Title: Sounds Like CrazyAuthor: Shana Mahaffey
Genre: Contemporary fiction, adult
Published: 2009
Source: Pump Up Your Book
Holly is a young woman living in NYC who has Dissociative Identity Disorder, and lives with five other personalities in her head, whom she collectively calls The Committee. Betty Jane, a charming Southern vixen of sorts, is the leader of The Committee and has a sizable amount of control over Holly and the other personalities.
Holly's been working various dead-end waitressing jobs, and continues to be fired from them, has a dysfunctional and disconnected relationship with her parents, and has no friendships or decent relationships to speak of. She spends most of her time at home with The Committee, and spends some time in therapy too. Opportunity comes knocking though, when Betty Jane reveals herself during Holly's waitressing, and lands Holly a voice-over job for a new show with Betty Jane's Southern drawl.
A lot of the second half of the novel is spent with Holly having to dig into her past and traumatic childhood to find out why her personality has split into five different directions.
I really enjoy psychology and reading about various disorders, so this book was interesting to read. Despite its seriousness, it is also filled with some humor and wit. It's fascinating to read about how Holly's various personalities seem to shove her aside at their will and take over her body, especially the manipulative Betty Jane. She even has conversations with them, often garnering strange looks from tourists. The various "characters" in this novel are extremely interesting, and quite endearing too. Holly uncovers her traumatic childhood which reveals where each of the five characters originated, each as some sort of coping mechanism. While the book was interesting, it didn't completely capture me, and I felt a bit disconnected from the story at times.
People with an interest in psychology, contemporary fiction, and strong characterization will be drawn to this story.
My Rating: 3.5/5
I think this sounds fantastic! Can't wait to see your final review - I'm so intrigued by psychology as well, and love to read books on the topic. For a darker and more Gothic read, you may like Asylum by Patrick McGrath. I read/reviewed it a couple of months ago, and I still think about it. Not to mention, I've obsessively picked up three more of his books...
ReplyDeleteEvery since I saw the movie Identity with John Cusack, I've been really afraid of Dissociative Identity Disorder. If this is as light-hearted and witty as it seems, maybe this will help me be less freaked-out about it! Can't wait to see your final review! :o)
ReplyDeleteI work with a girl who announced on her 2nd day of work she had multiple personalities. She often talked to herself. Would let out a "whoop" for no reason. That's the best I can explain it - a "whoop." She. Was. Scary.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds really good, I can't wait to read your full review. Great start though :)
ReplyDeleteLooks interesting! Will keep an eye out for your full review.
ReplyDeleteA psychology reading is great for me. Thanks for the review!
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