Twenty-Four Shadows

by Tanya J. Peterson

In her eye-opening and heartrending fourth novel, award winning author Tanya J. Peterson takes us inside the anguished mind of Isaac Bittman-an average family man whose mysterious and progressively violent mood swings, many of which he cannot remember, begin to unravel the lives of those closest to him. After a series of bizarre encounters, including losing his job and waking up half-dead in the wilds of Idaho, he begins treatment at a revolutionary mental health facility, where the childhood trauma he's repressed for decades leads to revelations that his personality has splintered into twenty-four shadows, or "alters." The novel intricately weaves together Isaac's internal angst and his wife and best friend's struggles to retain both a private and public semblance of normalcy. Stark and realistically rendered, Twenty-Four Shadows delves into the thought processes and erratic habits of a regular man dealing with life-altering mental illness, providing an empathetic, insightful glimpse into a misunderstood and often stereotyped condition.

394 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2016

About the author

With credentials as a Nationally Certified Counselor and personal experience with mental health care, novelist and columnist Tanya J. Peterson uses writing to increase understanding of and compassion for people living with mental illness. Her most recent work, Twenty-Four Shadows (Apprentice House, 2016) has received a Recommended rating by The US Review of Books. My Life in a Nutshell: A Novel (Inkwater Press, 2014) was awarded a Kirkus Star, an honor given by Kirkus Reviews “to books of remarkable merit.” Further, Peterson’s My Life in a Nutshell: A Novel was named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of 2014. The novel also received a coveted “Recommended” rating from The US Review of Books. Her novel Leave of Absence (Inkwater Press, 2013) was selected as a Finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards. Losing Elizabeth (Createspace, 2012) received Storytellers Campfire 2015 Marble Book Award, their highest honor reserved for a book that has made “a significant difference in the world.”

Additionally, Tanya J. Peterson is a weekly columnist for HealthyPlace.com’s Anxiety-Schmanxiety blog. She writes articles to help readers understand and overcome difficulties with anxiety disorders. She also writes the main article for their weekly newsletter as well as numerous articles appearing throughout the HealthyPlace website.

Tanya's writing both entertains and informs.

Reviews

[Tori Tecken · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm going to preface my review by saying that I am formally diagnosed with DID, and I read this book out of curiosity while making my way through various forms of media concerned with portraying the disorder. I am intimately familiar with the disorder through my own experience, research, and years of therapy.

I have found that in many portrayals of DID, there are just enough aspects of truth in it to make it seem positive. And while I do think that humanizing the disorder is an incredibly important endeavor, certain elements of this book I find incredibly harmful.

I would not recommend this book to someone looking to understand DID for several reasons. First, there is a difference between dramatic realism and melodramatic sensationalism. DID can be a dramatic disorder, not in a negative way, but in the way it manifests. The characters in this story react in ways that are overdramatic, bordering on caricatured at times. The writing style is a small complaint compared to the others, but the dialogue and character reactions feel quite heavy-handed in many sections of the story.

My second major concern is shown in the relationship between Isaac, his wife, and his best friend Max. Throwing in a side plot of infidelity may be a very real struggle for some couples, but the way it is written here suggests duplicity and a sinking ship in terms of building trust. It strips away all the positive (if mildly unrealistic) actions that Reese takes in handling her husband's disorder. Beyond that, there is no resolution of this at the end of the story, which feels almost like a flippant dismissal.

However, the previous complaints pale in comparison to the event that shocked me about 2/3 of the way through the story. What follows is a spoiler, but I do not intend to mark it as such because I want anyone considering reading this book to be prepared.

For a mental health professional to write a story in which a therapist recommends initiating sexual contact with a person in a dissociative state is appalling. Isaac's system has just blown open the internal doors on what happened to him as as child, and immediately the recommendation for grounding is sex. "To remind him what tender love is." And what follows is an on page sex scene that revolted me despite its attempt to achieve the opposite effect. Sensory grounding during dissociation is a real and powerful tool that systems use. However, the fact that this book attempts to normalize sexual contact with a dissociating person who is regaining memories of severe childhood sexual assault is unfathomable.

While I appreciate the attempt to humanize a highly stigmatized disorder, I do not think the execution of this book was positive. There is a lot of truthful information about DID in the story, but the negatives ultimately outweighed them.

[William Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great psychology novel. Isaac is not just any regular guy, and despite having a serious disorder, he is lucky to be so loved. Tanya Peterson provides a fantastic view into the world of someone with dissociative identity disorder. This book is heavy, simply because it deals with real life issues of someone with the disorder and those in his life, but the book also leaves the reader with a sense of hope. This is a fascinating subject and you really learn about the disorder a lot through the narrative. I recommend this novel to anyone in the psychology field, or anyone studying to become a counselor or researcher, or anyone with a family member affected by any type of mental illness. There are many disorders out there that vary, but I get a sense that this book is a comfort to those who share their lives with anyone with any issue. I think patients could benefit from this book greatly too just to know they're not alone. The book is super descriptive with very real dialogue. I was amazed at how Peterson was able to develop the characters, especially the males.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Too frequently, that sensation of warmth and tenderness seemed to seep through every pore and slither off to some unknown dark place.’

Tanya J Peterson comes to her writing gifts both as one who has experienced mental health issues with a bipolar I disorder and as an educator and a counselor who is Nationally Certified and has devoted her life to aiding homeless, runaway adolescents and patients with mental health malfunctions, both in one-on-one situations and as a speaker and mental health writer. Where she excels is in her ability to place on the written page the processes of thought disruption as viewed and spoken by the afflicted ones while at the same time offering insights into the techniques of mental health workers who assist their patients in returning to a life that once again is focused. Her award winning books include LOSING ELIZABETH, LEAVE OF ABSENCE, MY LIFE IN A NUTSHELL and now TWENTY-FOUR SHADOWS.

Having read all of Tanya’s superbly sensitive books it is with great pleasure to enter her latest book with the knowledge of her talent and yet to be pleasantly surprised that her work has grown even stronger with this latest novel. Her ability to explore the interstices of mental disorders without creating a dry clinical lecture or, at the other extreme, refusing to make the characters she paints hopeless victims is quite unmatched by other contemporary authors. In this novel she presents the dissociative identity disorder as an integral aspect of her character while at the same time allowing us to enter the perceptual dysfunction that makes her character indelible.

Tanya provides a solid synopsis of the story – ‘The story takes us inside the anguished mind of Isaac Bittman - an average family man whose mysterious and progressively violent mood swings, many of which he cannot remember, begin to unravel the lives of those closest to him. After a series of bizarre encounters, including losing his job and waking up half-dead in the wilds of Idaho, he begins treatment at a revolutionary mental health facility, where the childhood trauma he's repressed for decades leads to revelations that his personality has splintered into twenty-four shadows, or "alters" as the novel intricately weaves together Isaac's internal angst and his wife and best friend's struggles to retain both a private and public semblance of normalcy.

Few writers have been able to express so sensitively the variations of thought processes that assault patients who are suffering from degrees of mental illness. Peterson creates a solid novel here but she also opens doors of understanding so rarely provided for the general public. Highly recommended.

[Sushmita]

“Twenty-Four Shadows” written by the award-winning Jamya J. Peterson is a must-read book for everyone where the book illustrates the struggle of living with the mental illness. In the novel, the novelist takes us inside the anguished mind of Isaac Bittman-an average family man and shows his violent mood swings many of which he cannot remember and begin to unravel the lives of the closest to him. In the novel, it shows how people behavior changes with the fear and of mental illness. In the novel, the writer provokes the real problems happened in the family where people have a different mindset towards together like as Isaac thinking towards his family and friends. It shows life could become if the people were the inability to move from the pain and the frustrated leads to them The anxiety, restless and unsatisfied leads to family distraction which creates the scrutiny of judgment towards others.
It shows how people are scared of losing who are near and dear ones also reflect the love of the parents and worries towards their children (emotionally). It also proves to be dazzling, analytical and delicately sympathetic in equal measures and captivating portrait of struggle, love and loses. The novel also shows the difference between healthy and unhealthy family. It delves into the thought process, erratic habits, empathetic insightful glimpse into misunderstanding and stereotype condition.

[Lolly K Dandeneau · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel is harsh because you live through the unraveling of Isaac Bittman's mind and life. In a sense, it's a sort of horror story - because what is more horrifying than not having control of your own mind or personality? Peterson brings us a person struggling with their mental illness rather than a caricature of them. Truly climbing into such a life isn't as simple as a creative imagination, dissociative identity disorder (or any mental illness really) isn't something the rest of us fully understand. The reader experiences the ups and downs through Isaac and it makes for heavy-hearted reading. The family aspect just brought to mind how much harder it must be to heal when so many are affected. Mental illness has always been that shameful secret people hid or denied, anyone can look through history and see the inhumane ways such people were dealt with in the past. We like to think we've come far (and from a rotten starting point we have) but there is still much more exploration to be had, and understanding.
Treatment is a strange beast too, because there is no quick fix. But the difference between having loved ones and having no one is enormous in getting better. I think the hardest moments were reading about his behavior coming to light- when he couldn't hide what was happening. This is terribly sad. Peterson does seem to be trying to bring attention to mental health issues, and it's a good thing.

[Megalion · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful novel about disassociative identity disorder.

Issac is a happily married man with a beautiful son and a fun job as a mascot for a baseball team.

Yet he's frequently plagued with deep feelings of being a horrible person and undeserving of his wife and family. That he's ruining them.

There's always been odd lost moments in his life but now he's starting to lose bigger chunks of time. More things happen that can't be explained. Worst of all, he can't cover it up like he used to because he's being witnessed doing things that are very uncharacteristic of him.

We learn more about the disorder, also known as DID, and how it's more representative of the illness than the old name: multiple personality disorder.

We get to experience from the inside, the terror and confusion and fear of the main person. Especially in the days of discovering and diagnosing the problem. And beginning the treatment for it.

I felt a little bit of it to be repetitive. Then I realized that it was the constant fear, negative reinforcement and self-hate that Isaac was inflicting on himself. Makes sense.

A very moving book. Recommended to everyone.

A big thank you to the publisher for providing me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Nikky44 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twenty-four shadows is a must-read. I fell in love with the characters. This book, just like Ms Peterson's previous ones, illustrates the struggles of living with mental illness. This is the most effective way to bring awareness of mental illness to the general reader. You get involved in the life of the character and all he is going through. The description of each emotion is so simple yet so powerful. It's a story about understanding, compassion and love. This book is proof that getting the right support, mainly from family and friends, is the most important part in healing and adapting to mental illness.

[Polly Krize · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

An eye-opening look into the world of mental illness, specifically dissociative identity disorder or DID. As Isaac realizes he is losing touch with huge blocks of time in his life, he is terrified, and feeling he is a bad person. Diagnosis is difficult and the toll on his family huge. For me, reading about Isaac's self-hate and negative reinforcement was most uncomfortable and led me to explore the realities of DID and its effects. Well-written!

[Anne Mackle · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading two of the novels by Tanya Peterson I didn't know how she could possibly top them,but she has. Tanya writes books about people with living with different kinds of mental illness.
Her books give us an insight into the lives of people we might not come across in our everyday lives. Through her books it is hoped we might understand more clearly what some people have to cope with. Of course it's not only the person with the disorder who have to learn how to cope but their family and close friends.
This is a book about a family,an ordinary family leading an ordinary life until mental illness rears it's head. It could be any family, it could be yours.

This is the story of Isaac who has Dissociative Identity Disorder [multiple personality disorder].
It has taken his whole life for this to become noticeable but when he is found half dead in the wilds of Idaho it brings things to a head so Isaac has to be diagnosed. He then attends a daily medical facility to receive treatment.

Isaac is a very likeable character. Tanya's writing is so real that I felt I was there alongside Isaac as he try to work his way through what was making him different. He is left with no self esteem and feels he is unlovable and a burden to everyone. At various times, either at the treatment facility or at home we meet Isaac's other identities. Most of the personalities are endearing and I wondered what would happen to them if Isaac was ever cured. I then realised there is no cure only control but it does show how involved I became.

His wife Maria is a saint,no really she was. She was so patient and kind to her husband as his condition escalated.
Dominic, Isaac and Maria's five year old son is cute and charming and multiple personalities don't bother him in the least and he is very pragmatic about it.
Everyone at the treatment centre Isaac attended were worth their weight in gold, the way that we would wish everyone we come across in a GP surgery or hospital would be.

This is a roller coaster of a story as we hear from all the people who live in Isaac's mind and we learn the devastating reason that these personalities exist within Isaac in the first place.
As I said at the beginning this is the third book I've read by the author and I think they should all have a place in all secondary school library. We can all learn something from these books.

[Quinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the writing both good and bad at times (she great descriptions followed by some meh paragraphs, so 50/50), and there were parts of the story which seemed repetitive which is a shame since that took up the space needed for a more satisfying ending. In a way I liked the arch and it felt like a good place to end, but I also am left feeling unsatisfied/unresolved in some ways. I guess this is mostly down to the sudden ending of the subplot with the wife and neighbor/friend, but I also just got frustrated with the constant reference to how much the husband loved his wife and the repetitive moments of them professing this love. Her standing by him is enough to know she cares, and while some of the self-hate moments are illustrated well with the main character feeling he doesn't deserve his wife or that he should be better in order to live up to their love, it just came back to that too many times in exactly the same way with no progress or changes.

It did am awesome job of showing the symptoms though, and was very relatable/informative that way. The treatment was handled pretty well too, but I wanted to see more of the improved relationships within the system.

[Lisa Ulibarri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I aplaude the writer on this accurate account of DID. If you do not know what DID is it used to be called multiple personality disorder. It is important for those with this condition to be supported and not villainized or seen as evil.
I will say that if you are considering reading this... trigger warning! I am a highly sensitive individual but I am glad I read it as these true to reality fictitious books need to be out in the world.
This book is a gem for the truthfulness of DID.
And you will see a man who after having little recollection of much of his life finds out he has DID. And what this means for him and his life and how the others (alters) have been with him for much of his life and why. The why is his trauma and yes it is painfully horrible. But he has the most amazing family and doctors helping him.
Little side note the more intense alters are trauma holders and need to heal.

[Audrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

The idea of this book is great. Portraying someone with DID in an accurate way is very much needed in the current mental health climate, especially in light of all the stigmas around this particular disorder.

But the writing was terrible.

It was a chore to get through, and I found myself skimming most of the book until I got to the interesting parts. The dialogue was stiff and unrealistic, the characters were flat, and it just could have been so much better. Definitely disappointed.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Awful book, clunky dialogue and the characters come off very immature. Additionally, as someone pursuing a masters degree in counseling the authors portrayal of dissociative identity disorder is quite inaccurate.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this novel from Net Galley and Apprentice House in return for an honest review.
This is Peterson's fourth novel, and I'll be honest I hadn't heard of her before I requested the novel, I thought the premise sounded intriguing and wanted to check it out. This was a very interesting novel, the topic was absolutely fascinating, the only thing that let it down for me a little was the actual storytelling. The science and information that the author told us was really interesting and also very well told, the problem for me was the story that she tried to weave around the information just fell through.
The novel revolves around a man called Isaac, who after going missing, is diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder, basically he has 24 personalities inside his conscious mind. This novel doesn't have much action, most of it is the characters coming to terms with Isaac and the disorder, especially his close family; his wife and 5 year old son.
The lack of action and slow pacing made this novel quite difficult to get through, and although the subject matter was really fascinating to me, I would have liked perhaps a little more action to keep me engrossed.
The only other aspect of the novel I was a little irritated by was some of the characters reactions. Especially in the beginning of the novel, where Isaac is experiencing long periods of time which he can't then remember, the characters acted very un-realistically for me. His wife and his best friend realise and acknowledge that he has these periods of forgotten time, and instead of thinking it might be early-onset Alzheimers or maybe a brain tumour, they instead decide to ignore it!! That seemed ridiculous to me, and at that point I did think about just putting the novel down, but I persevered through. I am glad I did, although the characters' reactions are un-lifelike at the beginning, the author writes some of her best work when describing their reactions to Isaac's diagnosis and his switching personalities. By the end of the novel the characters that Peterson had written were well-rounded and well-developed.
Overall I liked this novel, it introduced me to a fascinating subject that I now know much more about, and although the storyline could have been stronger, it was still an enjoyable read.
My thanks to Net Galley and Apprentice House.

[Laura Marchildon · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Twenty-Four Shadows” A Novel, by Tanya J. Peterson is a heartbreaking story of a man, Isaac, who, throughout his life, never felt comfortable in his own skin.
After a major incident, Isaac is diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder (formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder). “Twenty-Four Shadows” unfolds Isaac’s struggle through his healing process and the unconditional love and strength of his family.
Tanya J. Peterson does a superb job in illustrating the intricacies of Dissociative Identity Disorder and the difficulties coping with this Mental Illness.

[Udita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Instead of a fast paced thriller with strange twists and turns, in Twenty Four Shadows we see the simple and tight-knit world of Isaac Bittman fall to pieces slowly as he comes to terms with his illness. There is no excitement, just the terrible reality of friends and loved ones learning to deal with what is most peoples’ unthinkable. They watch Isaac slip away, change, become angry, sad, upset, and violent and remain helpless.

from cupandchaucer.wordpress.com

[Sharon McNeil · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real page turner about dissociative fugues (DID)

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly don't know how to describe what I'm feeling after reading this book. It is a fictional account of a man with Dissociative Identity Disorder. Right away my mind went to the book "Sybil" or the movie "Split", those being the extent of what I knew about DID. This reads like it is a true story of a man' suffering from DID. I felt for Isaac and all he went through. Luckily, he was able to get the help he needed and that he had the support of his family. It made me wonder about the people out in the world with this disorder who couldn't afford help or had no support system. You can tell Ms. Peterson has had experience working with DID because she wrote about it so clearly and made the disorder very understandable. Great book for a jumping off point for more study of the disorder.