Us

by Matthew McKay

Psychologist Dr. Matthew McKay tells the story of Margaret, a young woman tortured by her struggle with dissociative identity disorder, a severe and controversial psychological disorder characterized by the presence of two or more distinct identity states or personalities. Treatment is aimed toward ultimately integrating the multiple personalities. Margaret chooses to live her life without undergoing this recommended integration, and wants her boyfriend, Walker, to accept her as she is—alternating between a frightened child, an angry male adolescent, a bawdy southern belle, and a suicidal woman who seems to belong nowhere. McKay uses Us to explore what happens in relationships when one is damaged, but seeks acceptance as opposed to being "fixed." As Margaret teeters at the edge of self-destruction, Us examines the far limits of what can be given in the name of love.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Mental Health

240 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2012

About the author

Matthew McKay, PhD, is a professor of psychology at the Wright Institute in Berkeley, and author of more than 30 professional psychology and self-help books which have sold a combined total of more than 3 million copies. He is co-founder of independent self-help publisher, New Harbinger Publications. He was the clinical director of Haight Ashbury Psychological Services in San Francisco for twenty five years. He is current director of the Berkeley CBT Clinic. An accomplished novelist and poet, his poetry has appeared in two volumes from Plum Branch Press and in more than sixty literary magazines. His most recent novel, Wawona Hotel, was
published by Boaz Press in 2008.

Reviews

[Mandi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway. To be quite frank, I would not have finished this book if I did not feel committed to give a review. I felt that it was clumsily written. The narrator meets "Margaret" and begins to follow her, feeling a connection to her even though he does not know her at all. Then, the narrator(whom I viewed as a stalker) dies abruptly. For the rest of the book, we view Margaret's life through the eyes of the now deceased ghostly stalker. It seems to be a badly written ploy to be able to view Margaret's life 24 hours per day. Margaret's life is fascinating, but disturbing. Margaret has dissociative identity disorder(multiple personalities) and is on a very destructive life path. The one redeeming aspect of this book was that Margaret's "alters" are descriptively and distinctly written. Margaret meets a man, Walker, whom the author seems to regard as her savior. I saw him as a man who enabled and assisted Margaret on her journey to self-destruction. The entire book was train wreck that I wished I had not taken the time to read.

[Kattie · Rating 1 out of 5]

first there is a stalker. then he dies and becomes a ghost stalker of a lady with DID.
pass. dnf

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Us by Matthew McKay is an interesting and intimate look into the life of someone who suffers from dissociative identity disorder, also known as multiple personalities. Margaret goes along in life, letting her personalities come out whenever they need to. The book begins with a young man working at the club she frequents wondering what it would be like to talk to her, to meet her. Then, as he is getting the nerve to connect with her, he is suddenly killed on a carnival ride. The rest of the story takes place through the eyes of his ghost, so readers can see how Margaret learns what condition she has and how she, with her boyfriend Walker, navigate a life with an entire dysfunctional family contained within a single person.

The story is intriguing and does present this fascinating medical condition with truth and honesty, but the story didn't need to be told from a ghost's perspective when other points of view could have easily been used. Instead, the side anecdotes and stories from the ghost narrator serve as a distraction from the story than actually adding to it. Other than that, the story is solid and emotional. An interesting read for anyone who is curious about this condition.


*Reviewer received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book through the First Reads giveaway program on Goodreads.

Matthew McKay gives us an interesting look into a life with dissociative identity disorder, or multiple personalities as it's more commonly known.

Margaret tries to go along with a normal life, but due to childhood trauma, her personalities come out frequently. An angry young boy, a 9 year old girl, a southern belle who uses men and a very depressed young woman who is bound to kill herself.

This book starts with a young man (STALKER) working at a club Margaret frequents. He watches her, wondering what it would be like to talk to her, to know her. Just as he gets the nerve to approach her, he is killed at the carnival that he has followed her to.

The rest of the story is told by his ghost, still stalking her, only now able to do so 24 hours a day and follow her into her dreams.

The story does present sides of this fascinating medical condition with truth and honesty, but the story being told from a ghost's point of view was just plain weird and I didn't care for this at all. The ghost narrator served more as a distraction from the real story instead of adding to it.

[Mandy Whilden · Rating 3 out of 5]

**I was provided a free copy of this book from Goodreads Firstreads for an honest review. Thanks to Goodreads, the author, and Boaz Publishing**

This book tells the story of an unordinary woman who is living with Dissociative Identity Disorder and the man who falls in love with her.

I found this to be a very interesting read. The book provides a significant amount of insight into the mind of a person living with this disorder. It also brings to light the issues that arise within the relationships that these people have with others.

I only have one complaint about this book. I didn't really care for the way that the story was told from an outside narrator. I found it odd and awkward at times to be reading the story from another person's point of view. I think that the author was trying to tell too many stories at once by using an outside narrator.

Overall, this was a very well written and interesting read.

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm very grateful to have won this book through the free giveaways! I'd give this book 4.5 stars! All I can say is WOW! McKay does a great job of encapsulating D.I.D. and the causes. I don't know if the relationship with alters is actually able to happen but I sure hope so! Such a great read. The only thing I'm not sure I liked was the ghost as the point of view...a little strange but somehow sort of fit, too. :)

[Gerri Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told third person, so to speak. I wasn't sure when I first started reading Us if I was going to continue reading it. Yet I found myself compelled to go further. I found both Walker and Margaret to be unique. Such a bittersweet story, I am so glad I did read on.

[Janet]

I hope to win this book. I read the book Sybil years ago and this book may seem like a modern day version on the similiar situation. Love the books title. It fits!

[Carolyn]

Sounds absolutely fascinating...hope I win!!!

[Monti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I somewhat saw the ending coming halfway through, the journey was haunting and beautiful.

[Sue Barney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. I have always been fascinated with this disorder and this book didnt disappoint :)

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting and intense book. In the book you learn about Dissociative Identity Disorder.
The author did a great job describing the main character and her alters or personalities.