The Back Building

by Julie Dewey

Iona Mueller arrives alone at the Willard Asylum for the Insane in this epic tale that spans a century. Through the Mueller family we take a deep look at what it means to be mentally ill in the year 1915 and in the present day.By the time she reached fifteen years old, Iona had failed to become a “proper young lady” which profoundly concerned her parents. Her one and only friend, Hetty, the family maid, warned her not to disobey them but Iona couldn’t help herself. Iona’s quirk of counting steps may have been overlooked but when her mother and father learned of her exploits in the woods near her home in Ithaca, New York, she was taken to the town doctor. The doctor took one look at her self-cut short, mangled hair, learned of her bizarre behavior, and declared her insane.At Willard Asylum on Seneca Lake there were plenty of activities to occupy her, including the job she procured working in the barn. Besides, she knew she was not anything like the crazy patients that banged their heads against the cinder walls until they bled or ran naked through the hallways. She was disobedient, that was true, and she would change. If only her parents would accept her correspondence and allow her to return home.Iona’s new roommate, Cat, made every night a fight for survival. When Iona was caught trying to run away she was sent to the second ward, where her fate was sealed. Subject to tranquilizers and hydrotherapy, ice baths and physical beatings, Iona had only one thing on her mind. She had to stay away from the back building. Once you were placed there you were never seen again.Iona met James at the institution’s barn. His kindness made the deprivation more bearable. He recognized that the violet hollows beneath her eyes, the bruises on her arms, and her apparent unraveling were the effect of the second ward. A plan was put into place, one that would remove Iona from harm’s way permanently.In present day, it is Jenna, a young relative of Iona’s, who is plagued with mental illness. Jenna’s odd behaviors, bizarre language, and confusion disrupt her once perfectly normal life. Jenna’s family members trace their roots back to Iona in hopes of understanding their predisposition to mental illness. The journey leads them to an amazing discovery of the suitcases left behind by hundreds of patients at the Willard Asylum.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Psychology, Historical, Dark

246 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 30, 2014

Reviews

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worth reading

I almost gave this a four and if the story had continued the way it started it would have easily gotten a 4 1/2. It started out very strong and for that alone I would say this book is definitely worth reading and I'm glad for experiencing it. However I was disappointed with the second half and the purpose of the book kind of seemed to fall apart. The author writes about mental illness very well and seems to have an excellent understanding of the many different symptoms that present with it. Her characters with these challenges were very well developed, but I felt the other characters were underdeveloped and flat. James for instance, a very crucial character to the plot had a backstory that was interesting but no real development. He basically was whatever Iona needed him to be with no real conflict created by him. He went along with everything, accepted everything, supported everything and never acted frustrated with Iona which just didn't seem very realistic to me. Even the most loving individual is going to show signs of stress at times.

Furthermore I thought the second half of the book could have been done without completely. We never get to know Jenna specifically like we did Iona, and in the end the small closure we get on her fate is unsatisfactory. The whole point of the modern day story seems to be about fumbling through the past relating to Iona and making discoveries the reader already knew about. Watching other characters find out the truth we already knew about Cat and Daniel a century after the fact was underwhelming and felt pointless. The thing with the suitcases wasn't really surprising, and the Back Building for which the book was named is never that important to the story. I think a different name would have been better advised.

I'd much rather the story continued with the fates of Iona and Cat than move on to the modern story. Though there's decent closure with Iona we start to wonder about Cat, and then get information at the very end that makes us even more curious about her fate but without answers. Also there was this random segment with information about a character named GiGi that sounds promising and interesting but then there's no follow up. That was strange.

So in conclusion, ultimately a very interesting and enlightening story that I would recommend but I think it started to unravel at points. I feel the author has the ability to make this a more refined, stronger story but for whatever reason didn't. That was disappointing to me. But still for all my critiques I think it's a very good story. I binge read it in 2 days and appreciated the experience. I suspect you will enjoy as well.

[Dosha (Bluestocking7) Beard · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the moment I started this book I could not put it down. I really enjoyed it, even though I didn't know whether to be sad or angry at the main character Iona, who was also the narrator. Somewhere along the way, I realized that the narrator was either misunderstood or mentally challenged and I didn't know whether to believe what I was reading or not. This went on for over half of the book and I figured, by the end, the story would be revealed as true or false. Well, that is not quite what happened. All through part 1, I got to know Iona well and I looked forward to knowing how things would turn out for her. Part 2 takes a whole new turn. My dubious narrator did not speak to me in part 2 and I realized right away that I missed her. Her granddaughter became the narrator and we just did not connect. The more I read, the more I wished Iona was still around./

It is a wonderfully well written book about mental illness and I learned from it. I just wish Iona had continued to tell her story herself.

[Cara · Rating 2 out of 5]

It started strong-ish but the second half of the book had me constantly checking how much was left. The initial story about Iona was interesting and you could look past the terrible writing style because the story at the heart of it was interesting (especially since I spent a few years working in the Finger Lakes and had heard stories about Willard). To me, Willard is the interesting part of the story and how someone who leaves a mental institution like that is able (or unable) to adjust and deal with life outside those walls. So everything after Iona's story ends was somewhat boring and lacked the needed intrigue. I think the idea of the book (having now finished) was to focus on the stigma associated with mental illness and how things have/haven't changed. But the way the dialogue was written in the latter half and the terrible way that everything read was a major turn off (the first half was more in Iona's head and lacked dialogue). The poor writing made reading the book too painful to really think much about the point, which is a shame. The book could have benefited from a better editor and would have been even better if set in the present day with flashbacks to Iona's story as the family pieced together her history (paralleling Jenna's decline to Iona's, better showcasing the treatment options used in the different generations).

It honestly makes me mad because it could have been so much better and the author had a solid story to work with (my justification for the 2 stars). What a waste!

[Connie Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

For anyone who has loved someone with mental illness. . . however, this book didn't transition well from one generation to the next. It felt like the author got tired of writing about one person and moved to the next. What happened to Iona's family and what happened to Jenna? Very disjointed. The biggest part of the story, however, as I wrote in my mother-in-law's eulogy, "Mental illness is not a choice. . . and it is a disease."

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was really disappointing. It started out really well, but about halfway through, it seemed like another author took over. Instead of descriptive action, events were presented as, "This happened. This happened. Then this happened." The ending picked up, but it wasn't enough to redeem the novel. I appreciate what the author was trying to do with the stigma of mental illness, but the novel could have been so much more.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started out amazing and I was hooked but by about five chapters in the writing fell apart. The way it was written turned very childish as though it was written so a very basic reading level. All characters went flat and the conflict was brushed aside even when it could have lead to meaningful places. I think with editorial help this could be a 5 star book. I think the "part 2" needs revamping completely.

[Pat Bretheim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good book. I could hardly put it down. It is based on a true story, so that makes it more interesting. Any book that can keep your interest at the same time that it educates you is worth taking the time to read.

[Joyce · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the 3rd novel I have read by Julie Dewey and it definitely rated much lower for me than the other 2 books I had read by her---The Other Side of the Fence and . I would have rated it 1 star if not for the fact that there were parts of it I did enjoy reading. The first part of the novel which is about 14 year old Iona being committed to the Willard Hospital (an insane asylum) and her treatment there was interesting.
However, after that the story goes downhill and parts of it were confusing as well. There were gaps in the timeline such as no mention of Iona even being pregnant with her 3rd child, Johnathan, and then suddenly he is mentioned in the story. Then the Iona's story ends abruptly and jumps to the story of teenager girl, Jenna, who is showing signs of mental illness. The narrator seems to be Iona's granddaughter because she refers to Iona as her grandmother and Jenna is the granddaughter of the narrator which would mean a 4 generation gap. In the story, it is decided that Jenna's mental illness has a genetic link to Iona.
The writing style is very poor. The sentences are often only vaguely descriptive of an event and there are many contradictions. Although I'm sure many of the horrors Iona described were realistic to her situation, the author's style of writing almost makes them seem unbelievable.
There is only scant character development of Jonathan, the young man Iona meets while she is at Willard and eventually marries. Although he plays a crucial role in her life, the reader is only shown glimpses of him at times of crisis. His character did not seem very credible to me.
Although I think the author is trying to convey a portrayal of how the mentally ill were treated in earlier times in our country and the progress we've made, I felt her portrayal of mental illness was poorly done, inaccurate at times, and much too simplistic. One of the contradictions that bothered me was how the narrator states that her grandmother was insane but then in another part she states that she went on to live a normal life---even though she continued to have delusions. I do not consider that a normal life! Also, someone who is 'insane' doesn't usually recover without ongoing treatment of which there is absolutely no mention for Iona. The reader is told that Jenna has bipolar schizophrenia. There is no such diagnosis. There is bipolar disorder and there is schizophrenia but they are 2 separate diagnoses. As a nurse who has had experience working with people with mental illnesses, the novel distressed me in its inaccuracies and misrepresentation.

[Terri Weitze · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the first part of this book a lot more than the second. The first half follows the life of Iona (and is written from her point of view), who is placed in a lunatic asylum at age 15 in the early 1900s. Her experiences there make upsetting but fascinating reading, as does what she makes of her life.
The second half of the book is about Iona's granddaughter dealing with the mental illness of her own granddaughter in present day. It is interesting to see how mental illness prejudices have and have not changed; and while the book looks at modern day treatment, it does not look at modern day institutionalization. It is not written from the point of view of the person who is mentally ill, but rather from the point of view of someone dealing with an ill relative. So I didn't feel the two halves complemented each other.

[anglamison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. Interesting and thought provoking

I like history and what happened in the past. If you do too, I bet that you'll like this book. I have looked into my own family history and I wish that there is more stories of what their lives were like. Additionally, my family has a history of mental health issues and to consider what my own family could have gone through is just so sad. Mental health treatment has advanced so much but there's still so much more to learn. Its so interesting to see the comparison of attitudes of the medical personnel, the families, and the communities around the characters . Some attitudes have improved, some have stayed the same, and some have actually gotten worse. Makes me think about how I react, how I support others, and how to pass on the family stories.

[KATHY · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rated this good because although not expertly written because the initial part did focus on the personal "human side" of mental illness. The intention of removing stigma around mental illness is noble. Why should this be viewed as a character flaw any more than any other genetic challenge? What the story glossed over is that trauma based conditions are much more common & even overlap in other 'mental' conditions. Abusive pathology approaches don't heal or optimally manage in any case. I, & others, find it very discouraging & damn disturbing that this isn't better understood. There is, in fact, much profit in keeping mental/emotional conditions a scary mystery. "Awareness" & removing stigma is a start, but real help & understanding will be in the personal human side, paying more attention to these individuals experience & helping them to be safe.

[Kinyorda Sliwiak · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reads like it was written by 2 different authors. The first half is Iona's story. It details how women were institutionalized for hysteria or anything their family thought was abnormal. There are no surprises with the cruel treatment and lack of regulation. There is a happyish ending for Iona but there are some parts of her story that are unrealistic. The second part of the book is told by Iona's descendants that are dealing with a child with mental health issues similar to Iona's. This part of the story is told in a strange voice that is preachy and not engaging. The author tells you about the girl's hardships rather than showing you as she did in the first half. I would have loved a continuation of Iona's story into her descendants rather than the disjointed second story.

[Marie (UK) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a strange book, in fact it reads like two separate books. The first part follows the life of Iona after she is committed to a mental hospital wit delusional behaviou. Here treatment and care is appalling and makes for very difficult reading at times. Iona and another patient escape and the story of this period is very interesting and well presented. Then all of a sudden we leap to the present day, 3 or more generations later and another child / pre teen with mental illness. Apart from the family relationship there is no real connection between the two parts of the book, the first reading like a well developed history and the second like a succession of medical appointments. The author should have stuck with telling the story from the past

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story took place where I grew up. I loved that I could visualize the various areas of NY that are dear to my heart. The fact that Willard Asylum for the Chronically Insane was a real institution also made the story much more intriguing. This book makes a connection to mental illness and genetics and the changes in treatment historically compared to modern day. Stigma attached to patients suffering with mental illness is also addressed. Loved the book.

[Florence Primrose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Iona Mueller enters the Willard Hospital for the Insane as a difficult-to- handle 15-year-old girl who defies her parents' efforts to make her a prim marriageable young woman. We see how her experience changed her and learn of her experiences as a young woman.

Nearly a century later we examine mental illness as a teenage great-great granddaughter, Jenna, becomes mentally ill.

[Dkolacinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an extremely moving story of multi-generational mental illness. Certainly the first half rated beyond 3 stars. It had a Laura Engels Wilder style a n d ring to it. The second part seemed too coincidental to work. As an insight to the little we know of mental illness and the ineffective medical treatments available.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stigma of mental illness

The first half of the book was very interesting and informative. How mental health was dealt with at the beginning of the century was very sad. The second half was written in a different style and did not draw me in as much. It did not have a conclusion in either life discussed but maybe that's because we still struggle with treatment.

[Tiffanie Wrinkle · Rating 1 out of 5]

The first half of the book was ok. The second half was boring and flat. I liked the Iona character development, but there was not much real character development in the other characters, including Iona’s husband! Not very well written. The second half was boring and i skimmed a lot of it. I was disappointed overall with this.

[Ken Grater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

I enjoyed the book a lot. It was an interesting look at how mentally ill people were and are treated in our society. I think it showed there has been a lot of improvement in treatment and attitude towards mentally ill people but there is still a stigma about being mentally ill. Hopefully this book will help change that.

[Nancy Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling

Iona, a 15 year old girl of Ithaca, NY, is sent to Willard for being "unruly and delusional" in 1915. At the beginning of this century, her great-great-granddaughter is diagnosed with schizophrenia.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a amazing look into the mental health care system in the past. How being anything less then the " ideal" norm was frowned on and hidden away. I laughed, cried, and got angry reading this book.

[Alison · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is nothing about the back room in either part of the story other than mentioned in passing. The first part didn’t feel finished and the second part would have been a better sequel but was rushed and tried to be tied too hard to the first:

[Sherrie Gross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written.

I could not put this book down. So good. It shines a sparkling light on mental illness and how far we have come. My hope is that we find a treatment to heal the parts of our brains that need repair so we can live without torment.

[Lisa Rigge · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW ! What an I,portent book to read ! It is a very HARD read but a very important read to see what these people went through! I am so glad Willard was closed and so glad these treatments have been ended!
Iona had an awful mother and father !

[Dickeysfudge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took a bit to get started on but was good after that

[Amy Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Awesome historical as well as current look at the stigma that is often placed on mental illness and how we can change that. Definitely a book you don't want to miss

[Jean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Never really developed into a good book

First part was potentially interesting but the second half became quite preachy. I was looking for history and got a lecture.

[Annette Jordan · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Iona Mueller grew up in an affluent home in Ithaca, NY in the early 1900's. Iona's mother wanted her to be the perfect young lady with skills in cooking, sewing, and keeping the house so Iona would be ready to marry. Iona however, would rather set traps for animals like her brothers and take care of the chickens. Iona had other quirks that made her parents upset and caused her to not make friends at school, she always counted her steps and had only befriended the maid, Hetty. When Iona has an outburst, her parents deliver her to the Willard Asylum. Iona has a difficult time at Willard, but also learns how to deal with her illness. She finds meaning working in the stables and befriends James, a farm hand. When Iona's life becomes endangered at Willard, her and another inmate, Cat, make a break for town and escape the harsh treatment at Willard. Years later, Iona's great-granddaughter, Jenna is starting to display strange behaviors. Jenna went from being an extrovert, to being afraid of everything and licking different surfaces. Jenna's grandmother remembers Iona's own mental health issues and goes on a search for any information about Iona that might be able to help Jenna. She is able to locate Iona's actual suitcase from when she was first brought to the asylum.

I was first drawn to this book because it is set near where I live and I know of the Willard Asylum. I also have experience working with people who happen to have mental health diagnosis. The aspects of the links with the suitcases found at the Willard also drew me in. Iona's story was intruiging; at first she seems like a perfectly normal girl who is a bit on the tomboy side, who likes to count things and who has very strict parents. Iona is endearing, even when she is skinning a rabbit; she is helping to feed Hetty's family. I felt for her when she had trouble making friends at school and when she is sent to Willard. When the seriousness of her mental health issues are revealed, it is a shock. I can tell that the author did a lot of research into the Willard Asylum and the treatment of the patients there. Iona's experience probably mirrored many of the real life patients that were kept there. Iona was lucky and made an escape from the Willard with the help of Cat, Iona was able to live her life with the person she fell in love with working at Willard. I was a little disappointed in the instant love connection between James and Iona, but it did enable Iona's character to continue her story through her great-granddaughter. I did appreciate the comparisons and contrasts of the mental health system in the past and present with Iona and Jenna's stories. Our medical treatment for people with mental health diagnoses has improved greatly, but still carries a terrible stigma that both Iona and Jenna's families felt. I really wanted the discovery of Iona's suitcase to lend more to the story and maybe reveal more secrets to her past, but the story was still rewarding.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted at: http://www.peekingbetweenthepages.com...


The Back Building is Julie Dewey’s newest book and yet another reason that I enjoy her books so much. They always bring to light some important time in history and also to the people that lived during this long ago time. In The Back Building Julie tackles mental illness and the unfortunate way it is looked upon both in the past and even now in the present and takes us through one family’s battle with mental illness both in the past and in the present.

Iona Mueller comes from a wealthy family and to the outside eye certainly seems to have it all. Yet her mother keeps a fairly tight leash on her wanting her to only be a proper young lady and that included restricting what she could eat, not talking to her, or punishing her for not doing chores properly. Iona dealt with this by ceaselessly counting the steps she took, cleaning, and talking to her friend Hetty who helped her through her days. Needless to say this behavior was not considered proper or normal and Iona’s parents decide to send her to the Willard Asylum to hopefully reform and get better.

Iona is only fifteen when she enters the Willard Asylum and it’s such a foreign environment for her. She doesn’t feel like she belongs there. She isn’t crazy like these people. Sure she counts but who does that hurt? When her new roommate Cat arrives things change drastically for Iona and she tries running away. This only makes matters worse and she’s transferred to a much more secure ward. There she is subjected to hydrotherapy, tranquilizers, and even worse, beatings. Yet there were even worse places she could be and one of those was the back building. She had to make sure never to be put there. With the help of James, a young man she meets, they put together a plan to ensure that this never happens to Iona.

Fast forward to the future and we meet Jenna, a young girl, who is a descendant of Iona’s. Jenna too is suffering from mental illness and finds her life spiraling more and more out of control. Jenna’s family decides to trace their roots back to Iona to try and understand if Jenna’s battle with mental illness is in any way connected to Iona’s so many years ago.

The Back Building is a fascinating story. There is such a stigma attached to mental illness and I don’t understand why. So many suffer with it whether in a functioning or destructive form. There is nothing wrong with those who suffer and they need only our understanding and care. This novel brings to light that while our methods of treating mental illness have improved the stigma attached to it hasn’t all that much. Highly recommended for those who enjoy historical fiction and a really good story!