Gorgeous Girl

by Mary K. Pershall

'The only way to comprehend this tragic story of mine is to write it.'

On the 10th of February 2017, there was a sentencing hearing for murder in the Victorian Supreme Court. The young woman in the dock, who sat quietly with her hands in her lap, had perfect skin and light-brown hair tied back as neatly as a private school prefect's. When the judge asked her to confirm her plea, the young woman answered in a clear and polite voice. 'Guilty, your Honour.'

That killer is Mary K. Pershall's beloved daughter Anna. She is twenty-eight years old, tall and beautiful, with an effervescent wit and a university degree in psychology. She also hears the voices of demons. After Anna finished uni, she just could not meet the demands of adulthood, and the voices became overwhelming. She attempted to silence them with alcohol and weed, with the abuse of her prescribed medication, and with ice. But the evil howling would not stop.

Award-winning author Mary K. Pershall brings a unique and insightful perspective to a story that is at once devastating and uplifting, and proves that a mother's love - even in its darkest hour - can shed light and provide hope to families in crisis.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, Memoir, Mental Health, Mental Illness

375 pages, Paperback

First published August 20, 2018

About the author

Mary K Pershall grew up on a farm in Iowa, heart of the American corn and Bible belt. She escaped to Australia as a freshly graduated teacher in 1974, and has lived here ever since.

Beginning her career editing and writing for children’s magazines such as Pursuit and Comet, Mary went on to write young adult novels such as the highly acclaimed You Take the High Road, Stormy and A Long Way Home.

Drawing infinite inspiration from her ongoing career as a teacher, Mary now writes books for late primary and early high school students. As well as writing for the enormously successful Aussie Bites series (Too Much To Ask For and Making Jamie Normal), Mary has written a popular tween trilogy with daughter Anna, focussing on the pitfalls of popularity; entitled Two Weeks in Grade Six, A Term in Year Seven and Escape from Year Eight.

Most recently, Mary has drawn on spooky experiences in her own childhood to create the Ruby Clair series. Ruby, a reluctant hero, just wants to go to school and live a normal life, but the ghosts she can see have other ideas. Ruby Clair: The Trouble with Ghosts and Ruby Clair: Ghost with a Message are now available. A third book is on its way.

As well as writing and teaching, Mary gives talks at schools about what it was like to grow up in a haunted farm house in Iowa.

Reviews

[Clare Snow · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 45%

I really don't care about a has-been writer's last gasp depicting Pershall's controlling mothering and enabling of her daughter's addiction. In 2013 when Anna was 25, Pershall wrote in her diary every man her daughter dated including where they met. Wtf!? Then she proceeds to slut-shame her daughter.

For someone who co-writes with her daughters, why wasn't this co-written with Anna. Did she not want it written?

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a true story; and anyone with experience with addicts in the family and the heartbreaking way of seeing them destroy their own lives will be able to relate to it. It spoke to me directly sometimes, and finished the book in 2 sittings.

Only criticism is- the editing could be tighter, the book loses focus sometimes because there are details that may be dear to the author, but for the reader they can be just a little tedious.

[Linda Mcdonald · Rating 2 out of 5]

Codependent...wow...

Codependency... Wow; just wow
ust wow

[Felicity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging and emotive but also meandering at times. The author's writing is better than her parenting. It was frustrating to read about the author's constant enabling of her daughter and her repeated failures to assist her in obtaining a diagnosis, even when she was clearly struggling from a very young age.

[Rania T · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides a very good case as to why it was wrong of the Kennet Government to shut down Institutes that provided round the clock care for those with severe mental health issues. Maybe things may have been different for the family of the author if this had been the case?

[Leah Dickenson · Rating 3 out of 5]

None of us could know how we’d respond to our child facing the twins of mental illness and addiction. But if the book teaches us anything it’s that love alone can’t solve addiction or mental illness.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extremely confronting and real novel. A solid 4.5 stars.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real insight into the trauma of living with a relative with substance abuse and mental health issues. I felt for all involved...the family and the affected daughter. Society is often too quick to condemn and judge the drug and alcohol user instead of trying to understand their situation and dilemma. This book explores both positions. The author, (the mother of the poor girl affected by drugs and alcohol), let the book meander along in places. It became annoying at times. The book could probably have been shorter by 25% but pleasingly the pace picked up towards the end. It was a well constructed and thought out conclusion. I hovered between three and four stars but settled on four mainly because of the conclusion. Recommended reading.

[Poppy Honeysuckle Stoker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This candidly written memoir on a family coping with a mentally ill family member is compelling and harrowing reading. Mary and her family need to be commended for their unconditional love and relentless dedication to Anna. Amongst the debris of Anna's struggles/challenges and the impact on the family, there are also messages of honesty, acceptance, faith and peace and, more importantly [and surprisingly] a family's ability to remain intact. This is a must-read, a real insight into a family dealing with mental illness and addiction. Nothing is embellished or glossed over; its frankness and rawness of writing made me feel Mary was in honest conversation with the reader. Thank you, Mary, for opening your heart! I wish I had read this years ago - it was so gratifying and educational!

[Emma Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

While reading at a surface level this book is well written and clearly well proofed, I have to think of the deeper levels here.

Firstly, if a highly educated woman cannot see there are more dangerous issues at play from a very young age how is the average year 12 drop out mother suppose to seek help for their mental ill child?

You could argue that yes, everyone tried their best, but then if there are support networks out there but they cost money and you are unwilling to 'risk' that money for your daughter you can't say you did everything. When reading about this I had to think "can you not see by not doing this you're telling your mentally ill and drug addicted child that they aren't worth it? That they will fail so don't bother?'

Secondly, reading at times was hard coming from a mentally ill mind to not scream out at the professionals that this baby very clearly needs help and I'm saddened by our mental health treatment plans in Australia and how they are so hard to find, access and maintain long term for those that need them so desperately.

Thirdly, I believe that this book was written with the intent to showcase how a family and especially a mother understand, cope with and support an unstable child and the stress that can be placed on them internally and externally to fix the issues. I would have like to read this history from the first person at times to better understand what was going on inside a broken mind but perhaps in time a companion book can be written taking in to account this one.

Lastly, the chronology is at times difficult to follow in the writing, the jumping back and forth and later adding details that may not have fit the flow of writing earlier but made this a story line you needed to read from start to finish in one sitting and not go about the act of daily living to scramble your mind about later. Several places I needed to go back and reread to follow a event told later that fit between 2 events told back to back.

Overall this book is well written and while I wouldn't say I enjoyed reading a real life decent into murder it was a captivating portrait of the families left after a life long struggle "not to be lonely".

[Georgia · Rating 2 out of 5]

🌟🌟 / 5 stars

It’s always so hard to rate non-fiction novels, especially when the author is tackling delicate and personal subject matter.

The story itself is definitely one that needed to be told, especially when it was highlighting the deficiencies within the mental health care system. As someone that works in an industry that is somewhat reliant on the mental health care industry at times, I could really resonate and understand the frustration.

I just struggled with the ongoing enabling of Anna, which the author herself acknowledged throughout the novel; and thought that it would benefit from further editing.

[Nicki Kendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredibly raw and honest account of one family's years of struggling to do the best for their daughter as she struggles with mental health and addiction issues. Mary describes in detail how the whole family is impacted for years as their addicted daughter further spirals out of control. Sadly her issues ultimately led her to kill her housemate, which she is now serving a prison sentence for. A powerful, raw account of how addiction and mental health issues impact more than just the sufferer, a heartbreaking and thought provoking read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ #marykpershall #gorgeousgirl #tea_sipping_bookworm #goodreads #litsy #thestorygraph #bookstagram #bookqueen

[Someone get me a Fanta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can only imagine how hard it is to tell a story about your child and to document what many will perceive as your failings as a parent. I have to say that I understood Pershall’s unwillingness to label her daughter as a young age - she isn’t the first to go down that path of hoping that everything will be okay and being in denial that it wasn’t. However, I also have to admit that I found the book a little tedious, such that I stopped listening to it about two chapters before the end. Maybe I’ll go back to it at some point - probably not.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone with family members suffering with serious mental health and addiction issues. And a must read for everyone else who need to understand how hard it is to get help. The mental health system failed this family, sadly not an uncommon story. Mary describes her own anguish and feelings of despair so honestly and heartbreakingly.

[Sonia Mcintosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

How much can one family endure! A heart breaking account of a mother loving her daughter through mental illness and addiction. Mary's truthful account of her journey and the difficulties of patenting gives me courage in to admit my thoughts and feeling of loving children with mental illnesses. Thank you Mary!

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost 4 stars. Another book I wanted to read after hearing the author on a podcast. This is certainly a ‘warts and all’ telling of a very difficult life. I found myself frustrated at times by the naivety and actions of her family, and saddened by all the people who were hurt along the way. However, I did enjoy it and it leaves you with hope at the end.

[Ruby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking story. My heart goes out to Mary, Katie, John and Anna. If only Anna got the support she needed. We need to do better as a society, looking after vulnerable people. So much love and compassion, thoughts and prayers.

[Jess M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this a hard read. The parents tried so hard to do what they thought was right. They begged for help and it never came. Until it was too late.

Brilliantly written. And it’s good to know she is now getting the help and medical treatment needed.

[Niki E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Undeniably a tragic story, but its impact would have been greater if it had undergone significant editing. At half the length this would have been a devastating tale of our mental health system; instead it is meandering and padded with irrelevant details notable only to the author.

[Liane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t usually read books about addicts but this one looked different, and it was.
Very well written from the often enabling mother’s pov, this is a story that doesn’t skip honest and sometimes ugly feelings.
I’m really glad I read it and it will stay with me. Much respect.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow - what a story!! Well written and honest.

[Lonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest and heartbreaking insight into addiction and mental health issues. The author doesn’t shy away from the frustration and pain she felt whilst trying to help her daughter.

[Anna Simson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking true story filled with anguish, pain and regret. But also courageous, honest and admirable. Very well written, I couldn’t put it down. It will stay with me a long time.

[Darcy McInerney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slogged through and finished it, just a back and forth of enabling and letting things happen that shouldn’t have. Not worth the time

[Sharon Barbero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written, harrowing and moving by turns with humour sprinkled throughout.
Impressive in the raw honesty and all encompassing, relentless love of a mother for her child.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read a while ago but still one that sticks with me! Set in Australia. Very sad!

[Kris Morton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!!! Lived every page.

[Libby Sanderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book hit close to home, literally (it's right near my home) and emotionally. I know firsthand how hard it is to deal with addictions and mental illness from both sides. A very interesting and relatable read.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heart breaking story of mental illness and the government and private system that let this family of the killer and the victim down.

[Jen Mactaggart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks for sharing this harrowing story. It is a sad indictment on society that this young woman finally received the help she needed when she went to prison. Best wishes to the family and her son.