Pages

Wednesday 27 June 2012

Waiting on Wednesday (WoW) #4

January First: A Child's Descent Into Madness and Her Father's Struggle to Save Her by Michael Schofield.
This is my 4th Waiting on Wednesday (WoW), 
therefore my #WoW may not correlate with the linked post.
This meme is hosted by Jill @ Breaking the spine.


  • Hardcover: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (NY) (7 Aug 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0307719081
  • ISBN-13: 978-0307719089

A brilliant and harrowingly honest memoir, January First is the extraordinary story of a father's fight to save his child from an extremely severe case of mental illness in the face of overwhelming adversity.

At six years old, Michael Schofield's daughter, January, was diagnosed with one of the most severe cases of child-onset schizophrenia that doctors had ever seen. In January's case, she is hallucinating 95 percent of the time that she is awake. Potent psychiatric drugs that would level most adults barely faze her. January, "Jani" to her family, has literally hundreds of imaginary friends. They go by names like 400-the-Cat, 100 Degrees, and 24 Hours and live on an island called "Calalini," which she describes as existing "on the border of my world and your world." Some of these friends are good, and some of them, such as 400, are very bad. They tell her to jump off buildings, attack her brother, and scream at strangers.

In the middle of these never-ending delusions, hallucinations, and paroxysms of rage are Jani's parents, who have gone to the ends of the earth to keep both of their children alive and unharmed. They live in separate one-bedroom apartments in order to keep her little brother, Bohdi, safe from his big sister--and wage a daily war against a social system that has all but completely failed them. January First is the story of the daily struggles and challenges they face as they do everything they can to help their daughter while trying to keep their family together. It is the inspiring tale of their resolute determination and faith.

**************
This is not the kind of book that i normally read to be honest, in a memoir format as such.  However, I watched a documentary about January and i was just blown away and could not believe it.  Seeing how brilliant and understanding her parents are and how they live as a family.  It is such a rare thing for a child to have and January has it severe, to see the daily challenges and struggles they go through is heart-retching.  It was such an inspiring documentary and shows the unconditional love of parents, the ability to adapt and survive in life and the sheer determination they have.  I think this book will give more insight into the parents feelings and how they manage.  If i had not watched the documentary, i think i would have over-looked this book, but please, look on google about this beautiful little girl, try and watch the documentary and i'm sure it will make you want to read this book :)   I am really looking forward to reading this book, i will  have the tissues ready, as i believe it maybe emotional.

6 comments:

  1. I do not read a lot of memoirs, but have read a couple that I have enjoyed very much. This one looks worth a try. Thanks for the introduction. My WOW...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am the same, i was unsure whether to add this as a WoW but i am looking forward to reading it and i have it as an arc to review. I find it hard to review a memoir though so may just read it. Thanks for stopping by :)

      Delete
  2. This looks great!!

    Love the blog! I followed on GFC.

    my WOW

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks u :) and *welcome* I will check out your WoW xx

      Delete
  3. What a heartwrenching story!! The parents are amazing, sacrificing so much! Schizophrenia is a horrible mental illness, consuming a persons life and those around them. I feel for these parents and hope that someday they find the meds needed to help their daughter live a somewhat normal life. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yep i cannot wait to read it. I have it for review from Netgalley but i do not feel it is something i can do aproper review on you know so i'll read it and do a post about it but i will not judge anything. You cannot do that with memoirs really. I know, it is such an awful illness for a adult, nevermind for a child, so so sad. What out for my post, will not be until around the publication date :) xx

      Delete

Many thanks for your comment, all comments are really appreciated and I will reply :) xx