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A Life Less Normal
It's hard to figure out what normal is when you're surrounded by crazy, but Melissa Palmer never stops trying. Her mother's mental illness and her father's questionable business dealings are a cloud covering the New Jersey family in a shadow of secrecy. And all of it leaves a bigger mark on Melissa than she or her brother can admit.
When Melissa is a child, her mom makes the first trip to the psych ward. The second trip comes when she’s a teen. Then Melissa’s first year away at college, her mom commits suicide.
Despite the darkness the light is always there to bring Melissa through, and that light is and always will be the same: love. As crazy as the family seems, they do love each other.
When Melissa meets Chris in graduate school, she’s not sure if their love is enough to help her reconcile with the demons of the past. But she’s got to try if they are to have a future together. Besides, when it comes down to it, aren't we all a little messed up?
When Melissa is a child, her mom makes the first trip to the psych ward. The second trip comes when she’s a teen. Then Melissa’s first year away at college, her mom commits suicide.
Despite the darkness the light is always there to bring Melissa through, and that light is and always will be the same: love. As crazy as the family seems, they do love each other.
When Melissa meets Chris in graduate school, she’s not sure if their love is enough to help her reconcile with the demons of the past. But she’s got to try if they are to have a future together. Besides, when it comes down to it, aren't we all a little messed up?
- GenresNonfictionMemoir
285 pages, Paperback
First published April 16, 2014
About the author
Melissa Palmer
4 books17 followersMelissa Palmer is the author of BAKING FOR DAVE, A LIFE LESS NORMAL, and TWIN OAKS. Her short stories have been featured in The Writing Disorder, The Quotable, Quail Bell, BEST NEW WRITING, and Zest among others, and her work has been nominated for both the Pushcart and Eric Hoffer prizes for short fiction.
Her writing ranges from dark and introspective.
"Pie"
http://hospitaldrive.med.virginia.edu...
To the absurd.
http://www.mcstorytellers.com/at-this...
She is an advocate for mental health and suicide awareness.
http://stigmafighters.com/
As well as autism and ASD awareness.
http://www.autismspeaks.org/blog/2014...
She also blogs at HuffingtonPost.com
Thanks for reading!
Her writing ranges from dark and introspective.
"Pie"
http://hospitaldrive.med.virginia.edu...
To the absurd.
http://www.mcstorytellers.com/at-this...
She is an advocate for mental health and suicide awareness.
http://stigmafighters.com/
As well as autism and ASD awareness.
http://www.autismspeaks.org/blog/2014...
She also blogs at HuffingtonPost.com
Thanks for reading!
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 3, 2018
At times dark but an endlessly charming read. It will pull at your heart strings and make you laugh along the way. Melissa's story is inspiring and sheds a light of hope for those in similar situations and even those who are not.
September 7, 2014
I really loved reading this story. It was raw and in your face truth many of us can't face let alone write about. One of the hardest things in the world is losing someone you love regardless of who that person is in your life. When it's your mother, it's ten times the heartbreak. That heartbreak sometimes brings out the worst in you, or the best. Melissa, I am glad that you didn't change anything as requested.
October 4, 2014
Not for me
April 7, 2019
Bi-polar
In interesting story about growing up in a dysfunctional family and how it affects the people around them. The mother is bi-polar and the father is also mentally unstable. The chaos and instability it exposes the characters to is noteworthy. The daughter feels she is also mentally disturbed resulting in making bad choices throughout her life. With the unwavering support of her stable boyfriend she is finally able to obtain some stability in her own life.
In interesting story about growing up in a dysfunctional family and how it affects the people around them. The mother is bi-polar and the father is also mentally unstable. The chaos and instability it exposes the characters to is noteworthy. The daughter feels she is also mentally disturbed resulting in making bad choices throughout her life. With the unwavering support of her stable boyfriend she is finally able to obtain some stability in her own life.
September 10, 2014
Thank you to Melissa for sending me a copy of this book for review.
I haven't read many books of this sort and admittedly it did take me a while to get into because of the writing style. I am used to fiction books, mostly chic-lit, so this was new territory for me. It is a true story of the author's life so it is written like a diary, however it is not a diary full of love or happiness, it is the story of the terrible things Melissa has been through and it is so raw and real.
The author warns of an unlikable character which is true as at first it is hard to like her, but once you get a little into the book you do end up liking her. I think the reason for this is that she is so real, open and honest about the pain she has felt. You start to really feel for her and desperately want to help her out and make life better for her.
There is no plot to this story it quite simply is the author telling us her real story, she never attempts to make you feel happier by adding joy where it should not be, she wants you to understand and feel her troubles along with her. However, although there are dark and upsetting there is still some humour and happiness in parts.
Melissa has the power to put you in the story with her and I think although she covers a lot of touching topics it makes you enjoy the story more because she is a real person whom this has happened to, it is not a made up character with a made up story. Melissa's writing is very straight to the point and easy to understand, the way you are taken through her story is great and keeps you interested. You spend the entire time rooting for Melissa and hoping that something good will happen to her. This book fascinates and frustrates you in equal measures.
I am not really sure what else I can say about this book because I think you would have to read it to see the emotion and appeal in it but I would recommend this book but don't pick it up if you are looking for a light fun read as this will pull at your heart strings.
I haven't read many books of this sort and admittedly it did take me a while to get into because of the writing style. I am used to fiction books, mostly chic-lit, so this was new territory for me. It is a true story of the author's life so it is written like a diary, however it is not a diary full of love or happiness, it is the story of the terrible things Melissa has been through and it is so raw and real.
The author warns of an unlikable character which is true as at first it is hard to like her, but once you get a little into the book you do end up liking her. I think the reason for this is that she is so real, open and honest about the pain she has felt. You start to really feel for her and desperately want to help her out and make life better for her.
There is no plot to this story it quite simply is the author telling us her real story, she never attempts to make you feel happier by adding joy where it should not be, she wants you to understand and feel her troubles along with her. However, although there are dark and upsetting there is still some humour and happiness in parts.
Melissa has the power to put you in the story with her and I think although she covers a lot of touching topics it makes you enjoy the story more because she is a real person whom this has happened to, it is not a made up character with a made up story. Melissa's writing is very straight to the point and easy to understand, the way you are taken through her story is great and keeps you interested. You spend the entire time rooting for Melissa and hoping that something good will happen to her. This book fascinates and frustrates you in equal measures.
I am not really sure what else I can say about this book because I think you would have to read it to see the emotion and appeal in it but I would recommend this book but don't pick it up if you are looking for a light fun read as this will pull at your heart strings.
May 9, 2014
In the Author's Notes, Melissa Palmer warns of an unlikeable narrator, but the fact that the narrator is so real and honest with her pain (and healing) actually makes her more likeable than most. This is NOT a tale that follows its character through a predictable story arc, hitting all the expected tropes and rushing into a happy ending with predictable glee. It's unique in plot, dialogue and structure and never attempts to be anything more than real.
From teenage heartbreak to her mother's suicide, Palmer tackles a life less normal in a way that puts the reader in the story with her. Though a unique and personal story, she touches on a lot of universal subjects, particularly when discussing the unique dynamics of family, high school friendships and romances, and the explorations of college and beyond.
Palmer's writing is profound but also very to the point and straightforward and the story timeline was perfectly structured, often jumping around in time, but at the service of the character not authorial craftiness. While the content is heavy and harrowing at times, it's a highly compelling read with equal parts of humor and happiness. There are heroic moments where a metaphorical sun seems like it's going to burst through a pesky dark cloud, where hope follows the narrator to her darkest depths. But she has to deal with a lot of darkness and pain first. Her journey will both fascinate and frustrate readers, but you will never stop rooting for Palmer.
From teenage heartbreak to her mother's suicide, Palmer tackles a life less normal in a way that puts the reader in the story with her. Though a unique and personal story, she touches on a lot of universal subjects, particularly when discussing the unique dynamics of family, high school friendships and romances, and the explorations of college and beyond.
Palmer's writing is profound but also very to the point and straightforward and the story timeline was perfectly structured, often jumping around in time, but at the service of the character not authorial craftiness. While the content is heavy and harrowing at times, it's a highly compelling read with equal parts of humor and happiness. There are heroic moments where a metaphorical sun seems like it's going to burst through a pesky dark cloud, where hope follows the narrator to her darkest depths. But she has to deal with a lot of darkness and pain first. Her journey will both fascinate and frustrate readers, but you will never stop rooting for Palmer.
December 2, 2015
Truths not normally revealed
I wholeheartedly appreciate the author's willingness to expose her past self. It can be healing to read how others have survived a life that is not "normal." Too often we hide from our past and are unable to understand its effect on our present. Too often we don't realize how others, too, have suffered. This book was thought-provoking.
I wholeheartedly appreciate the author's willingness to expose her past self. It can be healing to read how others have survived a life that is not "normal." Too often we hide from our past and are unable to understand its effect on our present. Too often we don't realize how others, too, have suffered. This book was thought-provoking.
August 9, 2015
Captivating. I read this book in one afternoon with a rollercoaster of emotions. I found myself crying then laughing then smiling. You are definitely rooting for her throughout the book because she is real, and strong and deserves better. I thoroughly enjoyed it an afternoon well spent.
September 15, 2015
The overall story was interesting but hard to follow at times. There were so many typos that made it difficult to read at times too. I appreciate the openness of the author regarding depression and suicide. Anything we can do to talk about these topics the better.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews