Customer Reviews

An Audience of Chairs

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The main character in Joan Clark's novel "An Audience of Chairs" is a woman with bipolar disorder. I have been looking for novels with main characters who have bipolar. Unfortunately in Clark's book I did not find anything remotely resembling bipolar disorder. The author does not have a good enough understanding of bipolar disorder to represent it realistically. She did do research on bipolar for the novel but she really missed the boat.

Clark's main character, Moranna, comes across as someone who's quirky and eccentric. She doesn't own a telephone; she gets into long drawn out arguments with the staff at the local grocery store; etc, etc. She is difficult to deal with; she doesn't blend into society nor does she seem to want to make any effort to do so. Moranna has problems to be sure but whatever she has it's not bipolar. The final scene of the book in particular stood out for me. Moranna is wearing a costume and as she sees someone pulling into her driveway she takes off the costume and puts it away. That passage pretty much summed up the problem with the whole book. Clark gives the reader the impression that bipolar disorder is something you can simply tuck away in a box when need be. Moranna sheds her costume and everything's fine. If only bipolar were that easy to deal with.

If you know someone that struggles with bipolar disorder and want to read a novel that gives a realistic portrayal of mania and depression you should check out "Beyond the Glass" by Antonia White. I think the difference between the two novels lies in the fact that White suffered from bipolar disorder and Clark does not. White gives an excellent account of the horrors of mania. Perhaps someone who doesn't have bipolar can't write a clear, realistic portrayal of what's it like to struggle with the disorder. Of course I can't fault Clark for not having bipolar! I think it is commendable that she wanted to tackle such a difficult subject. However, I think there are already so many misconceptions about bipolar disorder and I think this book simply adds to the long list of misconceptions. I am still searching for novels with characters who have bipolar disorder if anyone's got any suggestions for me.

Moranna is called Mad Mory in her hometown of Baddeck, Nova Scotia. Set in a landscape that is untamed, Mad Mory emulates that wildness in her personality, besot by mental illness. Moranna is an unforgettable character, a passionate actress, a singer with perfect pitch and a young bride consumed with visions of grandeur. As the book progresses, the reader learns that Moranna has lost her two young daughters and this has catapulted her headlong into a depression that engulfs and guides her life. When a chance encounter via the television brings one of her daughters back into her life, Moranna's burdens are lightened and she finds new direction. This is a powerful foray into one woman's mind and tackles a tough subject in our society today. Yet, this book is full of hope and forgiveness and challenges readers to examine their own relationships with family and friends.

Joan Clark's book 'An Audience of Chairs' is one of the best books I've read this year, and accurately shows us the world of bi-polar with psychosis disorder, and the path of destruction that touches the lives of all involved.

Moranna is a quirky, intelligent woman, married to an affluent man and has two small children. Her Bipolar disorder results in the loss of her marriage, her children, and mostly, herself.

It is an inspirational story of how she learns to identify her 'trigger's, and by allowing herself to become her own person, an artist, a happy non-conformist who finds love with a man outside her social class, she comes to terms with her disease and realizes that her strength of character will see her through. I especially liked how she stood up to physicians who wanted to break her spirit, as if doing so, some type of miracle would occur.

Clark's writing is lovely, poetic, vulnerable. A gifted storyteller! I read the book in two sittings. And what a fitting title.