What She Left Behind: A Haunting and Heartbreaking Story of 1920s Historical Fiction

Heartbreaking beautifully written, I’ll be thinking of these characters for weeks had me reading in the edge of my seat

"What She Left Behind" reminded me of being in high school and reading "Flowers in The Attic". A real nail biter of a book, that is hard to put down. Fortunately, I was only fifteen when I read "Flowers In The Attic", and it was a grand experience for a young person like myself who had not read that many novels yet. At 45, I can appreciate the page turning aspects of a book like "What She Left Behind", but must also point out that it is hardly elevated literature. In no way am I trying to sound snobby. I finished this book in less than a week, which is unusual for me. It is indeed a compelling read, and hard to put down. It flows along nicely, and never gets off track. This author has a flare for writing suspenseful chapters. I admired the subject matter of the book very much, and always appreciate even the slightest bit of light being shed on anything that has to do with mental illness. So I indeed recommend this book.Having said that, I must confess that there are issues here that may be problematic for some. I will not go so far as to say this book is amateurish, but will say that it probably would appeal more to a younger female audience than any other. Both of the main characters are young females. One of them has her story portrayed in the 1930's, and the other the 1990's. This formula is starting to get tiresome at this point, as it seems nearly every other book I read has two separate stories taking place with decades in between them. Orphan Train, The Pieces We Keep, Water For Elephants, Sarah's Key, Those Who Save Us, to name a few. Often times one of the stories will be great but not the other, which is confounding to me, as a good story does not need to be anchored with a happy ending that takes place fifty years later, at least not to me.Clara, the main character from the 1930's has a big problem. She's been wrongfully committed to an asylum. This nightmarish experience is riveting, and at times gasp inducing. I was on the edge of my seat and sincerely experienced the "cringe" factor on numerous occasions while reading about her experience in such a God awful place. How authentic of a story this is I couldn't say. I know that the portrayal of asylums through most of the twentieth century are not usually ones that will make you think about butterflies resting on newly opened daffodils. This story does not break any new ground in that I believe most of us have had numerous encounters with reading or viewing a story about someone being trapped in an asylum against their will. Still, it is compelling to read about if for no other reason than to help purge our own fears about such a horror happening to us. The nature of what seemingly occurred at one time in these places, is truly unfathomable to me, but then, so is what happened during the Holocaust. Though sometimes certain subjects can become redundant, I believe that these Evil's that human beings are capable of need not be forgotten, as I'm a true believer that we are in fact doomed to repeat such atrocities if we don't keep reminding ourselves. Though Clara's story is not written in the most skillful fashion, it is written in a manner that keeps your interest, and stirs your emotions.Meanwhile the story of Izzy in 1995 is not quite as interesting, nor is the connection between her and Clara. However, a different set of life circumstances is pondered during Izzy's story, albeit not particularly original either. Izzy has grown up in foster care trying to survive with the knowledge that her Mom killed her Dad when she was a young girl. She wrestles with knowing that her Mom is committed to a psychiatric facility, and subsequently lives fearful of mental illness, what might cause it, and if she eventually may fall victim to it. This had the potential to be explored much further than it was, and I believe is a relatable fear to many people, but the author steers away and instead focuses too much on Izzy's experience with trying to fit in at a new school and make new friends, and the crush that she has on a boy that is in a relationship with a "mean girl". Again, the author's talent for writing suspenseful scenes is on full display, and in fact a scene where a group of kids who get together at night and scope out an abandoned asylum will have you hard pressed to stop reading.For me wanting to keep reading is first and foremost as to if a book is good. This book is good. The other elements, writing style, language use, etc..I can ignore if I feel like I'm learning something, and I'm being entertained. I feel that a letter grade or star grade is not possible for this novel. For me it deserves and A for storytelling, and C for not rising above the many cliche's contained in these two characters stories.

Thank everyone who was able to change what mental institutions were like in the early twentieth century. This is my third book I have read this year by Ellen Marie Wiseman. As an English major I appreciate the way she makes her characters come to life and makes the reader feel as if he or she is actually experiencing being part of the narrative.My only complaint-I stayed up to all hours and couldn’t put the book down. Personal favorite the Circus and elephant inspired book.

Very interesting and very sad. Thank God our care for mentally ill people has improved over the last almost 100 years. Although I was sad, I thought the book was a very good read and ultimately made me want to see what happened to Clara and Bruno.

About a girl who is put in an insane asylum by her father because he did not approve or who she loved. And about a girl present day who studied th e lift or the the first gitl.Lot's of stuff happened to the girl on the insane. Asylum

Book Club selection. I'm caught between like and love. The book was definitely a fast and easy read. The interwoven story of two young women from different time periods, I found it unusually hard to put down the book. I read mostly out of concerned with Clara's story. Clara had been reared in a wealthy and politically influential family just before the stock market crash of 1929. When, at 18, she falls in love with an Italian immigrant whom her parents consider beneath their social standing, Clara is strong-willed enough to stand up and insist on following her heart. Her father responds quickly by having her locked up in a mental facility. The more Clara complains that she does not belong and should be released to the outside world, the more the doctor and staff try to convince her this is part of her delusion. The modern-day protagonist,Izzy, lives with a tortured past, trying to rediscover her inner strength, while still haunted by her own mother being locked behind prison bars. Was her mother insane? Could Izzy have inherited that insanity?Both girls face difficulties in the new world in which they find themselves, though they do find allies. At the same time, the girls must face antagonists who, in the position of power, seem determined to destroy the 'new arrival' on their turf. In the end, both antagonists turn out to be not just people struggling with their own demons, but over-the-edge sociopaths.Clara's story was not uncommon for her time period, with higher percentages of women being locked up for emotional rebellion of male authority or public outbreaks of anger and frustration. While this novel is fictional, the experiences are drawn from actual accounts of treatments within such mental facilities. Think we treat people better today? Yes, there are improvements in what is allowed, but some things have not changed.This book reminded me immediately of Dr. David Rosenhan's study at Standford in the 1960's. ". . .eight sane people (a psychology graduate student in his 20s, three psychologists, a pediatrician, a psychiatrist, a painter, and a 'housewife') attempting to gain admission to 12 different hospitals, in five different states in the USA." Each gave an initial description of hearing voices, though they all made it clear the voices disappeared after admission. "The pseudo patients gave a false name and job (to protect their future health and employment records), but all other details they gave were true including general ups and downs of life, relationships, events of life history and so on."Every activity, including recording data on inside the facility, every question of when their situation might be reviewed and when they might be allowed to be released, was ignored or brushed aside as part of the pseudo patient's delusion. "All of the pseudo patients disliked the experience and wished to be discharged immediately. None of the pseudo patients was detected and all but one were admitted with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and were eventually discharged with a diagnosis of 'schizophrenia in remission.' This diagnosis was made without one clear symptom of this disorder. They remained in hospital for 7 to 52 days (average 19 days)". . ."The pseudo patients’ normal behaviours were often seen as aspects of their supposed illness." . . ."Powerlessness and depersonalisation were evident in the ways in which the patients were deprived of many human rights such as freedom of movement and privacy. Medical records were open to all staff members regardless of status or therapeutic relationship with the patient and personal hygiene was monitored and many of the toilets did not have doors. Some of the ward orderlies would be brutal to patients in full view of other patients but would stop as soon as another staff member approached. This indicated that staff were credible witnesses but patients were not.It was estimated that the pseudo patients were given a total of 2,100 medication tablets, though only two were swallowed." More on this subject at http://www.holah.karoo.net/rosenhanst...This novel eventually brings its two protagonists some degree of comfort and closure. While some may find the ending wrapped up too neatly, Clara's story was mesmerizing enough to make up for the perfect and improbable ending.

I just could ever understand how a parent would do such a horrible thing to their child. I then had to remind myself it was a true st

It’s been a while since a book held my attention like this one. The time setting of this beautifully written book, reminds me of how far we have come, how much freedom we have gained. Clara’s father held total control. Social status was prioritized over everything. Heart wrenching, and definitely worth the read.