Customer Reviews

Edgewise

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Jan Stites has written a truly compelling account of a woman who confronts her inner demons. Simone is in the midst of an emotional meltdown and finds herself in unfamiliar territory with people whom she had always considered "others". As she grapples with her own issues she discovers her shared humanity with these others. The characters become so alive that reading this book is almost like watching a movie. It's so real, so moving, so heartfelt that the story pulls you along like a rip tide. Stites' thoughtful yet vernacular language engages your mind as well as your heart. I highly recommend this very powerful book.

I couldn't put this book down. It is a beautifully told story....compelling, insightful and heartfelt. The characters are unforgettable. It's amazing read !!!!

As a psychologist, I was intrigued by the plot of this book. It is the story of Simone, a 40-year old teacher, outwardly successful, who suddenly has a breakdown in front of her students. It comes to light that she has been engaging in self-injurious behavior--cutting herself on her thighs--and her principal suspends her from teaching pending that she receive treatment. With no income, the only therapy that Simone can afford is Oakwood Hospital, a day treatment center where Simone, white and middle class, is surrounded by mostly black, lower-class patients, many of whom are angry, resentful, and seriously mentally ill.

Given my own professional background, there were some aspects of Simone's treatment that I did not find to be wholly realistic. However, I soon became engaged in author Jan Stites' story, so any issues I had were easy to overlook. Stites has strong narrative skills, and she has created compelling characters in Simone and her fellow hospital patients, particularly Satch. I definitely cared about what happened to this odd little group of people, and so I eagerly read through the book to the end.

Overall, I found this book an interesting, worthwhile read, and I would definitely consider reading another novel by this author in the future.

Jan Stites' darkly compelling novel, Edgewise, is hard to put down. The novel is the story of Simone, a 40-year-old teacher whose carefully contained life unravels on the pages before us. When she is suspended from her job after breaking down in the classroom, Simone turns to an outpatient program in a psychiatric hospital eerily nicknamed "Oakhell," a mandated move if Simone wants to regain her teaching position.

While there, Simone encounters a group of fellow patients whose stories are so real, so authentic, they will break your heart and leave you smiling through your tears. These are the people, along with a stellar professional staff, who reach out to Simone and help her on her journey.

It's a journey worth taking. Not only could I not put the book down, but I came away with heightened understanding and greater compassion for those whose lives have been overwhelmed by personal tragedy. I like these characters, a lot. And I like the novel. It's definitely worth the read.

Uck, just finished this book & although the characters kept me reading, the storyline was completely predictable. The mental illness descriptions were pop-junk & not reality based - kind of the thing you'd see on a tv drama instead of within the pages of a DSM-IV. I can't believe I finished it but I thought something would happen that would surprise me, it just all made me a little angry that I was sucked into the book at all & wasted a week of reading on it. I hate to be critical & I rarely read a book that I don't like but this one just felt like such a sad attempt to depict people with mental illness by showing it was all their parents' fault instead of delving deeper into the reality of brain chemicals and other factors-- it really reduced the suffering of the mentally ill to a one-liner...such a shame

The Review


This novel came to me for review. However, the cover really kind of set me apart from the book as I was a bit afraid of cracking it open and finding out what was inside. But, when I agree to review a book... I do. And, so it came the book's time to be read, yet a part of me resisted.

During the first few chapters, I kept myself distant from this book. Reading about others' heartbreak and dysfunction just held me arm length's away. I have been through too much in the past year to immerse myself in other people's fears and faults. But, I don't walk away from a commitment and I never leave a book unfinished. I read on.

Within a few more chapters, I came to understand the characters and learned to relate to them rather than avoid them. I found myself wanting to watch Simone's psychosis unravel itself within the story. I wanted to know what it was that caused Simone to fall apart. As I pressed on, I was able to relate to the supporting characters of the story. I wanted to see them succeed and move beyond the fears that trapped them.

This book is not what I would consider a "light read." It includes considerable depth into the inner workings of the minds of the broken characters. The author must have extensive experience in the psychiatry field and the book reflects it. In many ways, this book is sad, yet it provides hope. I found myself happy for Simone's small victories: leaving Michael at the dinner table, confronting her father, and not giving up on Satch. However, the overall feel of the book left me feeling a bit "bluesy" and down. It is hard to think about how the parenting of a child can severely affect their well-being as an adult. It's even harder to think about my own personal challenges and what it will take to overcome them fully.

On Sher's "Out of Ten Scale:"

This book is the first of its kind that I've reviewed. Without a solid comparison book, I am rating this one of my pure opinion. For the genre Fiction:Psychological, I am going to rate this book a 7 OUT OF 10.

The problems life throws at you may just be the solution. "Edgewise" follows Simone, a deeply troubled woman. When she breaks down, she fines herself in a mental institution which has gained the charming nickname of 'Oakhell'. As she fines herself in conflict with Satch, she is throw into a series of events where she must face her own problems, Satch, and perhaps Satch's problems as well. "Edgewise" is a story of humanity and how strength can come from many sources, even those we supposedly hate.

A true honest depiction of a women in emotional trouble, searching for love & lasting connections. A definite page turner, I highly recommend reading about these complex & rich characters, most especially Simone. I hope to read more from Jan Stites!

The review I read on Edgewise compelled me to chose this book for our book club. I was not disappointed! It is easy to care about Simone and get to know all of the characters well. This book is a must read and one that will stick with you. Jan Stites came to our book club and she is fascinating! I can't say enough good things about Edgewise and Jan Stites.

I'm embarrassed to admit to how much I didn't know about the treatment of mental illness until I read this book. It isn't an easy book to read because the characters are in pain and the author makes that very real to the reader. But she does an amazing job of depicting a story that we can all relate to on one level or another. If nothing else, we leave counting our blessings and hopefully having more sympathy for those who aren't as lucky. I can highly recommend "Edgewise".