Title: Overtaken by Insanity: Two Sisters Lives Are Burdened by Elder Sister’s Mental Illness
Authors: Louise Killifer and Lois Martin
Publisher: Ewings Publishing, LLC
ISBN: 979-8890316509
Pages: 330
Genre: Autobiography
Reviewer: Ephantus M.
Hollywood Book Reviews
Authors Louise Killifer’s and Lois Martin’s Overtaken by Insanity: Two Sisters Lives Are Burdened by Elder Sister’s Mental Illness tells the heartbreaking story of Jane’s extremely distressing mental illness, the authors’ older sister, and the situation where they are trying to survive the worst times as best they can in spite of her insane beliefs and resistance to conventional common sense measures.
Louise and Lois sought solace in avoiding Jane since she consistently maintained a controlling role over them as they got older. She refused to take her medication for Schizophrenia as prescribed, and their mother struggled to accept her mental illness, which led to a never-ending cycle of endless problems. Louise recalls that one of the most tranquil times of the year was when Jane was admitted to the hospital. On the other hand, Lois remembers being shocked to see that Jane, her would-be mentor, was acting strangely and had become attached to their mother, forming a unique bond that sapped their mother’s emotional support for them.
This story effectively captures their suffering and strong need to be freed from Jane’s controlling, repulsive behavior, which is illustrated by their retaliation; from peeing on her as children to twisting her fingers backwards during one of her frequent bullying outbursts. Their sorrow is palpable on every page as they recall an unexpected turn of events and the emergence of an adversary they never expected. Their interaction with other family members is open and honest, and they tell a lot of it in a way that skillfully depicts turmoil and truths that many would want to keep hidden.
The story made me wonder what I would do differently if I were the writers, as well as how I would cope with and find balance with a sister whose character is directly impacted by a medical condition. Additionally, I found myself appreciating their father’s style of humor and his joint commitment with his wife to protect his family from an offensive neighbor’s family. Later in the novel, I realized that their family’s health problem with their older sister was not the only thing that caused them to experience sadness; other circumstances, such as their father’s declaration that he saw no need to live longer, also tested their strength and fortitude. Rather than being a breezy read, I believe Overtaken by Insanity: Two Sisters’ Lives Are Burdened by Elder Sister’s Mental Illness has moments which may cause readers who might have family members struggling with mental health issues to navigate through the complexities of this condition. It is brutally honest and effectively pushes for the importance of good and healthy parenting as well as developing mental health awareness. Overtaken by Insanity is recommended for readers interested in personal memoirs, mental health workers, or intricate dynamics of familial responsibility.