather, that the writer SEES things. He understands things. He understands people. And he's also able to put that understanding into words.

I read "The Suicide Treatment" after it was recommended to me by a good friend. At first, I was adamant, but once I got into the story, I found myself highly intrigued. The novel is primarily a romance, but has a philosophical (and very odd) view of life and questions whether or not life is even worth the living if it isn't for the sake of having an objective.

Interesting line of thought--though not sure I agree.

Overall, a very original story. And just a good book. It appears to be his first novel and based of this one--I'm curious to know how his future books will fare.

I have just finished this book by Brian Van Hise. His characters are well developed with a good flowing story line. There are a few twist here and there which made it hard for me to put it down. I am for certain looking forward to his next publication. Keep it up Brian.

No person can kill a human being. No one can touch an innocent person, even in time of war. No one can be a suicide bomber. No one can rush into crowds with bombs tied to his or her body. Islam states, "Do not touch people who worship in churches."

This book includes extensive analyses on the following subject matters, in order: i) Islam, always, i.e., at all times, approbates peace, ii) the Quran regards human life as being exalted and inviolate iii) Islam considers murder as one of the greavest sins and as a capital crime, iv) in Islam, even in warfare, there are rules to be observed; non-combatant innocent people cannot be killed v) in the history of wars, Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was the first person to set forth rules for warfare, vi) Islam regards suicide attacks as heinous murders, and vii) suicide attacks can be perpetrated through use of chemical drugs.

I picked this book up whilst in Saudi Arabia as the titke caught my eye.

I have just finished reading this book and found it fascinating. It has a wealth of information which shows why suicide bombing and terrorism are open enemies of Islam.

It is true, as noted by a reviewer below, that what some Mulsims do today is contrary to what Islam teaches. This is all the more reason why there needs to be an education crusade to ensure that the correct message of Islam is delivered to Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

If you are a reader of Steve Emerson, Daniel Pipes, Walid Phares etc. here is a suggestion. Read Emerson et al's writings, then read this book and another book which I recommend, 'Islam Denounces Terrorism', by Harun Yahya. Then compare notes. Objective, rational analysis will win the day.

Hasan Ali Imam
ex-Parliamentary Candidate
Conservative Party
London
UK

This is a significant book for many reasons. Firs of all, the authors are Muslim professors and researchers who are knowledgeable in their fields. Secondly, they are collectively showing that terror and sucide attacks have no basis in the canonical resources of Islam. Thirdly, they are pointing out to some important considerations which bring light into the question of why perpetrators of the many terrorist attacks recently appear to be Muslim, if there is no basis for such actions in the faith. This book is a must read for anybody who wants to understand the Muslim perspective on terror and suicide attackes beyond lazy stereotypes and the comfort of "good guys" vs "bad guys" paradigm.

The authors acknowledge up front that Islam does not exist like they want it to exist. They then say that if it did exist like they want it to exist, then all of their beliefs would be true for all Muslims.

This approach is not like building your house on sand, it is like building your house on quicksand. All of the arguments disappear from sight almost immediately.

If this is, as I hope, a plea from some people in Islam for their brother Muslims to act more like the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, would want them to, then this makes some sense, but things are NOT like what the book propounds.

My reading of history does not bear out the assertion that Christians and Jews were treated as equals under Muslim rule. For short periods of time, maybe, but by and large, Christians and Jews under Muslim rule have not been treated with equal respect as Muslims. The idea that "forced conversion" was not been a state policy at various times under the Caliphate is just too weird to be contemplated.

In short, the authors of this book have had to re-write history to make their case that terrorism is not condoned under "true" Islam. The Imams in Saudi Arabia would find this book to be crazy, because weekly they spew out sermons that make the case that killing Christians and Jews is a religious duty. Look in on www.memri.org if you doubt me. Why did the authors write the book, if they were going to lie about various historical facts? I do not understand.

This is not a book, it is a short story. It is supposed to be about huge decisions this teen has to make and the people who help him make them. It is not really. It is ridiculously superficial. The people who are supposed to be huge in his life come and go like a breeze, and the huge decision he has to make is really only mentioned a couple of times before he does it. The book ends in a predictable "poetic" statement and then you realize that you spent maybe ten minutes on it and the story didn't affect you at all. If you want "poetry" go read a real poem, not a wannabe. I rated this one star only because I couldn't rate it zero.

A teenage boy's mother's suicide attempt has left her in a coma. He knows she wouldn't want to live like this but others, including his father, refuse to let her go.

Alma Fullerton does a good job showing how hard it is for this teen to make a very difficult decision. Would this be murder? Or freedom?

Told in free verse, the sentences are short but pack a powerful punch. You can't be help but wonder what you would do in a similar situation.

A mother on life-support. A father who keeps pretending that his wife will get better. A young man, torn between doing what is right and taking the easier path of least resistance.

Alma Fullerton paints the story of one family's turmoil in WALKING ON GLASS, a short tale told in free verse. When one teen arrives home one day in June, he finds his mother near death after an attempted suicide. Although he saves her life, the only thing keeping her tethered to this world are the wires and equipment forcing her to take each breath as she lies in a hospital bed.

"Mom's mood swings always coincided with whatever Dad and I did.
Up and down.
Up and down.
Pulling our strings, like big yo-yos.
And even now, when she can't move or talk, she's still pulling those strings."

As the teen's father lives in a world of denial, as the teen himself realizes that his best friend's life of crime and anger is beginning to rub off on him, he realizes that if there is ever to be an end to the torment he suffers, the decision will have to be his alone. As he struggles to learn why his mother wanted to die, as he rages with anger over his father's lack of acceptance, and as he faces the knowledge that life will never be the same, we fight the fight right along with him.

Ms. Fullerton has written a heartrending, emotional story that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

WALKING ON GLASS, although a short book, is a powerful and beautifully written novel that will linger in reader's mind long after the dramatic last page. This is a story about a teen walking the dangerous edge of life and death decisions. Should he join a gang? Should he pull the plug to end his mother's life? Each powerful sentence is a small piece of a puzzle that slowly unfolds.

WALKING ON GLASS is sad, bold and brilliant. It would make a great read-aloud in middle schools/high schools for discussions about gangs, friendship, families and the traumatic issue of euthanasia.

Teachers, librarians, parents, teens -- do NOT miss this amazing book!

This book could be good. The topic is an important one, one that faces many different people. The content however was very dissapointing. This book contains a lot of repetivness.. and not much but the same facts stated over and over.. I was very dissapointed.

I found this book wery good, especially becouse now I know it's normal to feel the way I do after my mothers suicide.
I found in it answer to every question I've asked since, and to many more. Eric Marcus thank you for this book, it has helped me a lot.

I completely disagree with the misspelled review above.

I picked this book up in a physical bookstore today, and sat on the floor and read much of it. I found that it covered every question my friend (whose loved one committed suicide) is struggling with right now, and very thoroughly.

The only reason I didn't buy that copy was that someone had gone through and underlined parts. Underlining a book in a bookstore? What's up with that? I guess, however, it was even helpful to that person who saw the book before me in the bookstore.

I am thrilled to have discovered this book and am sending it directly to my friend. It is exactly the book I was looking for.

I don't do much reading in psychology these days, although many years ago I completed a Master's and most of the coursework for the Ph.D. in psychology at the University of Calfornia. I ultimately decided not to pursue a career in it, so never finished the Ph.D., but at one time had an excellent background in the subject. Anyway, I happened to see this book in the psychology section of a local book store, and although the clinical area wasn't my specialty (I being more in the psychobiology area), it caught my eye, and I ended up reading some of it.

This seemed to be a well-written and practical book on what can be a sensitive subject in our culture (or in any culture, probably). It contains a lot of background information on suicide, and more importantly, on how to deal with it if you know someone who has. I would have no reservations recommending this book for someone who needed advice or help dealing with the suicide of someone in their life.

It contained some fascinating facts on the incidence of suicide--especially in Japan. For example, it seems that there is a volcano named Mahari Yama on the little island of Ohshima, 60 miles from Tokyo. According to legend, if you commit suicide by throwing yourself into the crater, you are instantly cremated, converted to a whisp of smoke, and instantly go to Heaven.

A 26-year old student by the name of Ueki threw herself into the crater in the early 30's. Ueki's story became an instant sensation and legend itself, and by the time the authorities had blocked access to the crater in 1935, 940 people--800 men and 140 women, had committed suicide this way--an amazing statistic as well as amazingly tragic story.

Anyway, I was impressed with the book and can recommend it for anyone needed help with this difficult area.