I have read different accounts and books describing manic depressive disorder, but this memoir is something else. It is a very personal story. Each chapter deals with one event in Terri's life, with the following chapter instantly moves to the next event, not necessarily in chronological order. There is no description between the different accounts so the reader needs to connect the dots him- or herself. Slowly a complete picture is drawn of Terri's life.

Why? Why write a book this way? It is part of the disorder, Terri states. Memories loose connection in time and the book is a reflection of this part of manic depressives.

The book is raw. I starts off with the planning phase of a suicide and its subsequent attempt that is only interrupted by rape. And that sets the tone for the rest of the book. Terri seems to suffer very significantly from the disorder's highs and lows in a way I have not read about before. When she is manic, there is no hint of how far she may go or what trouble she might get into. And when she is low, the opposite reigns.