Uglier
A Novel
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
“Bernie, I love you, but you have to concentrate on one subject at a time. This is one of the symptoms I looked up. You go from subject to subject and expect people to catch the ring as the carousal goes round. I can only talk about one subject at a time. This is where I think you need to talk to your doctor. Do you have these wildly changing subjects with him, or do you carefully control yourself to conceal this? I know you can do that when you slow down and think. I’m not picking on you. I just want to finish one conversation before starting the next. “How would you feel if I said, ‘You look lovely tonight’ and in the next breath said, ‘we need to clean the cars?’ You’d think I was absolutely off my rocker or really didn’t mean what I said in the first breath. That’s how you come across to people. Think about it for a moment before you say anything. You may not even be aware that you’re doing this. It’s like a serious case of ADD.”
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
When Bernie, an English teacher in her thirties, is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, it completely upends her world and attaches a stigma. A strong but insecure woman who has a passion for horses, she does her best to deal with the illness, relying on her husband, Tony, for support. Even so, life events spiral out of control, and living with the disorder puts her in denial and a drug-induced haze as she deals with the consequences of medication. “An honest treatment of a serious mental disorder that impacts countless families not only in America but worldwide. … a book like this one helps understand the reality of the situation and provides HOPE that is so important to all of us who are affected.” —John P. Hayes, PhD “What a truly brilliant and insightful book. It offers a compassionate, honest look at bipolar disorder and the havoc it can wreak in one’s life, as well as possible solutions and options. It is heart-wrenching and hopeful at the same time with characters that are masterfully crafted, created, and nurtured thereby ensuring they are endeared to a reader’s heart always. The ups and downs Bernie goes through are identifiable even to those without bipolar disorder and she is an absolutely fabulous character.” —A. J. Attard, author of Finding Lexie
About the Author
Bonnie Palis is a freelance writer specializing in personality profiles. She and her husband live on a horse breeding farm in Kentucky. This is her first novel.