Sylvia True

This was a powerful, moving story that touches on some very tough topics, while spanning two generations. The story revolves around Inga in a way - she's a link between the 30s and the 80s, the one trying to save the women involved. True does an excellent job of bringing the characters and story to life, and a few times I had to stop and take some deep grounding breaths because I just got too wrapped up in the book. True did a great job with the mental health aspect, without glossing over everything. A novel all women's fiction lovers should read.… (mais)

"Where Madness Lies" by Sylvia True is a wonderful, historial book set in two different time periods, Nazi Germany in the 1930s at the beginning of Hitler's reign and in the United States in the early 1980s. The underlying topic is mental illness and the author does a wonderful job taking you back to what it was like being Jewish, in Germany, in the 30s. One character's story, Inga, flip flops between the two decades. One sees her as the sister of mentally ill Jewish patient in Nazi Germany and the other as a grandmother whose granddaughter echoes similar mental illness traits as her great aunt. Inga is torn between how things were handled with her sister and wants to make decisions regarding her granddaughter. Inga is not the most lovable character, but one will certainly sympathize with her greatly.

This is an excellent book that discusses a topic often overshadowed by the Holocaust. It is an emotional read, but one that will make it hard to put the book down. Highly recommend!… (mais)

Germany in the 1930s was a dangerous time. Life as most Germans knew it was coming to an end; old allegiances were breaking and new and terrifying ideas were slowly taking hold. The Nazis were gaining power and Jewish lives, the lives of the mentally challenged, those who were not the “perfect” human example were secretly exterminated for the “good of the people.”

WHERE MADNESS LIES is a story based on the author’s family history. Inga, the daughter of influential Jewish parents, seeks help for her sister, Rigmor, who suffers depression and anxiety. It’s a story of how little was known about mental illness, how women, especially, were treated in the medical field, and how Inga’s decisions affected a number of people for the rest of their lives.

While the majority of the story takes place in 1930s Germany, there are chapters that jump forward to 1984 in the United States. Not only do we see Inga as a young woman, but also as a grandmother who fights the memories of Nazi Germany. Her granddaughter, Sabine, shows signs of the same depression and anxiety Rigmor suffered. Inga wants to help, but in order to do so, she must come to terms with her past choices.

This is a fictional story based on real-life events and it’s important that it serves as a record of atrocities committed by the Nazi Regime. We should never forget. It’s also a statement on how the treatment of mental illness has developed, and how much farther the medical community and society as a whole have to go to de-stigmatize those who suffer from depression, anxiety, and the like.

The women in this story are all reflections of their time and circumstances. Rigmor is a strong character even though her symptoms are debilitating. What’s remarkable is the way even her family disregards her voice. It drove me a little nuts. She tells them multiple times what she needs and wants, but her mother and Inga think they know better. Inga fluctuates from progressive, educated, sexually-aware to emotionally disconnected and reliant on the men around her. Her meddling and need to be in control of not just her life, but those around her have disastrous affects. Sabine pushes Inga’s boundaries forcing Inga to revisit what she’s hid away. Frieda, Rigmor and Inga’s mother, was the most sympathetic character to me. She has limited information and depends on Inga to make decisions, which strains their relationship. In the end, she loses the most.

The writing is good. True’s writing is intelligent and she has done a good job of allowing the reader to travel smoothly from one perspective to another. Sabine’s story mirrors that of Inga and Rigmor without being overdone. I do have a problem with the male character Tanner. I’m not sure if he was supposed to be a male version of Inga’s sexual awareness in another time or be the challenge Sabine is to overcome in order to find herself. I did find Inga to be contradictory at times, but people are like that, right?

Overall, this is a story about living with your decisions and when presented with the opportunity, to atone for perceived mistakes. It’s about discovering what a life worth living means for an individual, how history affects the present, and the infectious spread of secrets.… (mais)

Oh, my poor broken heart. The Wednesday Group is Sylvia True's debut novel, but I can promise you right now that it doesn't read like one. It's stunning, and heartbreaking. I came into a story about women whose problems were far removed from my own life. My biggest worry was that I wouldn't be able to connect enough to really enjoy this story. Trust me, I shouldn't have had any doubts. True's characters came to life. They embraced me as part of their group, and I watched as they laid their hearts and their souls on the table for me to pick apart. Be warned, this isn't the happiest of stories. It is beautiful though, and so very important.

Gail, Hannah, Bridget, Lizzie and Flavia couldn't be more different from one another when the book begins. Learning each of their unique personalities was actually one of my favorites parts of this story. My heart was pulled in all directions while I slowly fell into each one of their lives. Some meek, some angry, but all stronger women then they could ever know. That is, until they came together as a group. I was so impressed at how bluntly, and yet at the same time sensitively, True tackled the concept of men with sex addiction, and how it affects their wives and families. I adored that she didn't lump all of these characters into one coping mechanism. She allowed them their own flaws, and poor decisions, which ultimately made this a much more satisfying story.

What's even more brilliant about this story is the simple fact that it's all forward movement. There's very little fluff, or filler. It's all decisions, consequences, and tons of human growth. Of course, while this was utterly satisfying to read, it also meant that it was emotionally draining as well. I ran the full gambit of emotions while I followed these women on their journey. I felt rage, despair, hope, and so much sadness that it almost overwhelmed me. If I can give credit where credit is due, Sylvia True definitely has mastered the art of pacing. It was perfection.

I can't state enough how impressed I was with The Wednesday Group. Where I started out wary that I wasn't going to feel involved enough, I ended up completely enmeshed in these women's lives. I can't recommend this enough.… (mais)