This book offers a thinly fictionalized account of handling a child who, in her late teens, is diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The late Bebe Moore Campbell's own daughter, Maia Campbell, battles with this illness. Earlier this year, Maia was arrested in the Atlanta area for disorderly conduct related to manic depression and drug use. I chose to read this book this month as a tribute to one of my dearest friends who passed away 5 years ago at the age of 50 due to systemic illnesses stemming from his bipolar disorder. The book provided me with some space to remember my beloved friend, which was a positive aspect.

There are other notable elements in "72 Hour Hold." The book openly discusses the additional stigma attached to mental illness within the African American community. I have previously discussed this with friends, and I'm glad to see anything that brings this issue to light. It also addresses the limited leeway African American individuals have to act "crazy" without facing dire consequences such as death or imprisonment. Just last month, less than 10 minutes from my home, Atlanta police fatally shot a mentally ill Black man who was running around naked (clearly unarmed) during a psychotic episode. I believe that if it had been the adult child of one of my White neighbors, the outcome would have been different. The White person would likely have been subdued and evaluated rather than shot. Once again, Campbell handles this important issue effectively.

However, the story here veers off in various directions. Campbell spends excessive pages and chapters on peripheral and uninteresting topics. (This includes details about the main character's store, her marriage regrets, her employees, her boyfriend, and his kids.) I'm not suggesting that aspects of the main character's life unrelated to her daughter's illness should have been completely removed, but they should have been treated as background, which they were not. I was also irritated by the constant references to slavery. While I understand the metaphor of being "enslaved" by the cruel disease, it simply didn't work for me. When my loved ones are afflicted with illness, I don't draw comparisons to concentration camps. Equating these things is disrespectful to actual slaves and it bothered me a bit. There were other metaphors that were less irritating but still ineffective, such as the beautiful suit with a stubborn stain that appears frequently (hello, Lady Macbeth!). Once again, a poor metaphor, but less annoying. I should also mention that I felt all the characters except Kari lacked depth.

One final point: I read the print version of this book and also obtained the audiobook to listen to in the car. The audiobook is truly糟糕. The reader, despite having a beautiful voice suitable for late-night soul radio stations or phone sex lines, seems to have no comprehension of what she is reading. She emphasizes words and syllables that shouldn't be emphasized. She uses an almost cheerful tone when discussing Trina's outbursts and dangerous behaviors, as if she is sharing a story about a friend who got a bit too drunk at a party. Even worse is the strange sing-song pattern she occasionally adopts and her habit of over-enunciating, pronouncing each syllable as if it were a new word. But the worst part is the voices she gives to the characters. Bethany sounds like a combination of Marge Simpson's sisters, Selma and Patty, and Bette Davis in her post-stroke years. Brad, a pale, khaki-wearing White guy, sounds like a barrel-chested, respectful but slightly dim Black man. The doctors' voices are the most comical. The best of the lot is the British therapist who sounds like a 1980s computer voice, and the (Asian) Indian doctor who sounds like a crazed West Indian Voodoo Priest. It was initially amusing, but it quickly became unlistenable. I ended up returning the audio to the library about halfway through and simply reading the book.

If you打算借阅这本书，不要选择音频版本。如果你只是想找一本关于家庭应对精神疾病发作的书，你可能需要看看其他关于这个主题的优秀书籍。这本书并非完全浪费时间，但它远没有达到应有的水平。

72 Hour Hold


Bebe weaves an astonishing tale about the arduous journey that Keri undertakes with her daughter, who is afflicted by bi-polar disorder. Keri goes to great lengths, jumping through numerous hoops, in a desperate attempt to secure the much-needed assistance for her daughter. In such desperate times, desperate measures are indeed called for. It is often the case that it requires failure after failure before the desired result can be achieved. The story unfolds, revealing the many challenges and obstacles that Keri and her daughter face along the way. Despite the setbacks, Keri remains determined to do whatever it takes to help her daughter. Through her unwavering perseverance, we see a mother's love in its purest form. The 72 Hour Hold becomes a symbol of hope and a turning point in their lives. As the story progresses, we are left on the edge of our seats, eager to find out what lies ahead for Keri and her daughter.

I am in a state of great conflict regarding my feelings towards this book.

From the very first page, based solely on the writing style, I nearly put it aside and permanently crossed it off my to-be-read list. However, due to the subject matter, I decided to give it another chance. I must admit that it gradually became easier, the flow became more natural, and the story progressed at a faster pace. Nevertheless, I never truly felt at ease with it.

I like this book because it accomplishes so many remarkable things. It not only delves into bipolar disorder and the concept of involuntary hospitalization, subjects that I am almost always eager to read about, but it also tells the story of a black girl with a mental illness. She does not miraculously recover by the end. There is no simple and straightforward happy ending. Nor does it conclude in tragedy and death. It is merely a snapshot in time of a real condition that real people experience every day.

On the other hand, while it was interesting to read from the mother's perspective and I truly appreciated the insights and emotional honesty of the narrator, I really didn't like how they depicted Trina and her bipolar disorder. Besides her mother's proud memories of her as a star student bound for Brown, I didn't really get to know her as the stable and loving person she was supposed to be most of the time. All of Trina's behaviors caused her mother endless worry. Although I can't fathom the anguish a parent of a mentally ill child endures when they go missing, any action of Trina's that her mother didn't explicitly approve of led her to rush to the police and call all the hospitals. In general, I oppose involuntary hospitalizations. They should be used sparingly and only as a last resort. There is no doubt that the system is flawed, and I loved how her mother was willing to break the law and risk everything to obtain genuine help for her daughter. However, Trina and all individuals with mental illnesses are their own persons, and being placed in a locked ward without consent as an adult is a traumatizing experience. I had never heard of conservatorship before, and that concept terrifies me.

At the same time, I adored most of the characters in the book, and many of them were not afraid to call Keri out on her nonsense. She was definitely overly fixated on the idea of who her daughter was "meant" to be and had difficulty understanding that Trina's illness is lifelong and incurable. That doesn't mean her life is over or has less value; it just may not be what you expected and planned for beforehand. I'm certain my own mother can relate. I liked the parallel with Angelica, who has borderline personality disorder. I liked the honesty behind Keri's attempts not to compare the two girls and reassure herself that her daughter wasn't as bad. And I also love that Angelica attended the other therapy and continued with it, so the book didn't suggest that it was a bad idea, just perhaps not the right course for Trina.

Too much of this book hits too close to home for me. My biggest gripe is that I wish we had heard more of Trina's perspective or at least had a better understanding of her outside of her illness, as well as the general writing style. Overall, I thought the book was suspenseful, fast-paced, easy to read, and hard to put down. I liked the plot, the characters, the narrative arc, and most importantly, the honest portrayal of a very real problem. I don't believe it's the complete story, but it offers a very compelling insight into one aspect of it. I didn't want to like it as much as I did, but I'm glad I persevered in the end.

Compelling, Emotional, Riveting & Thought Provoking!!!

This is an outstanding story that has the power to captivate its readers from the very beginning.

The characters are so well-developed that you can't help but become emotionally invested in their lives.

The plot is filled with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat, never knowing what will happen next.

It is a story that will make you think deeply about life, love, and the human condition.

The author's writing style is engaging and vivid, painting a picture in your mind that is both beautiful and heart-wrenching.

Overall, this is a must-read story that will leave you with a lasting impression and a newfound appreciation for the power of storytelling.