I Never Promised You A Rose Garden

This is the story of Deborah who has constructed a fantasy world, Yr, for herself in which she can flee what she perceives as the bad world around her. She begins fleeing to Yr a little at first, and then more and more often until it reaches the point that her parents place her in a mental institution.

This book is older than Girl, Interrupted, and there are a variety of differences between the two stories. In this case, Deborah does not steadily get better; she has relapses and moves from one ward to another.

This is also almost a poetic-type of book in the way it is written. All the characters (in both works) are very realistic and believable. Time is spent looking at Deborah's parents and how they react to her illness, and how they try to "protect" Deborah's sister from the knowledge of what has happened to Deborah.

This is a thoroughly excellent novel and is a definite must-read.

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