THE ODYSSEY AND THE IDIOT-KEITH J. PRICE

Hmmm how to describe this book. Well, I will say that the content of this book snuck up on me. I was totally expecting one thing, and got quite another. I honestly thought I wouldn't get much out of this book, but I was wrong. This book was deep man. Really freakin' deep. It totally made me re-think my life, and what I'm living for. It helped open my eyes to the positive things around me. It made me laugh. It made me want to be a better person. All of that in such a short story about a dad and a random road trip with his two kids. I am impressed. Keith J. Price, if you are reading this...you rock man. Mad props to you! :-)

Below is my review. Check out more great reviews at www.frontstreetreviews.com

Before deciding if I wanted to even read this story, I thought to myself a bit skeptically ‘okay, this guy wrote about a road trip with his two kids…cute…but honestly, who cares?! ‘ This story wasn’t going to be a wild fictional tale that kept me on the edge of my seat, but rather a road trip about a family I don’t even know. Hmm….
I decided to take the plunge, (after all, the story is only 120 pages, so it won’t take much time out of my life if I end up not liking it), and boy am I glad I did! This story was not meant for you to become close to his kids or follow along where they went specifically. This was something bigger! Keith J. Price shares with his readers his life; his flaws, his experiences, his reason for living. He teaches us that there is so much good in life and that you can get all that good without even leaving your home. He allows us to experience a road trip that he takes with his two young children while he sorts out parts of his life. This trip helps him to process a bad incident at work, and to remind himself how much he is loved by his family and how lucky he is. He also allows us to take a trip down memory lane and experience certain events taking place in his life that were landmarks for him.
What really kept me turning the pages was Keith J. Prices’ humor and utter honesty. He tells it like it is. He talks about his kids bugging the crap out of him, snobby waiters, his views on god, his hatred of Nazis; all of which was done in a way that kept the reader grinning and letting out an occasional snort of laughter.
I came out of reading this book not feeling like this guy was better than me, or that he is luckier than me. I came out feeling reminded of just how lucky I am and how wonderful my life really is. Keith J. Price has written a terrific book that I would recommend to everyone. There are so many different things to take away with you that you will find in these 120+ pages. This is a book I will refer to again and again!

HURRY DOWN SUNSHINE-MICHAEL GREENBERG

This was definitly a powerful story to read. This is a small thing, but I really liked the title of this book, and think you will fully understand and appreciate it once you've gotten through the entire story. Michael Greenberg is a very strong man for being able to tell his story and share it with so many people...

This true life account of Michael Greenberg’s daughter going through her first bout of psychosis is truly eye opening and revealing. His ability to take us into her mind, and give us a glimpse of what it feels like to be manic is astounding. This book packed more of a punch than a text book regarding this illness ever would.
Sally is fifteen years old. Up until now, she lived what she and everyone else thought as a ‘normal’ life. Her father, Michael Greenberg starts to notice her behavior change. She is pacing, acting out verbally, obsessively writing, and saying things that don’t appear to make any sense. Michael finally decides that she needs to be hospitalized because he cannot give her the help that she needs. So begins Sally’s long, hard battle of not only trying to get better, and come back into reality, but also come to grips with the fact that this is never going to go away.
After spending over twenty days in the psych ward, Sally is able to go home. The work is far from over for her. She has to take lots of medication, go to appointments with a psychiatrist that meet multiple times a week, and basically learn how to live all over
What I think I loved most about this book was the fact that it was so real. This could have been anyone’s child. Michal and Pat dealt with the cards they were given in the same way most parents would; fear, frustration, confusion, sadness, and most of all, determination. I think that this book will help inspire many families who have children with a mental disorder to realize that there is hope and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Yes, it is a constant uphill battle, but progress can be made, and your child can still live a wonderful life; they do not have to be defined by their illness.
Michael Greenberg did an amazing job at allowing the reader to see into Sally’s mind, but at the same time not confusing us. His words were clear and concise and very, very real. It is very apparent that he has a skill with using words. He is able to turn his story into something much more than just words on paper; he turns them into hope for others. I think this was also probably a liberating story for him to write as well. I believe it is very therapeutic to write about troubles you have had and to be able to share them with the world and get support from people going through similar circumstances.
I would recommend this book first and foremost to anyone who knows anyone who has a mental illness of this sort. I would also recommend this book to any and everyone. I think it is a great learning tool for people that have never had to experience anyone who is mentally ill to learn about it and be prepared if it ever comes their way. I give Michael Greenberg much kudos for writing this book, and I hope his daughter Sally is staying strong.

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