An Audience of Chairs

Joan Clark's book 'An Audience of Chairs' is one of the best books I've read this year, and accurately shows us the world of bi-polar with psychosis disorder, and the path of destruction that touches the lives of all involved. Moranna is a quirky, intelligent woman, married to an affluent man and has two small children. Her Bipolar disorder results in the loss of her marriage, her children, and mostly, herself. It is an inspirational story of how she learns to identify her 'trigger's, and by allowing herself to become her own person, an artist, a happy non-conformist who finds love with a man outside her social class, she comes to terms with her disease and realizes that her strength of character will see her through. I especially liked how she stood up to physicians who wanted to break her spirit, as if doing so, some type of miracle would occur. Clark's writing is lovely, poetic, vulnerable. A gifted storyteller! I read the book in two sittings. And what a fitting title.

Moranna is called Mad Mory in her hometown of Baddeck, Nova Scotia. Set in a landscape that is untamed, Mad Mory emulates that wildness in her personality, besot by mental illness. Moranna is an unforgettable character, a passionate actress, a singer with perfect pitch and a young bride consumed with visions of grandeur. As the book progresses, the reader learns that Moranna has lost her two young daughters and this has catapulted her headlong into a depression that engulfs and guides her life. When a chance encounter via the television brings one of her daughters back into her life, Moranna's burdens are lightened and she finds new direction. This is a powerful foray into one woman's mind and tackles a tough subject in our society today. Yet, this book is full of hope and forgiveness and challenges readers to examine their own relationships with family and friends.