A Quiet Storm

Stacy Moore was younger than her sister Arika (Rikki) by eleven months, not that you would know this by their behavior. As a young child she was charged with the responsibility to serve as her sister's protector. Their parents recognized that Rikki was special, but they refused to accept the obvious signs and eventual diagnosis of Rikki. They turned to religion and denial to cope with their daughter. Therefore Stacy was beating up "Stinky Pam", taking the blame for things she did not do, putting Rikki's needs before her own, everyone and everything. It was expected of her, it was ingrained in her, it was the only thing she knew to do. However, instead of being a help to her, she was an enabler. Rikki finished college and married Dr. Matt Dresden. Even with her wild, unpredictable behaviors he tried to stick by her side and seek help for her. Most of the time, Rikki was in complete denial of her disease, having her mother's continual denial and Stacy saving her all the time, allowed Rikki to spin on in a manic/depressive state for years. Not even the doctors could help her. In the attempt to keep the secret and protect Rikki, the family paid the ultimate sacrifice, which could have been avoided. This was a wonderful, compelling read about how mental illness can effect a family and relationships. It also showed how the reaction of the family can effect the recovery of the victim. True to many African American families, they more often than naught would turn to religion and denial, than to deal with the problem straightforward. As a reader, there were times when I would get so frustrated with the family, I had to take a break, but the story was so interesting it kept drawing me back. I would recommend this book to anyone who has a family member or a friend who suffers from any type of mental illness, and to anyone looking for a good read. Jeanette APOOO BookClub

A gripping account of what it's like to be the younger sister of a charismatic young woman suffering from bipolar disorder. Rachel Hall has done a masterful job of showing us the many contrary emotions felt by her heroine -- the embarrassment, the guilt, and even the jealousy. Stacy is made to feel responsible for her sister's happiness and well-being by their widowed mother, who is way out of her depth trying to cope with her troubled golden girl. Hall has a wonderful writing style, full of contemporary life and with believable dialogue from all the characters. (I especially enjoyed Stacy's pejorative "Bread and cheese!" when she's totally frustrated.) The sisters have some beautifully crafted moments of extraordinary affection and intimacy, counterbalanced by the scenes of utter madness and loss of control. You can't help but sympathize with everyone caught up in the web of this awful disease, but our hearts especially ache for Stacy, who even risks losing her husband when she insists on putting her sister's needs before everyone else's, including her own. Another unusual and interesting aspect of the novel is the emphasis on religion and the important part the church plays in the family's life, strengthening at times, and causing enormous rifts at others. I think readers will be intrigued by this glimpse into the lives of well-to-do members of the African American community in Los Angeles, and will end the book wondering if they and their parents would behave any differently if they found themselves in the Moore family's situation.

A Quiet Storm is a vividly, riveting tale of how one family handles the issue of mental illness. I enjoyed the book and the way the author accurately portrayed the symptoms and life struggles of a woman with a mental illness. The book makes you laugh and cry. The book does an excellent job of portraying a family trying to maintain the status quo in the midst of a swirl of family secrets and betrayal. The relationship between the two sisters is masterfully written. As a mental health professional I have listened to the story of many clients who struggle with these issues as they try to make it from day to day. The book is spellbinding. A great book for book clubs.The author has a real gift for painting a word picture.Though the book is fiction, the story could be one we hear of unfortunately in real life. This book is a must read.

What a lovely tale! Rachel Howzell Hall did a wonderful job in "A Quiet Storm" weaving a story about the effects that mental illness has on a family. While people who have never experienced someone with a mental illness, may find some of the events to be a little "far-fetched", others who have will know all too well, how chaos can enter the family becuase of this illness. This is a MUST READ for all bookclubs, as it gives insight into just how far reaching mental illness can be.**Review by Yasako**