Terri Cheney, Manic

Manic

Terri Cheney

Morrow, Feb 2008, $24.95

ISBN: 9780061430237

Although difficult to read partly because of the topic and partly because Terri Cheney bounces her anecdotal memoir all over the place in a manner similar to how Bi-polar disorder works, MANIC is an insightful personal account of brain chemical imbalance disease. Ms. Cheney describes in vivid detail those times when she thought the big crunch was closing ion on her as depression seemed euphoric in comparisons; she also in somewhat muted tones comparatively speaking those moments when the euphoria is higher than any man made drug can provide. Readers will get inside the author's head as she leaps poles exuberance risk seeking to paralysis in which the bathroom seems to far from her bedroom 'cave'. However, it is the memories that devastate the MANIAC as she knows every foolish step she has taken whenever she leaves either extreme state; her extremes also drive away frustrated friends and lovers who wonder which Terri they will accompany. This is a terrific memoir by a gutsy author, but not easy to read due to the bouncing anecdotes that takes its toll on the audience expecting a more linear life history.

Harriet Klausner