MAD

Hi Folks,
I just wanted to say thank you to all the readers who've read Mad House and either posted here or contacted me. So many of you are also siblings, and I am gratified that many of you have found your experiences reflected in my book. I've tried to show, through my experiences and the dozens of you interviewed, that while our story may be one of the quieter ones in our family, it is still valid and deserving of space. Strength and health to you all!
I've used the same combination of memoir and interviews (more than 70) in my new book, "Fatherless Women: How We Change After We Lose Our Dads" (Wiley). If any of you read that, please let me know what you think.
peace,
Clea

Clea is the luckiest of her siblings. Her older brother, a brilliant boy, showed signs of psychosis in early adulthood. He somehow managed to attend Harvard and upon leaving the renowned university, succumbs to his illness. He marries a woman from his halfway house and they have a daughter. The brother commits suicide and the baby remains unheard from. Clea was in college at the time of her brother's death and her parents curiously give her a false account of how her brother killed himself. That is never explained.

Clea's sister Katherine appears to be the most unstable. She, too, started showing signs of the illness in late adolescence and was barely able to fight her psychosis and finish high school. She lived from hospital to halfway house, never really finding her niche. Her erratic behavior precluded her from staying at halfway houses and in one memorable account in the book, a landlady requested that her parents come and collect her after she defecated on a mattress. Katherine remained a "living" casualty of mental illness; at the close of the book, Clea did not even know where she was.

Clea is a strong voice, a strong advocate for the families of the mentally ill. Her poignant book is yet another reminder that mental illness is often a family illness because of the tragic impact it has on non-mentally ill members.

I did not grow up with schizophrenic siblings, although there is a history of the disease in my adopted family. What I did experience was two sisters with very disturbing behavior, and I found Mad House to be a great help in describing a lot what went on in my particular house and family.

Clea Simon does a terrific job portraying the stress and chaos mentally ill siblings can cause and the far-reaching effects this can have on well family members. In her case, she had a brother and sister with schizophrenia, and her sympathetic yet realistic depiction of life under such circumstances is fascinating, informative and clearly thoroughly researched. Her knowledge of the topic enables her to speak intelligently and cogently about very disturbing emotions, such as the overwhelming fear that she, too, would contract this dreaded disease.

Part of what is best about this book is that Simon speaks to a wide range of people who have also grown up or dealt with schizophrenic siblings, and the candid, personal and touching perspectives they provide complements Simon's own experience. It is truly fascinating how many of the 'healthy' siblings have found their way into the mental health profession, enabling them to 'help' their sick brothers and sisters in a variety of ways, however indirectly.

I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in family dynamics, mental illness or for anyone who grew up with someone who exhibited anti-social, destructive behavior. The wide array of response to such situations are well-documented and described, and it is quite a relief to find one's own experiences echoed in those of others. But there's a great deal here worthwhile for those simply interested in the topic, and in the heart-wrenching effects mental illness can have on those who care about and for those stricken with the disease.

I'm a very big fan of Fredric Brown's mysteries. But I have never been able to wholeheartedly embrace his SF, and that trend continues even with this lively novel. I prefer his misplaced clues over his Martians.

Brown is known as a writer with a wild imagination. He can also send a shiver down the spine, or even get a giggle, usually with some bit of absurdity. In this novel, when a strange energy discharge from a rocket falling back to Earth sends Keith Winton to a parallel universe, half of it seems terrible, and half of it seems farcical. Cities are cloaked in mist overnight to stymie Arcturian missiles, but criminals roam throughout the mist looking for anyone senseless enough not to stay inside. Transgalactic flight was achieved on this parallel Earth when someone was fooling around with a sewing machine. An AI controls and consoles New York's frightened populace, but goes by the silly name of Mekky. Is it nightmarish, or just dopey?

Somewhere along the line--and this has happened before with Brown's science-fiction--a crazy plot seems to conflict with a serious style. I was never quite sure if Fredric Brown wanted me to take this book as a serious-minded parallel-universe book, or if I'm to assume it's all a big joke. If it's serious, why the goofy details, like sewing machines that can fly the cosmos, why the punnish names, why would the Arcturians be stupid enough to make phony Earth coinage that has the wrong dates on it, why are the monsters purple, why "Mekky", why is Winton making a million mistakes everywhere he goes? If it's a satire, why a style more suited to an action-romp, why the laughless dialogue, and most of all, why a conclusion that tries to sell the novel as straight-faced philosophical SF...an ending that contains no laughs, but rather a science lesson on infinite possibility?

So I cannot endorse popular opinion and call this must-read SF.

In Fredric Brown's mysteries, he seems to know how not to turn wild invention into uncontrolled frenzy. The inventiveness translates into unique puzzles, suspects with apparently unshakeable alibis can turn out to be guilty, a case where telepathy just has to be involved turns out to have a much saner solution! Brown grounds himself; the absurdities are, in a way, illusory. But in SF, when sewing machines do fly, and AIs are called Mekky, and women wear see-through space-gear, unless it's written as full-on riotous farce, I start to wonder how much of this stuff I'm supposed to take as serious SF. And just when I decide it's all malarky, Olaf Stapledon seems to step in and write the ending.

I didn't want it both ways. Amusing oddball novel...only.

This is a Wizard of Oz type parallel universe yarn for adolescents and adults. Unfairly neglected, it would make a stunning Disney animated film or Broadway musical. It's a delightful grab bag of satire on McCarthyism, science fiction fandom, the publishing world, and adolescent boys with out of control imaginations/hormones. Brown takes the blind tapper from Treasure Island and turns him into something utterly horrifying. He transforms Baum's Tik-tok Man into Mekl, the genius robot. The commies are transmuted into a race of interstellar invaders so horrific that humans can't bear to look at them and must shoot them on sight. The hapless hero just wants to get home (like Dorothy Gale in the first Oz book) but he ends up (like Dorothy in the later Oz books) with something better than home. The parallel world Brown creates is wacky but, like Oz (or Ratty and Mole's riverbank), totally believable if you enter into the spirit of it. I rate this book as one of the top classics of sf's Golden Age; indeed, it's on my personal list of the all-time top ten sf novels, along with Dick's Man in a High Castle, Lieber's The Big Time, Vance's Demon Princes quintet, Heinlein's Friday, etc.

I read this book for the first time when I was 15 and I didn't think I was going to like it, because it is not one of my favorite genres. I consider this book, "my surprise book" for I was amazed by the idea. Unlike any other science fiction stories, I believe that this one has a completely different perspective of fantasy. The imagination of the author is outstanding. I'm 25 and I still love to sit down and read this book all over again, and feel like it is the first time.

The stories, though cute, could have had a bit more humor. I thought they had a sort of dull sheen to the characters, more fuzzy in concept than what would really satisfy the reader. The Dean should take a lesson from A.C. Doyle on how he described the private dick, Sherlock Holmes. Amos should be given a more sharply delineated character, especialy in a short story omnibus like this one. I thought F.P. Wilson's short stories had more versatility (The Barrens and Others) than Dean; and Joe Lansdale's tales can kick Dean's characters and humor flat in a New York second.

Well, the ONLY book I ever stole actually. As an extra on the a TV set that was supposed to be a Sci Fi convention I slipped this book into my backpack on camera to be funny... Amos ended up coming home with me. I loved reading this book. It's a collection of short stories revolving around Amos Mallone, whom some call mad. (He's not really mad. He just knows a lot that normal people don't, he seems, to them, to be so.) Amos is a Mountain Man in the days when such men were growing rare. Amos' ability to handle the other worldly problems with style and know-how over brute force and hocus-pocus makes this a great book for people who play the RPG "Deadlands". (The first story/chapter where Amos takes care of a problem much like "Portrait of a Hero" in "Once upon a Time : A Treasury of Modern Fairy Tales" is a good example of Amos' way of thinking and sets the tone for the rest of the book nicely.)

This is a terrific read - funny, action-packed, and a stretch for the imagination! My 80+ year old dad (avid Louis L'Amour fan) loved it! I'm a long-time science fiction fan and I loved it too. Mad Amos is addictive - he reminds me of Lazarus Long in some ways.

I read this book in December, he recommends OpenWave, Proxim and Oracle, I invested $100,000 in each of these stocks and others, my current portfolio is up 42% in 1 month, buy this book read the stock choices, I have made over $80,000 in one month based on Bondras investments. Thanks Doc.

not sure how this guy knows this, but this idea of the personal assistant should have every gadget freak chomping at the bit to get one, if this guy or company is making this device he will have sony, ericcson all the major oems all over him.

I saw this man give a speech, thought what he said made sense, did a little research on my own, then bought some of his companies. I'm up 40% in three months!Its like Bill Cosby used to say at the beginning of Fat Albert, I paraphrase, "Read the book and you will have fun making profits."

Mad about Muffins is a wonderful idea for a cookbook and it is very attractive but I think that the author could have found better recipes. The muffins are all very edible but they are not outstanding and the results do not always look "bakeshop pretty". The ingredients called for are simple and most people who bake often will have them on hand. There are many basic recipes (bran, blueberry, corn etc) but there are also some exciting flavor combinations (pumpkin apple, orange pineapple) and not always sweet (some savory ie. Buttermilk Scallion Parsley potato). If you are crazy about muffins then this cookbook is a safe bet but you can find just as good if not better muffin recipes in another baking book that covers alot more categories including muffins.

A terrific book for anyone looking for new and different muffin recipes! All the familiar favorites are there, but you'll also find a fun collection of new recipes; garlic-corn, seafood, mint chocolate chip, and black forest. If you like quick,tasty recipes like these, you'll also like any of the Gooseberry Patch books...filled with yummy recipes & easy how-to's.

with delicious recipes!
I've tried several of them and they are so good!
Here you'll find everyone's favourites like blueberry, cinnamon and corn; savory muffins (vegetable cheese), with fruits, nuts, a whole chapter with chocolate recipes, another for children, and new flavours for adults.
The book comes with really nice designs, so it makes a great gift as well.

I bought this book to have a better insight on her life and story. The first part of the book is about Mary M. if she lived today. It was a good story, but that is not what I bought the book for. The second part of the book is nothing but the writers view of religion and not about the life of Mary M. Oh well, you can't have it all.

After reading Liz Curtis Higg's previous works, "Bad Girls of the Bible" and "Really Bad Girls of the Bible," I, too, was left wondering why she left out the "baddest" girl of the them all, Mary Magdalene. Well, this book more than made up for the omission. And it turns out, Mary wasn't that bad at all--she wasn't a prostitute like most people believe, she wasn't the one who annointed Jesus' feet, and she was never in love with Jesus. The only bad thing that happened to her was that she was possessed by demons (and haven't we all been at some point in our lives?...just kidding). Misinterpretation of her story by a patriarchal medieval Catholic Church is what gave her the bad reputation. Thank God Liz came along to set things straight! She explores who Mary Magdalene REALLY was through careful study of her appearances in the New Testament. (And as always, Liz makes Bible study accessible to everyone, even those who have never touched a Bible in their lives.) If anything, Mary Magdalene was a powerful and influential woman in her day--she was independently wealthy, she wasn't married at the time so she was free to follow Jesus as she chose, and Jesus Himself placed great importance upon her within his circle of followers. In fact, it was she (and none of the other (male) disciples) whom He chose to appear to first and foremost after His resurrection. That's got to say something about the woman herself!

What I love most about Liz's books is that she tells us how God EMPOWERS women. After living though so many centuries of the Christian church being run by men and limiting women's involvment, many have come to see as Christianity being "anti-woman." But according to Liz, this is not true. She presents God as very pro-woman, and points out many examples of how God has used women over the centuries to do great things. But I would recommend for ANYONE to read this (man or woman) because there are so many misconceptions of Mary Magdalene in our culture today, and it's about time we change our beliefs.

THIS IS ONE OF MRS. HIGGS' MOST THOUGHT PROVOKING BOOKS YET, IN MY OPINION. IT IS VERY WELL RESEARCHED AND WRITTEN IN A MANNER THAT MAKES YOU GO BACK AND READ THE SCRIPTURES REGARDING MARY OF MAGDALA.

MRS. HIGGS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE WRITERS. THOUGH MOST OF HER BOOKS TICKLE YOUR FUNNY BONE, THEY GIVE YOU CAUSE FOR GREAT THOUGHT TOO. I PUT HER ON MY LIST OF TOP WRITERS, UP THERE WITH MAX LUCADO.

I read this book several years ago,and enjoyed it.I recently reread it after travelling from Yreka to Happy Camp,and realizing what a very remote and wild area it is now,let alone back in the 50s.I was impressed with the courage and physical fitness that the author had at the age of eighty.The book is written in a simple but interesting way.There are surprises throughout!

I first purchased this book while on a vacation trip exactly 14 years ago (1989); since then I've tried to read it at least once a year. I laugh my way through the book, and the author's courage & zest for life continues to inspire me! I only hope I am able to always view life with the same gusto & joy she had, trials & tribulations notwithstanding. She was quite a remarkable woman.

My grandmother gave me this book several years ago, and I have just finished reading it for the 2nd time. "Dear Mad'm" chronicles the adventures of octagenarian Stella Patterson who, realizing she has spunk and energy to spare, in addition to a great pair of "young legs", sets out to manage her placer mine in the remote wilds of northern California. With wit and style she relates an amazing year of adventurous living on the mighty Klamath river,striving with and against nature, kept company by a herd of friendly goats, her beloved dog Vicki, and a neighborly duo of miners whom she comes to love as family. I found myself enthralled with her tales and filled with admiration for this energetic and adventuresome lady who said "No!" to old age and lived out her dream in her little cabin in the wilderness. I would dearly love to learn what became of her and to read any other biographical material that is available relating to this remarkable woman.

When Maddox "Mad Dog" Palmer returns to Cutler, North Carolina, nothing is as it was. His best friend, Rob, is set to go on trial, the girl he never forgot is a convicted felon now separated from Rob, and Maddox himself has demons to sort out when it comes to his career. So maybe it wasn't a great idea to agree to assist his father with the local law enforcement or to interfere when his best friend asked, or to fall in love with that girl he never forgot. Ann Barclay Cross has no time to think about MD's return. She's working as a waitress as much as she can to pay back an old debt and to put food on the table for her little boy. But MD won't leave her alone and after she confronts her fears, maybe there will come a time when she doesn't want him to.

Virginia Kantra has written a wonderful story about a very strong woman and the man who first loves, then admires, her. Both MD and Annie have memories of their childhood living in Rob's shadow, but it is their future that is now in jeopardy due to the same man. With MD's help, the local police soon come to realize the threat Rob truly poses to MD, Ann, and her son Mitch. Kantra effectively touches upon and explores the repercussions of domestic abuse through Annie and Mitch, making them unforgettable characters as they deal with their fears and their need to protect each other. MD is a strong and purposeful hero who sees beyond Rob's golden-boy image to the monster he truly is and he is determined to protect the woman and child he loves.

(Actually, that's four and a half stars up there.) I wish covers would note -- honestly -- that a reader won't be able to set down a particular book. I'd have started this one earlier in the day and my eyes wouldn't have been so bleary the next. It's a short book that doesn't meander into subplot and keeps its focus directly on the lead characters, who have full lives and mesh well. In particular I was drawn to Annie, the abused wife who has with this volume undergone therapy. It was fascinating to watch her taking her lessons to heart and refashioning her life. The way her son adapts to their new life was also an emotional rollercoaster. There was the slightest of problems with head-hopping early in the book, but it didn't last long. Overall, this is a real page-turner with extremely likeable characters, a serious villain who is not hokey, and a wonderful attitude about changing your life for the better. Looking forward to Virginia's next book!

Over a decade has passed since Ann Barclay Cross and Maddox Palmer had shared the same town of Cutler, North Carolina. Now, dark circumstances have brought Maddox back to Cutler and Ann, dealing with her own dark problems is wary of letting Maddox close again, physically and emotionally. In the process of extricating herself from a highly abusive husband, attempting to clear her name from a felony conviction, and being a good mother to her son, Ann has enough on her hands without letting Maddox into her life again.

Maddox, on medical leave from the Atlanta police force (following a devastating and tragic altercation), has no intention of letting Ann crawl into herself and hide. He sees firsthand the physical and emotional ravage inflicted on Ann by her slime-ball ex-husband, Rob, and by the snide and hurtful attitude the citizens of Cutler (including his own father, the police chief) have toward Ann and vows to right it all.

Virginia Kantra has done it again--written a story of two everyday people fighting to overcome the odds Fate has tossed them while hesitating to acknowledge the history they have between them or the future they might have together. The reader will be moved to revulsion by how Rob Cross attacks his ex-wife and their son. In the end, I'm glad Rob was treated to some pain. Although not nearly enough to make up for what he'd done to Annie, the fact that she 'got' him with a toy was somehow quite fitting.

Highly recommended.

It seems the author is more interested in drawing cartoons than laying out fun experiments for kids.

I bought this for a 10 year old boy and ended up having to search the web for similiar experiments. Turned out the public stuff on the web was more detailed and helpful than this book.

Good cartoons though, if you like old Hanna Barbara stuff.

I bought this book for my daughter's friend, and my kids liked it so much I bought another for them. The experiments are at the right level for my seven and nine year old, and they are a lot of fun. The instructions are very clear and the drawings are cute and add a lot to the book. I highly recommend this to parents of all children.

This book had even my non-science-interested niece enthralled. We made two types of goo and the volcano. Terrific!

My husband and I love to read "I Was so Mad" along with our 21 month old daughter. The short story easily depicts the everyday frustrations that little ones run into and their feeling "mad" when they can not do what they want but then finding an alternative that does make them happy. Our daughter loves the pictures as well as helping us read along and say "So Mad" at the end of many of the pages. All in all- it's one of our favorites.

I read the book I was so mad By Mercer Mayer and it was about a little critter named critter. He wanted to have fun inside the house but everything he wanted to do was agenst the rules. He got mad and decited to run away. As he was walking he saw some friends that wanted to play baseball and he went to ask his mom and she said yes.Over all it was a good book and ive read it many of times and i will read it whenever i can.It teaches kids that you may not like the rules but if u go by them you will have fun.ages 3-8

I think I Was So Mad, along with the other Mercer Mayer books, is a great book that kids can relate to and learn from. In this book, Little Critter espresses his feelings of frustration and of being angry in a way that most children do in at least one point of time in their life. I enjoyed reading Mercer Mayer books as a child and even now i can't help picking up one of these simple books to read when i see one.