Broken Pieces and the God Who Mends Them: Schizophrenia through a Mother's Eyes

by Simonetta Carr

When a son, sister, or grandchild begins to behave in unexpected and disturbing ways, family members hope it is simply a phase. For some, it is instead a lifetime illness—schizophrenia.

The diagnosis of schizophrenia can bring shock, fear, and worry to everyone involved. But in the midst of the numerous challenges, hope doesn’t have to die.

Simonetta chronicles her experience of caring for a son with schizophrenia, along with all the struggles, questions, and fervent prayer that went with it. But this isn’t one person’s story. She has provided information and wisdom from psychiatrists, pastors, parents, and people who successfully live with schizophrenia, uncovering the gospel in each situation and sharing hard-won insights on how to care and advocate for those we love.

Genres: Psychology, Christian Living, Mental Health, Memoir, Health, Christian, Counselling

370 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2019

About the author

Simonetta Carr was born in Italy and has lived and worked in different cultures. A former elementary school teacher, she has home-schooled her eight children for many years. She has written for newspapers and magazines around the world and has translated the works of several authors into Italian. Presently, she lives in San Diego with her husband Thomas and family. She is a member and Sunday School teacher at Christ United Reformed Church.
Awards - First prize (Best Biography) in the 2014 San Diego Book Awards Association (see book Anselm of Canterbury)
First Prize Athanatos Ministries - Best children's book (see book Anselm of Canterbury)

Reviews

[Ebookwormy1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Schizophrenia magnifies all about humankind that is frail: our sense of importance, our paranoia about our own guilt, our rebellion against God, our tendency to hurt those we love, the security of a mind capable of rational thought, our self-centered perception of the world, our slipping toward addictions, our denial of weakness and resistance to acknowledging our dependence on Christ to ‘hold all things together (Colossians 1:17)."

In thinking about this work as a whole, this passage from James 3 came to mind as summarizing the tone of this book by Simonetta Carr,
“17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

For those familiar with Simonetta Carr through her excellent Christian Biographies for Young Readers Series, though Carr offers hope, there is no way you can escape the pain of her own story. The subject of this biography is Carr herself and her relationship with her son Jonathan, whose life devolved from medical school to schizophrenia. The setting is Carr’s own family, near the present day, in California.

“I think I am dissolving. I feel—my mind feels—like a sand castle with all the sand sliding away in the receding surf.” – Elyn Saks The Center Cannot Hold

In section one, Journey through the Unknown: Jonathan’s Story, we encounter Carr in raw journalistic style. She weaves the timeline and significant events of Jonathan’s illness, with her personal anguish and diligent research. This is a realistic view. As the primary care giver for her entire family generally, and Jonathan specifically, Carr daily walked the shadows between being perceived as her son’s closest friend and vilest betrayer. Carr doesn’t conceal either her accomplishments in achieving some level of fleeting peace with her son or her failures that shatter their teamwork, and leave her wrestling with mother guilt. Throughout the section, Jonathan’s poetry provides a touching personal connection with his voice. As a Christian, Carr leans into her faith and church family. Nonetheless, she brings the same clarion tone from her previous work to her own story, gently and simply explaining medical, mental, and Biblical concepts. Not only is Carr synthesizing her own trauma, she has provided a detailed account of what schizophrenia is like in our day and time.

The Carr family ultimately holds strong, but the ties that bind them fray under the weight of Jonathan’s needs and confusion. Carr walks through the painful process of caregiving that will be familiar to families who have struggled with mental or physical illness, the aging of a parent, or caring for children coming from trauma backgrounds:
1) The Caregiver begins to question self, doubting ability to care for their loved one in the ‘best’ way possible, and even their own sense of reality;
2) Doctors, social workers, family likewise question the Caregiver, challenging their decisions, accusing the Caregiver of over/under reacting or maybe even being culpable for the struggle, some even become hostile toward or attack/ confront the Caregiver;
3) The Caregiver seeks out other Caregivers who empathize with their struggles and (hopefully) help them understand their situation more clearly;
3) All involved question the Patient’s mind/ heart connection. Is the patient doing this to themselves? Their accountability is ultimately to God, but how much is heart rebellion or spiritual warfare? How much is physical malfunction? What exactly are their capabilities? Should they still be given the freedom to make poor decisions or should decision making be completely taken from them?
4) Professionals, family and friends all have guidance (some more informed than others), but little to offer to relieve the Caregiver of the exhausting burden of being primarily responsible for a loved one with high needs.

Jonathan’s story ends tragically. The loss is profound, and it is clear the Carr family wounds are still tender. I had to step away for a few days, to pray for the Carr family and regroup before I could finish reading.

Section II – Love & Courage: Support for Helpers remembers those whose stories go on. It takes a step away from the Carr family’s personal pain to aggregate what Simonetta learned through these difficult years. As such, the second half of the book strikes a surprisingly hopeful tone.

Drawing on her own experience as well as stories from other families she has met through this valley, Carr analyzes the previous personal account from the same angles: spiritual, medical, experiential. Her tour through the history of schizophrenia includes a discussion of the spiritual extreme of seeing the afflicted as saints or demons, as well as an examination of the role the religious life can take in treating the whole person while trying to avoid the pitfalls of religious delusions. The theological examination of schizophrenia and the church/ family response to is consistent with Carr’s other work, and includes insight from Irenaeus, Newton and Calvin. Her examination of the impact of the illness on the entire family unit is full of wisdom and love, and her encouragement to Caregivers heart felt. Medical concerns are examined in all their complexity, as well as what the chaotic mental health field can and cannot bring to the afflicted and their families.

Over this all, Carr spreads generously the Gospel, reminding those suffering of the LORD’s sustaining power in the midst of our weaknesses and the promises of freedom in our future. She addresses our own fallen need for forgiveness, our dogging imperfections and how spiritual disciplines can provide a framework for getting through difficult days.

If you or someone you love are struggling through the paths of mental illness (either personally or as a caregiver), I think you will find Broken Pieces and the God who Mends Them to be full of gentle wisdom. This is a topic that can be neglected by the church, I hope this title will serve to encourage leaders, laymen, and those impacted by schizophrenia. Highly recommended.

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly reccomend. Even if you don't know anyone with schizophrenia, it is immensely helpful for gaining a biblical and medical perspective on any mental illness.

[Bob Hayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Few things are more distressing and perplexing than mental illness. In generations past, the mentally ill were shut away from all hope in insane asylums; and the actions of “lunatics” were often blamed on demons or devilry. Today medical knowledge has grown concerning the brain’s role in mental illness, and the help that various medications can provide has offered hope to the afflicted. Yet even still, society as a whole often continues to ignore and shun the mentally ill and their loved ones. Mental illness is sanitized through the institutionalization (or even incarceration) of its sufferers; or it is under-estimated in its effect, leading to dire consequences for those who are unable to find real help through the current medical system. The Church amplifies this problem, both by holding on to assumptions related to demonic causality and by being skeptical of psychiatry and medications. The result is a myriad of silent sufferers, both in and outside of our churches.

Slowly the tide is turning however. More and more the stigma is being lifted for afflictions such as clinical depression and schizophrenia. An understanding exists that depression may be medically induced, after all Christians get depressed too! Similarly, sufferers of schizophrenia can be helped through medicine and therapy. And slowly the Church is waking up to this reality. And this awakening is largely due to people who have suffered/are suffering the impacts of mental illness and who are speaking out and calling for the Church to be a real help.

Simonetta Carr is just such a person. In her new book "Broken Pieces and the God Who Mends Them: Schizophrenia Through a Mother’s Eyes", she bares her soul in telling us the gripping story of her son’s brief (and tragic) battle with schizophrenia. In a poignant account she recounts what it is like from a parent’s perspective to see your college-aged child brought to their knees through this illness. She highlights the very real shame and loneliness that confront the mentally ill and their loved ones. And she testifies to how her faith in the sovereignty of God and an “already, not yet” hope combined to keep her going through the darkest of times. By the end of the story, the reader is broken with her as she grieves over her son’s untimely death.

Yet this emotional and very personal story, is not an end in itself. Carr goes on to help those who follow behind her in dealing with mental illness. The second part of the book is full of advice and explanation, resources and admonitions — it is a road-map for those who must follow in her steps dealing with the particulars of schizophrenia or other similar mental illnesses. She shares the stories of other parents or patients, and even some pastors — and mixes in quotes from experts and doctors and many an old-time preacher or Reformation-era writing.

This book is a joy to read and will be treasured by those caring for loved ones and friends who are mentally ill. No matter what stage you are in, newly diagnosed or even in bereavement, this book will be a balm for your soul. It can benefit the non-Christian reader, but is especially relevant for the Christian. Perhaps no darker storm or more grievous trial can be found than mental illness, and Simonetta Carr will help you hold onto your faith and joy through all of the ups and downs ahead of you.

Here is a sampling of some of her advice:

"I wanted to be there, in mind if not in body, as if I were the only one who could shield my son — as if my thoughts, prayers, and actions were indispensable to his protection." (p. 267)

"The sooner we realize that we are not our loved ones’ saviors and can’t provide an answer to all their needs, the easier both our lives and theirs will be. We will be able to relax and persevere on our course, because we will not be leaning on our own strength." (p. 281)

"We have the comfort of knowing that God is faithful in leading his children and that our wrong decisions cannot thwart his plans. 'For those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose'" (Rom. 8:28). (p. 262)

Both in her story and her advice, Carr models a life that places a high priority on personal attendance and fellowship with a church. Her testimony of working with her church pastors and elders, and celebrating marks of grace in her son’s life were particularly helpful. The quotes by pastors and elders that she shares deserve a wide audience, as it truly is in connection with a church that sufferers and their families should find the deepest support and lasting peace.

Along these lines, Carr emphasizes advocacy and helping both the Church and the community to change their attitudes to the mentally ill. Her advice gets very practical, pointing out support groups and organizations that can help — or that may need additional volunteers. Her book also includes an annotated list of books and other resources.

I appreciated her balanced approach when it comes to evaluating the role of medicine and therapy, and dealing with spiritual issues as well. She also touches on the Christian counselor question: are Christian counselors automatically best? She warns that “greater caution” may be needed with Christian counselors as to what theology they will employ among other concerns (p. 227). I did have one small quibble with her declaration that Christians cannot be demon possessed (p. 202). This is a point of disagreement among some Christian scholars. I agree with Carr but she doesn’t acknowledge the debate or give her reasoning for her conclusion.

"Broken Pieces" is a one of a kind resource that I hope will bless many who suffer from mental illness. I believe churches need to be better at caring for the mentally ill and their families, and this book has the potential to educate and inform Church leaders to that end. I highly recommend it.

Disclaimer: This book was provided by the publisher. The reviewer was under no obligation to offer a positive review.

[Darlene Bocek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Christian should read this book. Mental issues are here and are not going away. Shutting our thoughts to them helps no one.

Simonetta Carr has opened up the world of faithful Christianity fighting mental disease in an amazing way. The first half is the story of her helping her 18 year old son battle the disease. Written in present tense, you walk through it with her, feeling the tension with her, hoping for healing, finding help, trying to persuade her son to take his medications.

But more than the story of a mother's battle with schizophrenia, it's a modern scene from Pilgrim's Progress. John Bunyan didn't have his Christian battle mental disease. But it is one of those battles some Christians have to fight. Simonetta Carr shows us how she and her church fought the sin issues amidst the mysterious out-of-control issues of schizophrenia.

Well worth the time, and (can you believe it?) "I couldn't put it down!" It's that compelling of a read. When you're done, you feel better, you feel empowered to help other families struggling with the disease. You feel compassion for the ones fighting that battle.

See my full review here: https://darlenenbocek.com/archives/5379

(Disclaimer-I received a preview copy of the book in exchange for an honest review)

[Heidi'sbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for my April book club. This book is very good, written from the perspective of a mother dealing with a child with serious mental illness. The first half of the book tells the author's story. Her son Jonathan left for college with a dream of becoming a doctor. During his first semester he fails two college courses and is asked not to return. When he returns home it is clear something has gone terribly wrong. Eventually Jonathan is diagnosed with schizophrenia. This is the story of trying to get him help.

The second half of the book deals with practical issues such as love and support for caregivers. I was expecting the second half to not be applicable to me, however I was pleasantly surprised. The second half is even better than the first half. It is very applicable to everyone--even those who just attend the same church with someone with mental illness. Theologically based, this second half has sections on compassion, sharing the gospel, God's sovereignty, and other topics. How we encourage people is important because God may choose not to heal in the immediate time frame. Our cliches may cause harm.

Recommended for all church leaders/pastors.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is rare to find a Christian writer discuss mental illness by name and at length. When I saw this advertised by Westminster Theological Seminary bookstore (a great place to find out about great books, by the way!) I jumped at it. Not only that, but I began reading it the very night it was delivered. I even read it in three evening sessions. Yes, it was that good.

I've been watching for resources like this for many years now, with mental illness being a part of my extended family. I've developed my own view and understanding of it largely on my own and with limited resources that I've found about it. But this book is unique in that it is written by a Reformed Christian woman attending a solid Reformed church with pastors that were prepared to actually minister to a family suffering due to the onset of schizophrenia with one of their children.

Our family has purchased all of Simonetta Carr's biographies for young readers and integrate them into our homeschool curriculum. So when I saw this book I knew it would be good. Carr has eight children, and Jonathan, their fifth, was diagnosed with schizophrenia which forever changed their family.

The first half of the book is Carr's account of Jonathan's last few years of life, after being diagnosed with schizophrenia with some memories of his earlier years interspersed. The second half of the book is Carr's understanding of mental illness, as a Christian, with practical ways that families, churches, and society can and should respond and care for the mentally ill.

There were two main takeaways for me from this book. First is a deeper sense of compassion for those with mental illness. In many ways it feels like their world is dissolving around them, or that they lose the ability to actually live life in ways most take for granted. Schizophrenia in particular develops in the late teenage to early adult years and those suffering from it do not have any understanding that it is not the normal experience of those transitioning into adulthood. They don't understand it, and finally, when they do, they know they will forever be labeled "mentally ill."

Second, for years I've looked at it primarily as a sin issue, which I now think is wrong. It may be a sin issue, but it doesn't always have to be. There does seem to be something much deeper physiologically that we still do not understand. Carr helps us see that mental illness is a very frightening thing for those experiencing it first hand and Christians are vulnerable to it as anyone else.

Hearing how Carr's love for her son led her to take such great care and concern for her schizophrenic son was a beautiful thing. When she realized that instead of giving him up to adulthood as she expected to do, and as she had already done for her oldest sons, she would have to care for him in new ways, she quickly embraced that responsibility and sought the best for him in sacrificial and Christ-like ways.

I think the church would do well to take notice of this book and read and discuss it because for so long the church has not had answers, nor any meaningful way to speak into the lives of those affected by mental illness. I highly recommend this book.

[Annie Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simonetta Carr, beloved author of the Christian Biographies for Young Readers series, was confused and apprehensive when her eighteen year old son Jonathan asked her, out of the blue, “Mom, is this a game?” She answered him nervously. A bit later he still seemed perplexed and told her, “I don’t understand this extension.”

Thus began her journey as the mother of a child with schizophrenia.

In the first part of this book, Simonetta tells the story of Jonathan’s illness. The rest of the book gives her reflections in the years since her son’s death, with input from psychiatrists, pastors, parents, and individuals with schizophrenia.

“With this book, I am hoping to encourage other parents and relatives of people suffering from schizophrenia and possibly from other mental illnesses—regardless of their religious convictions—as they keep reading, finding resources, and seeking help.” Because Simonetta’s faith permeates what she writes, Broken Pieces is a religious book nonetheless, and thus occupies an important niche in a world of secular books about schizophrenia and other mental illnesses.

This is a gripping, overwhelming, and heartbreakingly realistic book that needs to be read by everyone who knows someone with schizophrenia or other severe mental illness.

For my complete, lengthy review, with trigger warning, please see http://anniekateshomeschoolreviews.co...

[Linda Finlayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A difficult but important book to read. Living with the mental illness of a loved one is extremely challenging. Carr presents the difficulties with precision but also with love and hope. Because it is a personal story, I hesitate to criticism it. However, I wish she had included the rest of her family in the story. She is up front with why she didn't; she wanted to protect them. I understand that, but mental illness affects the entire family, and balancing the needs of all it a tricky business. I wish she could have shared how she and they tried to managed it.

[Katie (Life In The Mundane) Waalkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is divided into two parts, and both are equally powerful in different ways. The first half completely drew me in. I couldn’t put it down. Written in a story format, it was engaging and easy to read, and I finished it in just a few days. The second half shifts into a more practical tone, offering helpful resources, biblical truths, and wise counsel. It took me longer to read but was so important. Whether you’re personally walking through these struggles or walking alongside someone who is, I highly recommend reading both parts.

As someone supporting others facing mental health challenges, I found this book incredibly encouraging. It doesn’t offer a fairy tale ending, and it isn’t sugar-coated, but it’s honest, raw, and deeply insightful. It reflects the real fears and hardships many experience, yet it is full of something far greater: the hope of Christ.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m thankful that Simonetta shared this deeply personal story. Besides offering valuable insights on mental illness and the Christian’s soul, it gives an honest, often dazzling picture of the gospel at work in the midst of the most painful circumstances.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

When we walk through the valleys and storms of life, where can we find an anchor for our souls? What is our true comfort? How can we care for others who are suffering? In Broken Pieces and the God Who Mends Them, Simonetta Carr shares her painful journey through the unknown waters of schizophrenia and offers support and encouragement for others who are going through similar trials. Again and again, she turns her eyes and directs ours to: "...the triune God--not only as a helper and comforter of sorrows, but in all his greatness and the perfection of his attributes" (pg. 106) demonstrating that God's unchanging character (Ex. 34:6-7) is the anchor for our souls in any and every aspect of life. She writes:

"Ultimately, Christ is my only true comfort and my only anchor in this sea of uncertainty" (155).

The struggle of faith is to see God the Father rightly and then act in light of what we know to be true, rightly imaging Him. This "Faith is not defined by our feelings. What we feel doesn't change what's objective" (190). One of Simonetta's pastors, Michael Horton, encouraged her with the words of John Calvin:

"All things around us are in opposition to the promises of God: He promises immortality; we are surrounded with mortality and corruption: He declares that he counts us just; we are covered with sins: He testifies that he is propitious and kind to us; outward judgments threaten his wrath. What then is to be done? We must with closed eyes pass by ourselves and all things connected with us, that nothing may hinder or prevent us from believing that God is true" (191).

In response, Simonetta writes: "And so I continue, day after day, to divert my mind from all the many things that pull me away from God’s promises" (191).

And this is exactly what Simonetta seeks to do for her readers as well. While Broken Pieces shares the Carr family story, ultimately, this book isn't centered on Simonetta and her family but on the good God who faithfully carries all believers through life's trials and the promises of the gospel that sustain us in these struggles. She shows us what it looks like for one mom to "...run 'to the rock that is higher than' us (Ps. 61:2) and point our loved ones in that direction" (213). Simonetta is honest and transparent about the wrestlings of her heart and illustrates how one family's relentless love of a sufferer speaks of Christ's relentless love for us when we were in no condition to love him back (83).

Broken Pieces is full of wisdom and offers lots of practical advice to support caregivers including resource recommendations. It seeks to fuel compassion and empathy, allowing us to enter someone's pain, feel deeply, and weep with those who weep. Simonetta teaches us the importance of guarding our speech and judgments as Christians and how to be a friend to sufferers. She also highlights the primacy of the gospel and the ministry of the Word in the life of the church revealing the intricate inter-relationship between what we believe about God and how we live and walk through trials. I'm very grateful that Simonetta and others have reopened their tender wounds to build up the Body of Christ and help all of us image God more closely as we care for sufferers!

"It’s only when we realize who God is in Christ that we can not only accept his sovereignty over all but welcome it with joy and relief. And this realization comes when we understand the Bible as the unified story of a loving God who is redeeming a rebellious human race. God is not just an abstract sum of his attributes. He’s a God who acts in history, and his acts constitute an integral part of his revelation of himself as an omnipotent, omniscient, all-just, all-loving, all-good, and all-wise God. No one will ever know our loved ones like he does, and no one will ever love them more than Christ, who has died on the cross for them" (272).

*Many thanks to P & R Publishing for a complimentary digital copy of Broken Pieces! These are my honest thoughts.

[Kelhi Herring · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provided valuable insights into schizophrenia, mental illness in general, family dynamics, the importance of proper medial testament, and the role of the church. I’m grateful to Carr for sharing her and her son Jonathan’s story. She effectively presents a clear narrative, portraying both herself and Jonathan with honesty and compassion, allowing readers to understand their struggles and empathize deeply. Carr’s wise and biblically grounded explanations further enhance the narrative. She doesn’t claim to have all the answers, but she demonstrates that she is a devoted mother, a diligent learner (her insights are well-researched and supported), a skilled communicator, and a faithful Christian (in the sense that she understands and applies her faith). This is a worthwhile read for anyone within the church.

A few further observations:

I do wish the narrative hadn’t been written in the first person. While Carr offers her reasoning for this choice, I don’t believe it strengthens the narrative. Recounting past events in the present tense feels unnatural.

I also would have appreciated more focus on the rest of the family, beyond Carr’s interactions with Jonathan and occasional references to other family members. However, I hesitate to call this a flaw. Sharing such personal experiences is a significant undertaking, and there’s no obligation for other family members to be equally exposed. The current focus—Carr and Jonathan, mother and son—does create a certain intimacy. I believe this focus would have been even more effective with past-tense narration, allowing us to hear Carr reflecting and remembering rather than “living in the moment” (which feels incongruous: she’s got a large family, but she often seems alone).

Finally, it’s refreshing to see an accurate and well-presented explanation of Presbyterian and Reformed church governance in a book intended for a broader Christian audience. So many published (or “posted”) stories about church sessions interacting with members, regardless of why they are negative, often fail to explain fundamental aspects of polity: what a session is and does, why members vow to submit to discipline, and the reasons a session might restrict someone from participating in the Lord’s Supper. Carr provides these explanations for non-Presbyterian readers, which is a valuable contribution.

Again, this is a worthwhile read for anyone in the church.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this a very useful book, dealing with something that so few deal with at all, let alone as candidly as Simonetta Carr does. Even if you don't suffer from schizophrenia, anyone who comes into contact with mental illness could benefit from this book. I appreciated Mrs. Carr’s transparency in writing, even when that showed her own failings, and her commitment to look to Christ and to point others to Christ as well.

My favorite quote comes from the forward by her pastor, Michael Horton, professor of theology at Westminster Seminary, who writes: “It is amazing that in an age of medical advancement, when we do not hesitate to rush to the doctor for symptoms of cancer or respiratory illness, so many Christians treat mental diseases as spiritual problems that can be solved with more prayer, Bible reading, and imperatives to be more content….[T]he mind is not the soul. It is the brain, and the brain is an organ—like the lungs and liver. Mental illness is a medical problem, a physical ailment, that requires professional treatment. Like all illnesses, it certainly involves the soul and requires the spiritual remedies of preaching, sacrament, prayer, pastoral care, and fellowship of the saints. But we need to think of mental illness like cancer.”

One benefit of talking about mental illness like cancer is that we could talk about it more openly and get more help instead of hiding it in shame.

[Jaclyn Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had this one on my list since before it was released. I've had it sitting on my shelf since May. So glad to have finally gotten around to reading this book.

Our family has a personal story with schizophrenia. My aunt was diagnosed when I was around 9 or 10. I'm too young to remember the events surrounding her diagnosis and what led up to it, but I am old enough to remember her as the disease ravaged her mind and the family. I remember the stigma of knowing my aunt was different mentally. I remember Christians telling the family it was because she didn't have enough faith or had sinned somehow and just needed to pray it away. My aunt was, until the end of her life, one of the most devoted Christians I knew in my life. She, through her struggles, always sang the praises of Christ and shared the gospel with us on the regular.

I'm thankful to have read this account of Mrs Carr's son. Glad to have insight into the early days of his illness. It's made me wonder and ask questions about things I was too young to notice when our family was dealing with it all. Finally a fantastic book with good theology on such a difficult topic.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book on schizophrenia. The first half of the book is a mother's story of living with a son who had schizophrenia. That is intense and powerful and kept me reading. The second half is advice and perspective on how to live with mental illness, especially as a Christian. The author has a broad view that is very helpful.
I don't have anyone in my life with this diagnosis, but I do know that there are many in the church who struggle. This book is very helpful to build understanding and compassion. Our churches need to be more places of hope and rest for those who struggle with mental illness.

[Denise Huff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a child with schizophrenia. This book was an opportunity for me to grieve with someone else who has walked this road and to take comfort in the shared journey. It provides a good balance between the harsh realities of the disease and the hope that we find in God’s promises. I wish everyone who knows my child could read this! I suspect that I will return to it often for the good reference material and the encouragement it provides.

[Emily Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have the blessing of reading this book in an electronic copy directly from the publisher prior to release.

Simonetta Carr’s book, Broken Pieces, is part memoir and part instruction. She uses the painful story of her son Jonathan’s schizophrenia to provide insight into the tangled web of ecclesiastical, governmental, familial and psychological response to this mental condition. Simonetta doesn’t give you a play by play on exactly how to respond to those in need of mental health care, but she gives insights on how the spiritual and psychological mingle together in a complex way. She discusses her struggles to help find her son holistic care, and provides some solutions to those of us struggling through the same thing. For anyone wanting to better understand schizophrenia, I think you should pick this up. Also, stock one in your church library. People afflicted with mental health conditions need not just meds, but the hope of the Gospel.

[Gini · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been greatly benefited reading this book; I have a much better understanding now of the disease of schizophrenia. I would strongly recommend this book to those who are involved in the care of someone who suffers from this disease, or if you know someone who is.
I also very much appreciate Simonetta Carr's testimony for the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by an amazing mother and godly woman whom I highly respect. Simonetta gives a heartfelt and honest account of the challenges of having a son who struggled with mental illness. She also give helpful insight of how the church, parents and others can help.

[Deon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly recommend. Even if you don't know anyone with schizophrenia.
The first half is the author's story about her son who had schizophrenia. The second half is advice and recommendations on how to help other families.

[Cbarrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hard read in many ways; yet hopeful in many more. More time to ponder is needed. May return to write a review at a later time.

[Giselle · Rating 5 out of 5]

10 stars. Fascinating book, could not put it down. Glory be to God.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a moving book

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though my son does not have schizophrenia, Carr’s book is an honest and encouraging account of a mother, and a Christian, helping her son through mental illness. I found many helpful takeaways.

[Blake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes I read a book and when I finish, I have such mixed feelings about what I just read that I usually respond with, "Hmmmm. I'm not sure what to do with this one." That was my response when I wrapped up the reading of this book. First, I felt such grief as I read the story of what the Carr's went through as their son struggled with the brokenness of life. Without knowing this family, I literally found myself in tears as I read of the spiral downhill and the end result of what appeared to be a suicide of their precious young son. I personally couldn't fathom all that they went through in the whole process. I appreciated the realness of the story. It isn't sugar coated or feel good. It's raw, real, and very honest about the many internal struggles that the author and her family went through as the story unfolded. Interwoven throughout the book was helpful insight about theological perspectives, about hope in Christ, and the last part of the book carries some helpful insight into how to work with a loved one who shoulders a life of brokenness.

One may ask, "Then why only a 3 star rating?" I have such mixed reviews because of the wholesale adoption of the psychiatric adoption of the label "Schizophrenia" and labeling it as a mental illness. I'm not settled on the concept of "mental illness" for I am not convinced that the mind can have an illness. The brain can, and perhaps that is what the author, the man who wrote the forward, and even the medicinal world had in mind. Certainly, the breakdown of the functioning of the brain can have tremendous effects on a person's functioning. But the psychiatric world is all over the board in their understanding of, what is labeled as "schizophrenia." Dr. Daniel Berger II has written extensively on this issue in his five volumes on Mental Illness. Dr. Peter Breggin has also written on this topic. There is no doubt that something was not right with the young Carr's son. How to separate an actual organic problem with a problem in one's thinking, responding, etc. presents a challenge. The bottom line for me is that once the label was categorically accepted, it squeezed out any hope for this family. The diagnosis of "schizophrenia" is based upon a subjective standard of normalcy and as such, it left the authority for diagnosis and treatment in the hands of the psychiatric world who is all over the place in the understanding of this issue, grounded in their philosophy that is built upon evolutionary theory. Mostly, I was disappointed that there was a wholesale acceptance of the schizophrenia label without the neurological proof that there was something definitively wrong within the brain/neurological system.

My guess is that this book will prove helpful for some who have a loved one who is battling a situation in life, and for that, I am grateful. Unfortunately, I'm not sure I can highly recommend this for people to read. I'm just not sold on the core diagnosis.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a profoundly moving, heart-breaking and uplifting account of a mother's reflection on walking through schizophrenia with one of her son's. Her honest, emotional recounting of the struggles that her family faced with her son, with each other and with the medical establishment reveals just how devastating such a prognosis can be. This is not a fix-all book, but Carr does remind her readers of the role the local church should play in coming alongside those who are hurting, whether it be a mental illness or otherwise.

[Weisgerberbre1valleyschools.org · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book on how a family deals with a child who has Schizophrenia. The first half of the book gives an account of their lives living with a child who has Schizophrenia. The second half of the book gives advice and recommendations on how to help families with a loved one who has Schizophrenia.

[Nancy Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give this book five stars, but I gave the Bible five stars and I don't want to make anything equal to it.

This book would be of immense help to anyone struggling with any mental illness, not just schizophrenia. The second half of the book is full of practical suggestions. If you are a person suffering from a mental illness or a caregiver, you would benefit greatly from reading this

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re read for a book review.