Men in Trouble

by Sarah Payne Stuart

As Lizzie Reade grows through her teen years in the late 1960s, it becomes increasingly apparent that one of her three older--and brilliant--brothers is mentally unstable

224 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1988

Reviews

[Kidlitter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a bit of a like/hate relationship with Stuart's books; I'm not a born-and-bred New Englander like her but I've put in my time in the area and respond with the same dichotomy to her writing about the area. It's an insider's viewpoint, snotty and snarky and socially astute and as insular as New England can be. I read this book when I was much younger and found it irritating and the central character superficial and stuck in her lane with no growth in sight. Parts resonated with me - Stuart is particularly good at describing scenes of Cambridge that ring so true even if they're gone forever. I found myself much more sympathetic to the plague of mental illness in the family and though the tone is a more than a little self-conscious, I'm probably a little more astute and sensitive myself. The moral is, a some books are worth a second look.

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think all her other books are out of print. Too bad, I want to read them. An upscale family growing up in the 60s in Massachusetts, mental breakdowns ensue. Reminded me of Sylvia Plath or Elizabeth Wurtzel. Interesting breakdown of the brother-sister relationship though.

[Faith Vergara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just finished book and I can say it’s not about Elizabeth but more on the family dynamics and more importantly about Harry who’s having mental illness and issues and how they tried to bring him back to life and thats made me confuse because everything become repetitive