Ghellow Road

by T.H. Waters

Ghellow Road is a literary diary of a young girl’s journey through the tangled labyrinth that is her life. Theresa’s story begins in a large Midwestern city, where her heart is full of joy and wonder, and the world is hers to receive without consequence. As time passes, merciless forces begin to shape her existence, no matter how carefully her father colors the empty spaces of her world. After a series of tragic events, Theresa and her family seek refuge in a small Minnesota town nestled near the shores of Rainy Lake. While riding the ups and downs of adolescence, she creates a new life for herself there. Yet through it all, her mother remains forever lost in the prison of her own mind and forever lost to Theresa. The young girl feels as though she’s leading a double life, one that no one else could possibly understand. She begins to peer at the world as if looking through a thick, black veil, never certain which pieces are illusion and which are not. Yet, in the end, she manages to survive through sheer determination, a bit of luck and the kindness of the beloved village she calls Home.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction

302 pages, Paperback

First published October 14, 2010

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

The front cover is a bit confusing. It says the book is a literary diary and also a novel. I guess it can be a made up diary, but Ghellow Road by T.H. Waters reads like a book of creative nonfiction.
There are also quite a number of people to whom this book is dedicated, and who I’m willing to bet are active participants (even though the names have been changed) ~ thus giving the book a truthful flair. In the book, Theresa Waters (again, pointing to nonfiction over a novel) is a young girl trapped in a dysfunctional family whose father is coated in depression, and mother, schizophrenia. As an author, T.H Waters does an excellent job of watching through the eyes of a young girl while she faces her parents crumbling marriage, a father who sees himself as a failure, a mother who can’t get out of bed for days at a time, a brother who has no real connection with her, and friends who don’t know and couldn’t understand even if they did. Her use of language is also very emotional and Waters uses that emotion to keep the reader enthralled.
‘A few, final seconds of silence would seep beneath my heart’s secret door, the one where I’d hidden away my trust, my vulnerability. “When are you going to come home?” I’d ask in quiet desperation. The answer was always the same.’ p. 191
There are also passages that are almost poetic. ‘I was born in the arms of the City of Lakes.’ opens the book.
The book centers on Theresa, and in true child fashion, the world revolves around her. T.H. Waters doesn’t sugarcoat the life she went through as a young girl or hide her shortcomings. That’s the book’s strongest aspect and also its weakest. She wonderfully paints Theresa as an entire human being, complete with flaws. The downside for me was because it was so centered, people popped into and left her life with no explanation. There were a lot of questions, as a reader, I wanted answered. I also had a slight problem with time lapses. Something dramatic would happen and suddenly it would be weeks later (which, if I can remember that far back, is exactly how a kid thinks but I still found it disconcerting). I suppose I should compliment the writer in that she had me so intrigued as to really care about Theresa that these minor annoyances weren’t even close to making me want to stop reading.
There are memoirs where kids have had it worse (Theresa was never sexually abused, hungry, or homeless), but she still had a terribly rough childhood with no real stability, being bounced from one home to another, and witnessed things no child should have to experience. There are no chapters in the 290 page book, but plenty of good breaking places if you only have short periods of time to read. But that might be a problem ~ although most of the sections are only a few pages long, it will be hard to put down. You’ll want to squeeze in that next section, and then the next, and then the next . . .

[Book Him Danno · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is well written, it keeps you reading even when you have other things to do. The story captivated me from the very beginning and I was pulled in completely. The authors’ writing has an amazing flow that keeps you from putting it down. I cried, I laughed, my heart broke for Theresa and I wanted nothing more than for her mother to get better and start caring for her family, even though I knew that wasn’t going to happen.

In college and right after wards, I worked with the mentally Ill. My husband and I managed apartments for those well enough to live on their own with a bit of supervision. We would look out the window and see a group of six or more smoking while sitting around the picnic table. They were all talking and caring on long conversations, yet none of them were conversing with each other only with the voices in their own heads. Their stories were varied as they were, but they all broke my heart. Being cured was not an option, only the hope that the new medicine would work longer then the last one.

I loved this book and the author did an amazing job of putting you into her life. I wanted her to be happy, I wanted her family to be whole again and I wanted her to know that she was loved. Her mother loved her; she just could not get healthy enough to show it very often. Beautifully written, moving and something I will be thinking about for awhile to come.

Maybe you don’t like stories about the mentally ill, but this is one everyone should read. It is not their fault, it is an illness that has no cure only medications that can ease the symptoms for awhile. Hearing voices has got to be one of the most difficult thing for them, how do you ignore something that is screaming in your head?

Everyone should read this book. You will find a new way of seeing mental illness, those that suffer from it and the families and friends who love them. I loved this book, and I thank the author for sending it. As with all my reviews I have received no compensation and I do not know the author.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I originally won it through the Goodreads book giveaway. It took me years to pick it up and actually read it. I am happy I did. It really touched me and spoke to me personally. I suffer with mental health issues and understand what it is like to live in a world of strangers. This book is wonderfully written and really shares the struggles of a girl growing up around chaos. Strength and determination sets her free.

[Mardel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghellow Road is a book written in fiction form, but very strongly based on true events of the writer's childhood. Ms Waters has taken her very stressful childhood memories and created a book that possibly has helped her to process her childhood.


If you read the blurbs about the book, it mentions demons and paranormal - This is referring to some of what the mother was going through. Hearing voices and talking to them. I mention this, because at first I thought it was going to have paranormal events going on, I was picturing ghosts, or poltergeists, maybe exorcisms. I was actually picturing a paranormal story, written diary style, especially after reading a short excerpt with an explosion in it. But the mother is dealing with schizophrenia, which is pretty intense. So this is not a paranormal story, but rather the story of how a young girl survives a stressful, unstable childhood. This young girl, Theresa from early on, witnesses her mother's extreme mood changes and her father's journey from hopeful father and husband to a man who has gone through so much, who apparently had some hidden issues of his own, that he takes his own life. Imagine - dealing with that, and a mother who needs frequent hospitalizations.


Even though these two kids had relatives, these relatives didn't always step up. There was help at times from family, but not often enough. The children ended up in a bad foster care situation once, and other times they were taken in by family members - sleeping on couches, sharing bedrooms, never knowing for how long or when they were going to be booted out of the family's home. Life was pretty unstable for most of their childhood and the two kids ended up separated when the mother kicks the oldest (brother) out of her home. Reading this was hard, because I could never think of a situation where I would ever send one of my kids...even at an adult age, out into the unknown to make do. No Way. But unfortunately not every one has help when they need it, whenever they need it. Even though the boy stays at first with a friend, that situation doesn't last and he ends up in an even worse situation. Heartbreaking.



Even with all they went through, Theresa learned how to push her feelings aside and put up a happy front, so that she could try to fit in with other students -spending so much time at her friend's houses, putting off going home. If you ever have a kid who seems to be happier at your house, and doesn't ever seem to want to leave - there might be a very good reason. And ultimately Theresa does find happiness with a relative, even though it comes a little late, she finally finds a great situation with one of her aunts.


One of the things that I was impressed with, is that the author wasn't afraid to show Theresa's temper tantrums or some of her not so great decision making. I'm sure some would be tempted to make the main character into a very well behaved victim, but I found the times Theresa acted out to be honest. I also thought she did a great job with the dialogue between the characters, making them sound pretty real (well, they WERE real characters).


I found Ghellow Road to be a very powerful book. The main character went through so much that she shouldn't have had to deal with, and yet managed to find friends and what I call second families- those people that take the place of your real toxic relatives. We might all have at least one or two....a mother figure perhaps that we work with, or a friend that you feel like could be a sister....sometimes family is found outside your biological family, even if it's a temporary situation. Sometimes people are able to even mend brokent relationships later in life, or at least to come to an understanding and a new type or relationship with their estranged relatives. Not always though. And yet, everything that you deal with growing up stays with you one way or another. Makes you stronger or breaks you.


I would recommend Ghellow Road - there are so many people growing up and living in unstable homes, in foster care, or with relatives. For as many people who seem to be in great family situations there are just as many who are having a very difficult time, and reading a book like Ghellow Road can shed some light on what it's like living with mental illness or remind some of us others what we've been able to overcome.

[O. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Several weeks ago T.H. Waters contacted me with a request to read and review her book, Ghellow Road, and in short order I had the volume in my hands. I only got to it now because of my crazy self-inflicted schedule (which is now, thankfully, over) and am glad to say that I liked it. The beginning was a bit rough, so much so that a couple of pages in I caught myself hoping that it would get better and fast. As the saying goes "ask and you shall receive" and in no time the author hit her stride and I was caught up in the disfunction of the Waters family.
The book follows Theresa for about 10 years from her childhood in the 1960s into adolescence in the 1970s, and the story and the way it was told struck a chord with me. It was horrifying to see that Theresa's mother was allowed to keep the children despite her terrible illness and inability to adequately care and provide for them and that apparently nobody thought there was anything wrong with children not having a permanent home. Was it just the way things were or were the Waters kids particularly unlucky?
Throughout the book Theresa longs for someone to embrace her and take care of her, wants someone to pay attention to her. She doesn't get that from her mother, Rainy, so she invests her time and energy outside the house to get the recognition and love she needs. Rainy is generally portrayed as someone unreachable, who smiles upon her children one day and disregards them the next, so it was interesting to see that she herself was locked in the same cycle with someone whose love and acceptance she was desperate to have. When I read that scene I felt that a whole new dimension was added to the story and wondered whether Theresa ever saw it.
I've always been a daddy's girl and seeing a similar dynamic here made me feel more in touch with the story. It was interesting to see Theresa's father go out of his way to spend time with his daughter despite his own troubles, show and teach her things and support her however he could and then turn around and reveal unexpected sides of his character, although I kind of saw what was coming way before Theresa ever figured it out.
Although I generally enjoyed the book the unevenness in writing and character development soured the experience for me. Some chapters just flowed and were a pleasure to read, with the atmosphere of time and place being revealed perfectly. Some felt forced, with writing becoming too "writerly" with unnecessary flourishes and the same type of sentence structure repeating over and over to the point where after a while it would jump out at me and not in a good way. The same thing happened with the characters: some of Theresa's friends were easy to imagine and with others I just didn't feel the connection that made the girls "best friends forever" and can't say that I ever really knew what made them so different from each other despite physical descriptions and page time dedicated to them. Looking back I think that Teresa's parents were the only characters besides Theresa whose development didn't have gaps and who actually made a difference in the story every time they appeared, the rest just kind of blended together for the most part.
There was one thing that confused me, and continues to do so - this book's genre. The front cover of the book says that it's a novel, which is by definition fiction, but then on the back cover at the end the author says "This is the story of my life". The About the Author section reveals that the book is based upon the unique experiences of her life, the acknowledgements confirm that, the story is set in the same town where the author grew up and even the names in the book are the same as the real names of the author's family: Theresa's father is Rick V. Waters and the author's father is Richard Valentine and both the author and the characters have the last name of Waters. This makes me wonder, how much of this book is really fiction? I'm not sure that changing the names of the extended family turns a memoir into a novel, but then neither am I sure that this confusion about the genre made the story any less poignant.
All in all this was an enjoyable book and I'm glad that I agreed to read it. Best of luck to Ms. Waters in her future writing endeavors!

[Christian Engler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ghellow Road is a moving narrative of one woman's brave confrontation with her past and the gnawing demons of crippling mental illness that plagued her mother and thus affected the whole of her adolescent and teenage life.

At the onset, Theresa Waters had, by all accounts, an idyllic childhood that overflowed with two loving parents who had a penchant for all the offerings that life had to offer, compounded with an insatiable curiosity that would inspire any child to reach for the stars and grab life's ample opportunities with gusto and relish. But then a wrench got tossed into that idyllic life; gradually Theresa and her brother sensed that something was amiss, because those closest to them began to speak in hushed tones all the while never directly answering their genuine concerned inquisitiveness. Over time, their father opened up about their mother's health, and they frequently witnessed their mother's uncontrolled schizophrenic outbursts or sullen moody inwardness. Not fully comprehending, Theresa (out of love and when possible) would often tag along the thorny road of her mother's helter skelter delusions, yearning for the break of occasional normalcy that would every so often shine through. When it did, the family unit was fully intact and life was good and beautiful. Festivals were attended, beach outings and boat trips were aplenty and ice cream was the medicine that made life sweet and innocent. However, when the schizophrenic impulses manifested itself in her mother, the foundation of family stability slowly began to crack and loved ones played second fiddle to the unseen forces that no one could see or hear.

Pushing forward beyond the episodic moments of instability, Theresa's father did double duty for his kids, trying to be the super parent for their sake, but every human being has a breaking point, and sometimes, regrettably, that point goes to the extreme. And with no genuine outlet for what he was going through-with the exception of unfulfilled dreams and aspirations gone awry-it was up to the next generation to grab ahold of the helm, and he saw that in his two kids. He gradually lost his own identity and darkness overpowered him, and with that suffering, he chose to forever leave his burdens behind and exit the only way he knew how, by the gun. Hearing it go off, Theresa knew that her life was forever altered. Mental illness with one parent was one thing, suicide with another was simply incomprehensible. With the marrying of these two tragedies in one so young and still quite malleable it is a wonder that she and her brother were not themselves institutionalized. But they were shuffled around from foster home, to relatives and then back to their mother, who tried not to succumb to all the pitfalls that schizophrenia brings out. Creating a new reality, Theresa and her brother essentially went their own ways and forged new identities. Her brother eventually had a new life with a new family while she still remained in the vortex of yo-yo-like unpredictability. Her mother would date, dump, embrace Jesus Christ via the PTL Club and Jim and Tammy Faye Baker, forge friendships, get a job, wallow in depression, be normal, be a mother and then disappear for weeks on end. All the while, Theresa would somehow endure the oft repeated cycle of what no adolescent could imagine let alone truly experience. The only thing that was consistent in her life were the inconsistencies. The turbulence of her upbringing is what makes the story so fascinating, because the reader is also on a roller coster of emotional uncertainty with each progressing chapter.

Ultimately, stability is eventually found by way of a loving aunt. With her influence (among others) and a plethora of school friends and adventures, Theresa Waters was slowly able to navigate herself out of the dark tunnel of what statistically could have been a very tragic life. But turns funny, lively, stubborn, moving, sharp and edgy, Ghellow Road is a trenchant memoir of adolescents that evokes a little element (for me) of Ordinary People, Is There No Place On Earth For Me? and The Catcher in the Rye all merged into one. A winning debut.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

As A Memoir or A Novel, This is A Powerful Book!

TH Waters blossoms as a writer in this compelling book GHELLOW ROAD. There are contradictions present: the front of the book sates 'A Novel by T.H. Waters’ while the back of the book clearly states 'This is the story of my life'. True, the main character's name is Theresa Waters, and given all the statements in the front of the book thanking all those who helped bring this book to print - kudos to members of Waters' family and friends each with different names than in the book - this could be a fictionalized version of a memoir. But all of that really counts for very little - truth or fabrication - because the writing of the book is so fine that it has a life of its own!

Richard, Rainy, Mike, and Theresa Waters are a happy family unit in 1965 in Minnesota, creating the kind of jubilant childhood that commands the American dream in a Midwestern town where grandparents and other relatives count in the joy of being family. But slowly the world begins to change as Rainy, the mother, falls victim to her quiescent illness - an illness that is described by Twink (Theresa's nickname) and her older brother Mikie as Momma's 'Invisibles' - and finally requires institutionalization for schizophrenia. The children are brought up by their Dad (Richard) with occasional periods of recovery allowing Momma (Rainy) to come home, attempting to live a normal life with the aid of medications. But the illness grows more extreme and the family unit begins to disintegrate: the children are left with foster homes and relatives while the illness that has invaded their lives plays out. Their father moves them to a small town where the children attempt to fit into their peer circles, never wanting to divulge the embarrassing secret of their mother's plight. The father reaches the end of his rope, commits suicide, and the children are displaced yet again as their mother descends ever deeper into the throes of mental instability. Mikie is thrown out of the house (his future is tainted by genetics) and Theresa is farmed out during her mother's frequent hospitalizations - episodes that test her stability with her grandparents and her relatives. Throughout this period Theresa learns that she must relay on herself to survive and as she develops a stronger hold on her self esteem she gains friends and some honors and finally makes it through high school in a coming of age story that would challenge the strongest of individuals.

The book is divided into two parts - Book One is titled 'Living in the Shadow if The Invisibles' and ends with Theresa's father's suicide and Book Two is titled 'Fumbling Through the Tangles Labyrinth' - and for this reader Book One is the stronger of the two as it is a delicate investigation of mental illness and the insidious way it alters family life. Book Two is more a diary and while TH Waters has secured our attention and commitment to her characters by this point, the various episodes of Theresa's fragile life - coping with various living situations, her fear of outsiders, her manner of making friends and learning about life in the 'sane' world that includes introductions to alcohol and boys and intimacy and moments of pride and disappointment - begin to test the reader's credibility and tolerance. But again, this minor point diminishes by novel's end when Theresa finally discovers how to make life make sense. By the end of the story the author most assuredly leaves us with the hunger to discover how the later years play out: there are quiet discoveries dropped along the path through this forest of Minnesota like the little crumbs of Hansel and Gretel that plead for elucidation in another novel.

TH Waters has produced a successful book - fact or fiction - and proves that she has the gift for writing that deserves going beyond Ghellow Road into other terrain. It is as strong a young girl's Coming of Age novel as has been written. We will hear more about her.

Grady Harp

[Orbs n Rings · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for those whom have experienced mental illness, whether personally or professionally.

Ghellow Road was much more than I expected, and it left my heart completely weeping for Waters. Mental illness is like a cruel joker, creeping up on happy and healthy individuals and their families, then pulling the rug right out from under them. My heart went out to Waters after the suicide of her father, as he seemed not able to cope any longer with his wife's illness. I don't believe Richard loved his children any less, even after he started to pull away from them or by taking his own life. Richard seemed like he was an amazing father, who wanted to be the perfect husband. I believe Richard was a caring, compassionate, loving soul who felt helpless and fell into a deep depression, when it finally sunk in that his wife would never be the same again. Richard seemed to have loved his wife deeply and couldn't picture his life without his wife, the women he first met, before Schizophrenia took her away. As Waters narrates her story, you can certainly sense when her father lost interest in his children and in his life, in general. Shutting himself off from the world, a coping mechanism commonly used by those with depression, that can backfire. It is a fact that men are more likely to take their own lives when depressed, and not seek help. He probably had no idea, he was even depressed and needed help. The work Richard did in his basement, focusing all his attention on one thing before his death, were his last feeble attempts at trying to feel alive, find meaning and seeking happiness in his life.

I believe Waters is blessed in many ways, some of which includes, the strength she used to keep herself going throughout her traumatic life and the gift of writing, that allows her to share her traumatic past with others. As by sharing her story, she has certainly touched my heart, while also giving me hope. The hope that even though we may be hurt and our hearts shattered by those with mental illness, we can still love them in the end. We may have no control over the type of family we are born into, but we certainly have control over refusing to let those with mental illness suck us up into their vacuum of madness. Waters did the best she could, given her circumstances, to live out her life in peace and happiness. Staying away from her mother Rainy and later her brother, when they were not in their right mind, was crucial to her survival and her own mental state. I also believe even in her madness, Rainy tried to protect her daughter, the only way she knew how, hence the reasons for pushing Theresa away, at those times in her life, when she felt another episode coming on. Waters was given these trials and tribulations in her life for a reason, she was also given the tools she needed, those of which include strength and the intelligence to overcome these obstacles, and she used those tools wisely. A little secret her father knew about her, which is why he left her the message he did upon his death. We are all born for a purpose, most have no idea what that may be, and while seeking continue headed in the wrong direction. Whether that correct path may include helping, healing or just being there, it always involves other lives, and other souls similar to our own. Waters has truly found her purpose, by sharing her painful past in this novel, Ghellow Road. My hope is that Waters continues to write other novels. As Waters is a gifted writer, who's words run fluidly on the pages, keeping the reader suspended in time and space. I also feel Waters has so much more to tell, even if she were to encase those secrets within fiction, she will help many more lost souls on this road we call life.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was contacted about reading this book, I really had no idea what to expect. I knew that coming from the point of view of a child, it would probably be a very honest and raw interpretation of a very difficult time. What I found was so sad that I would often think of her even when I wasn't reading. Having had a wonderful childhood with two amazing parents, I couldn't imagine what her life must have been like. I'm only a year older than Theresa and while reading her story, I couldn't help but compare my life to hers. It made me even more grateful (and even a little guilty) for the years that I was allowed to be a kid and not have to worry about anything because I had the security and knowledge that my parents would take care of me. Theresa had that taken away from her and that in and of itself is heartbreaking.

The book is written somewhat like a diary, having no chapters, just breaks in the story. It moves along quickly, highlighting important times and events in her family's life.

What struck me as I kept reading was the repeated resilience of Theresa, especially in her adolescent years. Those years are difficult under the best of circumstances and for Theresa they were made even worse by her mother's odd, unstable behavior and complete lack of responsibility towards her children during her periods of absence. Theresa basically raised herself and even held down part-time jobs during summer vacations. She never gave up - just trudged on. That is impressive. It angered me that during the times when her demons were under control, Rainy put her own life first and Theresa and her brother were left to fend for themselves. I'm not even a parent and I had a hard time with that.

One of the saddest things is the divide that developed between Theresa and her brother. During a time when they should have leaned on each other, Rainy simply shipped him off and seemingly showed little emotion or concern for him again. The result of that action would come back later and rock Theresa to the core.

As I mentioned, the book ends when Theresa is eighteen and heading to college. It is amazing to me that she even made it that far without more serious damage. I think having grown up in the 70's played a big part in Theresa's ability to bounce back and take control of the next phase of her life. I don't mean to say that it made it any easier, but given everything that is out in the world today, I think there would be much more dangerous consequences. I would love to know more about Theresa's life now that she is an adult and find out if her family has healed somewhat from the pains of past.

This is an interesting and insightful book and I am very grateful to Ms. Waters for contacting me to read it and highlight it on my blog. Reading stories such as Theresa's should make the rest of the world see just how important it is to understand mental illness and the effect it has on their families. This book certainly has made me appreciate my family. I would encourage you to read GHELLOW ROAD. Even though it is a tough read, it is impressive and I promise it will linger in your mind long after you've read the last page.

[My Little Book World · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a sad and compelling look into the dysfunctional life Theresa lived growing up with a mother who is a schizophrenic. Her loving and active mother, Rainy, becomes someone Theresa no longer recognizes. As a child, Theresa does not understand mental illness and is often terrified of her mother’s actions. Theresa’s mother is hospitalized several times for schizophrenic episodes. The first few times, her grandmother was able to stay at their house to care for Theresa and her brother, Mikie. For unknown reasons, the children are sent to a foster home during one of their mother’s hospital stays.

Theresa’s father has always been a rock for the kids and tries to keep their lives as normal as possible, despite their mother’s mental illness. Unfortunately, after losing his job, he becomes unable to cope and becomes very depressed. Though she is very young, Theresa is able to notice the changes in her father. One tragic evening, her father commits suicide, and Theresa loses any chance of living a normal childhood.

Her mother moves them to her hometown to stay with her parents until they can get on their feet. Theresa has never met her maternal grandparents and is devastated to leave her beloved grandmother behind along with the only life she has ever known. Everything in her life has changed which is very traumatic to a small child.

It was interesting and sad to read about the stages her mother went through trying to deal with her illness. She would seem to do fine for a short while and then everything would crash down and life would become too hard for her to deal with and she would shut down. Not long after moving into the first place of their own since her father’s death, Theresa’s brother runs away to live with another family and never returns. Their connection to each other is forever broken.

As the book progressed, Rainy’s delusions and ability to rationalize seem to become worse with each episode. For example, she purchases an ant farm as a gift for a graduating family member without the understanding that it is an inappropriate gift, despite Theresa trying to intercede.

Through all of this, Theresa seems to understandably be untrusting. She has been constantly sent to live with others when her mother did not feel like dealing with her or was unable to. In the end, she comes to live at her beloved Aunt Mae’s house where she is provided a place of love and stability. My heart truly broke for this little girl who was robbed of her childhood.

T.H. Waters did an excellent job of detailing the experiences through the eyes of a child. And going through your teen years is hard enough without having to try to hide your mother’s mental illness. Theresa seems to persevere despite having the deck stacked against her and I found myself rooting for her throughout the book.

I thought the book was excellent with an easy to read style of writing. It should be considered necessary reading for anyone with the need to understand what it is like to live with someone suffering a mental illness.

I’d highly recommend!

[Gmr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though listed as a "novel", it reads true to life....prompting this reader to ask the question "was there truth mingled within the pages?". Yes, I literally asked that of the author when she contacted me in regards to a review. What can I say? I was curious. I mean the voice of the main character, though young was so strong. The emotions coming off of her in waves from the troubles her mother was going through. It was boggling her young mind and there was no sufficient answer to be handed back on a silver platter in order to placate the situation. You felt for her, it couldn't be helped.


So, in asking, I received an answer....a resounding YES (the fiction pieces are found in some of the connecting pieces of events that may have faded from memory over time...the rest, is pure life) a fact which not only confirmed the emotional tone but also pulled at your heartstrings. These children, this child went through so much at such a young age. When the only care in your world should be the fun and fantastical while mommy and daddy take care of the surrounding world, Theresa and her brother had to deal with losses unimaginable and life changing. Losing one parent in death and another to their mind, they were shuttled back and forth between extended family, childcare homes, and friends houses until things came to a head and yet another piece of the family broke away.


Though growing up in the same house and facing the severity of the situations side by side, each was affected in their own way. Both were deeply hurt creating unwelcome scars and while they both ran when their limits had been reached, her brother ran the farthest and for good both physically and emotionally leaving her to handle the situation at home on her own. But how can a mere child cope with a parent who is unaware of their own flights of fancy and extreme behaviour? Even when revealed to extended family members, they were slow in responding with a change that would affect things permanently. Luckily she was (is) strong and while things weren't ideal, she learned she could count on her friends as well as herself and in the end, that is what carried her to where she is today.

In short, a moving story that will take your breath away not merely by the beauty found in the the strangest of places, but the events that transpired creating the remarkable person who penned this work. Would I recommend this book? Certainly....for mid to older teens through adults though due to content. Life gets messy and this is a prime example, however it doesn't have to stay that way. Things can change if only one has the fortitude to see it through; extend a hand of friendship and a hug of reassurance to someone that did.

[Wisteria Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

GHELLOW ROAD, a literary diary will consume your attention from the first page. It is a coming of age story about a young girl named Theresa. Promoted as a novel, the author admits much is drawn from childhood experiences. You will find this to be a rich heartfelt novel of a family devastated by a mother with serious mental illness. I will forgo the short summary as it would spoil the reader’s experience, but instead offer a glimpse, as a prologue to a play about to unfold.

The story takes place in a small town called International Falls with a population just over 10,000, somewhere in Minnesota. Theresa was born in 1965 smothered by the love of two parents and a brother, Mikie. In diary format throughout, we learn about her life, her point of view. She was five when she first realized there was something very wrong with her mother. Although her mother most often demonstrated her love, with affectionate kisses and endearing names, Theresa knew things weren’t right. She would often disappear, she heard things, she had a look. When this happened, Theresa and Mikie would often end up at the homes of various relatives. One day, they are betrayed by their loving Dad, who had always been the stable parent. Their future is bleak.

The main protagonist is Theresa, outwardly happy and sometimes shy who despite the odds, makes many very good friends. Yet, inside she is a cacophony of conflict, desperately seeking stability and a normal life. Once, she is told by a palm reader.... “it doesn’t matter what a man’s name is or where it is that he may take you. The only true force in life is l-o-v-e. Look for a man who has love for you in his heart, and it is there that you will find the meaning of happiness on this earth.”

An unforgettable novel that puts a spotlight on mental illness and its corrosive potential on families. My apologies to the author, for not reading her book sooner as it is my only regret. T.H. Waters as written an inspirationally affecting novel that will beguile every reader.

Disclosure: This was a free book provided by the publisher for an honest review.

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner] with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Wisteria Leigh
©August 13, 2013

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghellow Road, June 17, 2011
By Melinda Lucas "novel lover" (Seattle) - See all my reviews


This review is from: Ghellow Road (Paperback)
I just finished T. H. Water's Ghelow Road and while not as deftly written as a similar book:"The Glass Castle" it does grab you and doesn't let you go until she is good and ready to stop telling her story. Based upon childhood stories, Theresa (our novel's protagonist) is tested beyond her limitations by 2 mentally ill parents. At first the father is great at holding the family together until, he, too sinks into madness. The father was probably (aside from Theresa) my favorite character in the book. He is an exuberant, bigger than life sort of person and I love characters like that.

Out heroine goes through hell while trying to grow up with little or no adult guidance and being bounced around from foster homes to relative's homes with little to no stability. And, I do agree with some other reviewers that we would want to hear of Theresa's triumph in her adult world as the book ends when she becomes 18. Where is she in her life at 28? or 38? Does she become a successful lawyer? I also felt that the character, Arthur could have been a bit more fleshed out for me. I didn't feel that I knew him even though (I felt) he really is an important part of the story.

But the writing and character development (of one character) are minor quibbles in an otherwise unforgettable story. The writing matures as Theresa matures. That part is very skillfully done. I am amazed that Theresa turned out well enough to write a book based on her childhood...because many of these experiences could have broken her...but not only does she triumph, she soars. Both of my parents, if not mentally ill, were dysfunctional at best. I could really relate to what the author was expressing, having gone through some of these experiences, myself. Both the mother and the father~~and Theresa~~are fully-fleshed out human beings and I cared for them.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in memoir, mental illness, families in crisis and forgotten children. These are not typically the type of books I tend to grab off the shelf, but I am deeply enriched by this girl's story of tragedy and triumph. Ghellow Road is not to be missed for people who love these type of books.

I look forward to reading her next book.

~~Melinda Lucas June/2011

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story takes place in Minneapolis and International Falls, Minnesota.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I began this book, and I really kept my expectations low. However I found myself pleasantly surprised with the genuineness and honest humor used to share the author's story.

This story really hit home for me. Growing up, my best friend spent several years living in much the same way as the author, and I was the stable friend in her life.

While the circumstances may have differed, I could certainly identify with the feelings surrounding many of the situations the author dealt with as a kid. I came from a pretty stable home, but my best friend had a mother who mentally checked out for awhile, had two-way conversations with Jesus and Moses, and eventually was institutionalized. I’ve seen some of the behavior described in the book firsthand, and have sat and cried with my friend as we were separated from one another when she had to go live with other family members. I’m all too familiar with The Invisibles mentioned in the book, and remember the chills of listening to my friend's mother carry on conversations with her own invisible visitors.

The author's description of herself as a kid, and the way that she covered up her pain with a put-on bubbly personality, is even reminiscent of my friend, as well as the explosive way she would speak to her mother in anger, pain, frustration, embarrassment and helplessness.

I was really impressed with the author's writing style, as it far-exceeded my expectations. I found it engaging and effective, easy-to-read and unpretentious.

Happily, you are left in the end with hope and promise for the future of the author following a childhood of turmoil.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this memoir to anyone. Fresh, heartfelt and sincere, I embraced this story wholeheartedly.

[Missy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a fondness of memoirs. I have read some that have been pretty raw and gritty, heart-breaking and mind boggling....but....I have never read one quite like Ghellow Road. Others have skimmed the surface, where Ghellow Road digs deep down into itself, and fleshes out the story of the life of Theresa Waters and her troubled family when she was a teenager, during the 70's and 80's.

She was a happy-go-lucky child, who was a "Daddy's Girl" and enjoyed living and growing up in her hometown of Minneapolis, MN. Her mother always seemed to be floating adrift in her moods, and became depressed easily. Her father was more grounded, and Theresa and her older brother looked to him for guidance and support.

When her father is suddenly gone, Theresa and her brother are thrown head-first into their mother's world of depression and schizophrenia. They are shuffled about, sent to live in foster homes, all the while wondering what they had done wrong, and why didn't their mother want them?

As time progressed, Theresa would shuffle back and forth between her mother's home, and relatives' homes. She was a teenager, and just wanted to fit it, have friends, have a boyfriend. My heart broke for her, especially when a boy she had a crush on hurt her feelings openly. It brought back many memories of MY own junior high school days. She and I shared similar junior high experiences.

Throughout the story, I held my breath, wondering when and if things were ever going to settle down for Theresa. Would she have a secure home? Would her mom get treated for her mental illness and be a real mother to her? Would she ever feel accepted? I yearned for "normal-ness" for her.

Ghellow Road is a painful and honest account of Theresa's life, and I applaud her for being able to pen her story for the world to read. To quote her, I admire her for being able to finally "Live Out Loud".

[Alyssa Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghellow Road is a compelling story. It's raw, emotional, and beautiful. Waters doesn't hold back at all as she recounts her childhood in this novel. Personally, I was really able to relate to Theresa and some of her problems. When I was fairly young, my grandmother was diagnosed with dementia. She wasn't my main caregiver, but she did babysit my sisters and me about 3-4 days a week; dealing with her hallucinations and paranoia was a real chore, and it's something that's hard to explain to other people unless they have personal experience with it. It was amazing for me to read about how a young girl went through life while her main caregiver was suffering from an even more debilitating disease: schizophrenia.

I think the writing could use a little work, but this minor flaw is greatly overshadowed by the richness of the story itself. I found myself flipping page after page, wanting to know how Theresa was going to deal with the next challenge life threw at her. Ghellow Road is full of hope and optimism, as Theresa not only faces these challenges, but thrives in the face of her difficult circumstances.

The greatest strength of this novel is that it takes a familiar theme (growing up) and adds a twist to it. Everyone has to deal with the changes growing up brings -- how to act with the opposite sex, friends ignoring you for boyfriends/girlfriends, taking on more responsibility, etc. What makes it interesting is that Theresa had to deal with all this on top of dealing with parents that weren't fully capable of taking care of her.

I would recommend this for everyone who has any interest in memoirs or coming-of-age stories. This is truly a beautiful, inspiring novel that was written with a lot of heart.

*The author provided me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. Views expressed of this book are entirely my own

[Wendy Hines · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Theresa was born, her parents simply adored her. She has an other brother, Mikie, and her life is pretty awesome. But then something happens - her mom becomes sick and Grandma has to step in and help out while mom is at the hospital. Her mother becomes sick quite frequently and has to stay in a hospital, and Theresa's dad does the best he knows how to be both a mom and dad to his children. The kids think their dad is pretty awesome.

But when mom starts talking to demons, she goes away for a long time. Dad can't take care of them so they have to go to a temporary foster home. Theresa and Mikie are overjoyed when they get to go back home. Their mom seems to be better and life is good again. But then dad loses his job and life spirals out of control once again.

When tragedy strikes, they move to a small town in Minnesota. They move into a tiny house, the home of Teresa and Mikie's grandparents. Mom gets a job but the demons still call to her. Her disease in her mind takes it toll on the family and Mikie moves out. Theresa tries to find a place to fit in, making new friends and trying new things. But before long, Mom has a new boyfriend and Theresa is placed with aunts and uncles. This goes on for years. But Theresa is determined to survive, not matter what.

Ghellow Road is a riveting page-turner. My heart just ached for Theresa and Mikie for their circumstance and for what their mother put them through. Watching her navigate through the ups and downs of growing up brought back some memories but also made me sit on the edge-of-my-seat to see how Theresa would fair. The writing draws you in and doesn't let go until the final pages. I found myself immersed in this world and just wish I could give Theresa a big hug. I loved this novel and highly recommend it!!

[Wendy Hines · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Theresa was born, her parents simply adored her. She has an other brother, Mikie, and her life is pretty awesome. But then something happens - her mom becomes sick and Grandma has to step in and help out while mom is at the hospital. Her mother becomes sick quite frequently and has to stay in a hospital, and Theresa's dad does the best he knows how to be both a mom and dad to his children. The kids think their dad is pretty awesome.

But when mom starts talking to demons, she goes away for a long time. Dad can't take care of them so they have to go to a temporary foster home. Theresa and Mikie are overjoyed when they get to go back home. Their mom seems to be better and life is good again. But then dad loses his job and life spirals out of control once again.

When tragedy strikes, they move to a small town in Minnesota. They move into a tiny house, the home of Teresa and Mikie's grandparents. Mom gets a job but the demons still call to her. Her disease in her mind takes it toll on the family and Mikie moves out. Theresa tries to find a place to fit in, making new friends and trying new things. But before long, Mom has a new boyfriend and Theresa is placed with aunts and uncles. This goes on for years. But Theresa is determined to survive, not matter what.

Ghellow Road is a riveting page-turner. My heart just ached for Theresa and Mikie for their circumstance and for what their mother put them through. Watching her navigate through the ups and downs of growing up brought back some memories but also made me sit on the edge-of-my-seat to see how Theresa would fair. The writing draws you in and doesn't let go until the final pages. I found myself immersed in this world and just wish I could give Theresa a big hug. I loved this novel and highly recommend it!!

[Jennifer Defoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hate to start off saying this story is sad, because I know that's not the author's purpose. However there was so much to the story that was just sad. I cried a few times while reading it. There were quite a few high points in the story also, it's just that while I was reading this book I was in a mind frame that made me connect so much more with the sad stuff.

Despite the fact that it made me cry I do have to say that I really liked this book. It was very well written and I connected instantly with Theresa. I felt all the emotions she was experiencing throughout the book. Knowing that this was a biographical story absolutely gave me a more intimate connection to the story. But I do feel that even if it wasn't a true story I would still have had the same connections to the story. It was so well written that I could easily get lost in the story.

Whenever I read a true story, or a story based on the author's life I find myself wondering how the author can so freely open themselves up like that. There are some things that happen in this book that had they happened to me I don't know that I would be able to share them for the world to see. I think that takes an extreme amount of bravery and courage to just lay it all out there for the world to scrutinize. But I'm glad that there are people like T.H. Waters that will take us along with them through their lives. So in closing I just have to say thank you to T.H. Waters for allowing me to lose myself in the story of your life. It was emotional, captivating, and inspirational!

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghellow Road by T.H. Waters is a very emotionally charged memoir about one young girl’s journey through childhood to adolescence.

This is a tale of a family’s struggle with mental illness. Her mother is diagnosed with schizophrenia and is in and out of hospitals through out much of Water’s youth. Her father pitted against the ordeal of a sick wife and two children eventually takes his own life.

This book is filled with a roller-coaster of emotions as Waters takes you on her journey. At moments I was near tears and other I was ready to yell at the characters in the books and finally at other moments I was immensely happy and crying tears of joy. This is a sign of how well the book truly is written as it draws you in so completely that you forget your surroundings and become immersed in what is happening within the pages. Once I began reading this book I couldn’t put it down — I was desperate to know what would happen next and how things would resolve themselves. Waters is someone you find yourself drawn to and caring deeply about. Her writing touches deep chords and you just want the young girl to be safe and to be happy.

Overall, this is a wonderfully written memoir about one girl’s journey through tragedy and her ability to overcome. It is not a happy tale, but it is written from the heart. This is a book I would recommend anyone read.

To read my full review go here

[Britni · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Tomorrow could bring a brand new day and a fresh new start. But Mom would never see it like that. Instead she would move through it just like she always had, just as she always would. Living the moments of her life as though she had no past...or future."

This is the life that Theresa lives. A life with a schizophrenic mother, a brother who hates her, and a father who leaves her with just a late night drive to remember him by. Written by T.H. Waters about her true unique childhood experience, Ghellow Road is a different coming of age story different than one I've eve read before. It follows Theresa's daily life for almost twenty years as she struggles to find herself without ever really having a place or a family to call her own. The only real consistent element in her life is her mother, who floats in and out of Theresa's life, just like the voices in her mother's head.

There is just something about this story and about Theresa in general that made me want to keep reading to find out what would happen next. Over and over again Theresa jumped over obstacles that would stop most people dead in their tracks. I love her strength and fighting personality and just kept hoping that she would finally end up with some sort of permanent happiness. This book was inspiring and hopeful when in all reality it had no reason to be. Recommended for anyone but especially for anyone who has dealt with someone with a mental illness.

[Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ghellow Road tells the story of Theresa’s life from childhood to teenage years...it is a sad, interesting read about family relationships.

The book takes the reader into the world of a child of a depressed mother, a patient, loving father, and a childhood that was anything but normal. Each time her mother was hospitalized, her father would have Grandma take care of them....all except one time, and she and her brother didn't know why. Dad had always been fun and upbeat until he lost his teaching job. What else could happen to the once-happy family?

A lot did happen to Theresa in her young life, but somehow she coped. She never did get used to her mother's leaving, returning, and then leaving again. It always left a hole in Theresa's heart. Luckily she was a strong person and could cope with all the ups and downs and the living conditions she had to endure during her mother's absences.

The book is superbly written and definitely heartbreaking, but opens your eyes to many life situations. I really enjoyed the book and was amazed at Theresa's resiliency and coping mechanisms.

The author, who actually is the character in the book, graciously sent me her book, and I am honored and happy that I have read it.

My review doesn't do justice to the book, but you definitely need to read Theresa’s story to appreciate its depth and to feel the characters’ emotions.

[Allison Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initially, I was uncertain about reading this book because it is a little bit outside my comfort zone- I generally read to escape, and reading about pain and struggle is too close to the reading that I do for grad school and the harsh realities I see in my classroom.

However, I found myself genuinely enjoying this book- I didn't want to put it down. T.H. Waters tells her story in an engaging way with smooth transition, natural dialogue, and an excellent balance between detail and action. Although her childhood was difficult, she recounts it with candor and weaves the joyful times of her life in with the heartbreak. The truthfulness of this story is what made me enjoy reading it so much- the plot never seemed contrived or cliche. Some of my favorite scenes include a birthday trip to a go-kart track, getting to know Theresa's grandfather, and an evening serving at a fancy party where a guest insists that Theresa try an oyster.

I give this book four stars, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys heartwarming stories of perseverance and appreciating the blessings of life. I look forward to reading more from T.H. Waters! The book can be purchased on Amazon- check out the website www.verefor.com for more information and a sample of the book.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tera Waters had a hell of a childhood and in Ghellow Road we learn more about it than may really be good for us. It sure wasn’t good for her! Born to a schizophrenic mother and a father who didn’t really want to be there she grew up feeling unwanted, unloved and was basically both. Her brother had the sense to leave home when in his early teens but, Tera – well Tera hung in there, just like the loyal family dog. Not matter how bad you treat him, he always comes back.

That doesn’t sound too flattering and it isn’t meant to be but my heart broke everytime Rainy (Mom) went away for awhile to “rest”. I cried everytime Tera got schlepped off to a relative for whoknowshowlong. I cheered when she had the nerve to finally break away and make a life for herself with an aunt who loved her. Even though her mother really couldn’t help it and even though this was ‘way before current psych drugs doing their thing it was an absolutely horrid way to grow up.\

Ghellow Road should be read. And possibly reread. Then go call your mom who you haven’t spoken to in awhile and tell her you love her. Call your children as well. Tera didn’t hear it enough and you need to help make up for that somehow.

[Kristin (Kritters Ramblings) · Rating 3 out of 5]

An emotional ride that left me sitting on a happy note – thank goodness.

I now have a love/hate relationship for memoirs – hear me out. I love knowing that the author is writing this book from within the framework of their own history and sharing some intimate secrets that may help me discover another person’s history and world. I hate that I know it is true, so when bad things happen, I can’t escape the feeling of wishing it had never happened to this person.

The life of this little girl who graduates and heads to college in the end was pretty rough. I am not sure I would have been able to open all the history and write such a story. Waters painted a picture of a mother who doesn’t know how and doesn’t want to mother, surrounded by a family that is falling apart with every day that begins. Going into foster care and eventually living with extended family, I can’t imagine bouncing around as much as she did. I thoroughly appreciate the constant loving family that I grew up in with very little drama and two parents that cared for me from day one.

A memoir worth picking up to get to know someone else’s true story. I had a hard time putting it down and a hard time knowing with each emotion that this story was someone’s history.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a book! I am truly sorry to have to put this one down. What a truly compelling story, from beginning to end.

The author, I infer, is telling the story of her childhood and it is one filled with sadness, loneliness, and hardship - but she eventually rises above it all. This is a story that you fall into from the very beginning in their small modest house in what ended up being the most normal part of Theresa's childhood. You end with her entering the world after ten years of uncertainty and instability.

I cannot even imagine how it must have felt to feel so unwanted and to be juggled about with no inclination where you might end up next, and in the most formative years of a person's life.

The author has a really great writing style, and even though the book jumped around in time, it was easy to follow and didn't leave and gaps for readers. I simply couldn't put it down and it kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what would become of someone who was given so many opportunities to be a failure...but didn't.

The characters were all painted perfectly and you really gained a clear picture of how this family became so disjointed.

I heartily recommend this book, you will not be disappointed.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is the tale of a woman recalling her childhood growing up in a home filled with love and turmoil. It is a story of how the woman manages to come of age like all of us, but in a home that is overtaken by mental illness. The story takes you in from the first page and you really feel part of Theresa's world. You feel the hope of the young girl, like when she is trying to win a radio contest so that she can send her mother to Lourdes to make her better, just because she has heard her mother wish to go to this unknown place where miracle's happen. You can feel the teen angst that everyone has and see just how strong she is to make it through after all she goes through at home at the same time. I loved the initial innocence of a young girl trying to figure out why her mother had to leave home for months at a time, even though the reader ... like all the other adults in the story ... clearly understand the reason behind the absences. The flow of writing was so perfect for the flow of the story that it was able to progress seamlessly.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys coming-of-age stories or books dealing with the hardships of living with those you love who suffer from mental illnesses.

I also recommend this to ANYONE looking for a good heartfelt story!

[McGuffy Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kids love gelatin in many shaky forms, colours and even shapes. But for some, childhood itself is like walking down a road of gelatin: shaky, with nothing to hold onto. Yet the resilience and capacity of perseverance of youth are amazing. Ms. Waters reminds us of this as we walk down Ghellow Road with her.

T. H. Waters recalls childhood in a very heartrending, moving story. Her ability to recollect images from childhood is acute. The sounds, sights, and smells of Ghellow Road are clear and vivid. It brought to mind scenes and images from my own childhood.

Children should be able to count on the security and safety offered by parents. Our narrator, Theresa, does not have that. As she grows, she is forced to learn to count on others and ultimately herself. She must learn to trust her own judgment regarding life.

Childhood shapes us, but it does not have to define us. We never get over it, but we do get through it. Theresa not only survives… she triumphs. T.H. Waters’ book broke my heart, but then gently pieced it back together. It is a painfully beautiful story of what love does to us and what it makes us.

[LuAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

To read the description on the back of this book doesn’t even begin to help the reader understand the sadness and desperation that is this girl’s life. Born to a mother who is in and out of mental hospitals due to her severe schizophrenia and a father who desperately wants his children to have somewhat of a normal life, Theresa and her brother learn to take care of themselves at a very early age. When their father finally commits suicide, they go to live with their grandparents and a string of aunts and uncles whenever their mother is hospitalized.
Brutally honest and forthcoming, this is an extremely well-written memoir. Rather than following a journal style, the words become a story that takes the reader right into Theresa’s heart. You will cry for her, feel sorry for her, want to do something for her, cheer her on and come to be so very proud of the way she becomes committed to doing something positive with her life.

[Paula Ratcliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was definitely different you follow the story of Theresa as she battles with her ill mother who suffers from schizophrenia which seems to really make it hard to be a good mom, her father who bears the weight of the world, dealing with the kids Mikie and Theresa, and his sick of wife. When he can't bear it anymore he commits the unthinkable. The kids get up rooted to their mother's parents house, Mikie finally has enough and finds himself shunned out of the house to live with someone else. While Theresa gets passed around like Candy to whoever will care for her. Theresa spends much of her time raising herself, she also learns that people don't treat her the best work wise due to her mother talking to invisible people. This book was raw and great way to learn how damaging mental illness can be.