Customer Reviews

Voices Beyond the Stream

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Capturing the sheer essence of how powerful the mind is and the extraordinary challenges one has to overcome when diagnosed with bipolar or manic depression; Christopher Palmer opens the doors to a new world less traveled. Although researched and studied...really understanding why some people are more affected and impacted then others by certain traumas and experiences is still not fully understood. Palmer's book captures the reader in a way that you feel you are having a personal conversation at times with the main character. The characters reflect various aspects of this mysterious disease and how true commitment and love for oneself can pull you through to the other side. I highly recommend this book, especially for those suffering who may not see the light through the tunnel or hear the "Voices Beyond the Stream". There is hope and there is help. Please reach out!

Voices Beyond the Stream is an eye-opener to the plight that many suffering from manic depression face in their daily lives. The author, Chris Palmer, candidly moves the reader through the mind of a man suffering from the illness, giving the reader an extraordinarily honest view of the illness infringing on his main character's (Hunter Kraven) very existence.
Although this is a work of fiction, the characters are keenly real, and urgent issues are cleverly placed into a story that is not only intellectually engaging, it also delivers vital information about coping with manic depression. Palmer's well-crafted words push the envelope, taking the reader to the edge and ultimately bringing forth a real-life solution. He delivers detailed information about modern treatment and depicts the effects of this treatment in a way that only someone with manic depression would know. This rare look is invaluable to moving forward with the courses of action necessary for those who live with the illness and for those with loved-ones who suffer from it.
Voices Beyond the Stream is definitely a must-read for anyone thirsty for understanding manic depression. It won't disappoint!

This one stunned me with its very frank look at manic depression, a.k.a. bipolar disorder. The protagonist's struggles to overcome his mental illness are admirable, to say the least. Here we have the story of a manic-depressive man who is thrust onto a psychiatric ward where he must come to terms with his illness. I recommend this novel for anyone who wants a better understanding of manic depression in a fictional format.

Well I just finished the book and I have to say I'm relieved and slightly uncomfortable. It is true bipolar disorder is an unfortunate misdiagnosed mental illness. This novel is written very well,of course I would not have expected anything less from Chris. Next it looks as though I will be reading The River Manic.

I enjoyed this book even though it follows the main character through a period of hospitalization for a suicide attempt due to bipolar disorder. Understanding the forward and intent of the author in writing it made me much more forgiving of the few portions that were difficult to read and figure out which point in time those events had occurred since the book does not flow congruently beginning to end, and the grammar and punctuation mistakes that made it through final editing. Character development is a bit lacking throughout, even for the main character in my opinion. There is enough to make the read enjoyable however.
There is strong language throughout which I felt was an honest portrayal but some may find offensive. These is no real intent I felt on the part of the author to convey information about bipolar disorder so I would hope any readers of this novel are already well informed about the disorder, otherwise they may come away with a skewed view that all bipolar sufferers are similar to the main character and supporting characters of the novel and have no true understanding of the complexities of the illness.