Et cetera : What We're Reading: More or Less Maddy

This weekend I read 'More Or Less Maddy,' the latest from author Lisa Genova. We meet Maddy, a college student who doesn't feel she fits in with her 'perfect' family. She is stressed out, misses a deadline for one of her classes, and tells her school health office that she has been feeling overwhelmed with the hopes of getting an extension.

She leaves the health office with an extra two weeks added to her deadline, as well as a prescription for an antidepressant. After taking her first dose, Maddy is catapulted into a state of mania, where she stays up all night long for days on end writing a Netflix comedy special, and believes she has a secret connection with Taylor Swift. The story continues as Maddy is diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I found the book heart-wrenching, heart-warming, shocking, and funny; I was cheering for Maddy as she struggled with both mania and devastation, while trying to trust her feelings of happiness and self-worth.

Genova has a background in biopsychology and neuroscience and excels at bringing her scientific expertise to the world of fiction. I felt deep empathy for Maddy, as well as those who love her. I found the timeline of the ending a bit far-fetched, but overall, I am glad I read it. I applaud the author for her gift of using storytelling as a way to destigmatize many brain health conditions.

Happy reading,

Kelly