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Carol's Reviews > Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family
Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family
by
by
****4.5 STARS****
The story follows the gut-wrenching odyssey of the Galvin family. Don and Mimi Galvin had ten boys and two girls between 1945 and 1965. Six of the couple's sons were diagnosed with schizophrenia. The author skillfully weaves the Galvins’ story with the history of schizophrenia and its devastating effects on both the family and the afflicted.
Even without the diagnosis of schizophrenia, their personal family story was intimate and spellbinding for me. Elements of the narrative resonate because I grew up in a large, Catholic family and I am also a long-time resident of Colorado Springs. The earlier years of the Galvin marriage in my hometown included many familiar landmarks that made the story even more compelling. I’m surprised that I never heard of this family!
It is a fascinating biography, well written and unputdownable.
The story follows the gut-wrenching odyssey of the Galvin family. Don and Mimi Galvin had ten boys and two girls between 1945 and 1965. Six of the couple's sons were diagnosed with schizophrenia. The author skillfully weaves the Galvins’ story with the history of schizophrenia and its devastating effects on both the family and the afflicted.
Even without the diagnosis of schizophrenia, their personal family story was intimate and spellbinding for me. Elements of the narrative resonate because I grew up in a large, Catholic family and I am also a long-time resident of Colorado Springs. The earlier years of the Galvin marriage in my hometown included many familiar landmarks that made the story even more compelling. I’m surprised that I never heard of this family!
It is a fascinating biography, well written and unputdownable.
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Reading Progress
April 3, 2020
– Shelved
April 3, 2020
– Shelved as:
to-read
April 3, 2020
– Shelved as:
psychology
April 3, 2020
– Shelved as:
non-fiction
June 28, 2020
– Shelved as:
e-audible
December 2, 2020
–
Started Reading
December 15, 2020
–
Finished Reading
January 1, 2021
– Shelved as:
c-spgs
Comments Showing 1-23 of 23 (23 new)
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Jennifer
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Dec 13, 2020 04:31AM
I look forward to your review of this, Carol
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Jennifer wrote: "I look forward to your review of this, Carol"Sorry I missed your comment, Jennifer! I read earlier but just now posted a review. It was a compelling read! Thank you.
It was indeed a compelling one. Glad you enjoyed it, Carol!
Jen wrote: "It was indeed a compelling one. Glad you enjoyed it, Carol!"Thanks, Jen. Yes, it was certainly compelling!
I loved this one too Carol. Fascinating!
Wonderful review, Carol .
I found this story absolutely fascinating. Great review Carol!
This sounds so interesting, Carol.
Tooter wrote: "I loved this one too Carol. Fascinating!"Thanks, Tooter. I know that you did and I agree. I was mesmerized.
Angela M wrote: "Wonderful review, Carol ."Thank you, Angela.
JanB wrote: "I found this story absolutely fascinating. Great review Carol!"I just read your fine review, Jan. I agree...I couldn't put it down.
Esil wrote: "This sounds so interesting, Carol."If you read this nonfiction, I believe that you will be fascinated. Thanks for commenting.
I read very little nonfiction, but this is the second stellar review I have seen of this one. Very tempting.
Zoeytron wrote: "I read very little nonfiction, but this is the second stellar review I have seen of this one. Very tempting."I'm happy that you've been tempted, Zoey. It was fascinating nonfiction! Thanks for commenting.
Jennifer wrote: "I look forward to your review of this, Carol"Great review, Carol! I really want to read this. I understand so little about schizophrenia.
Happy New Year!
Elyse wrote: "Fantastic review Carol ... I couldn’t pull away from it when I read it!!
Happy New Year!"
Thanks, Elyse. I just read your awesome review of this story. It certainly was unputdownable!
Jennifer wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "I look forward to your review of this, Carol"Great review, Carol! I really want to read this. I understand so little about schizophrenia.
Happy New Year!"
Happy new year, my friend! If you have an interest in schizophrenia, this one is fascinating. Thanks for commenting.
This was a hard read for me, Carol ... Fine review :))
Beata wrote: "This was a hard read for me, Carol ... Fine review :))"Thank you kindly, Beata! Yes, I agree. It was both fascinating and heartbreaking for that family.
This story gutted me.
Kelli wrote: "This story gutted me."Yes, me too, Kelli. Raising 12 children would be hard enough with coping with six with schizophrenia! Thanks for commenting.
My gosh. This must have really hit home - your fellow “neighbors!”
LA wrote: "My gosh. This must have really hit home - your fellow “neighbors!”"Thanks for commenting, LA. Yes, it was a compelling read, especially since I also grew up in a large, Catholic family. That's complicated enough without the schizophrenia. :)
