Title: Manic Mama: Dysfunction Sucks
Author: A. J. Irwin
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 1796031194
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 274
Reviewed by: Jennifer Weiss
Pacific Book Review
Family dysfunction can alter people in a multiple of different ways, For Roxanne, being born into a family with dysfunction so thick you could cut it with a knife, creates a multitude of mental illnesses. The various mental illnesses within the family begin to control and manipulate everything and everyone that comes into contact with Roxanne. She cannot control what happens within her own head. What happens when it all seeps out into the outside world around her?
Manic Mama is a chilling look at how mental illness can dig deep into one’s mind and in the end controls their actions and thoughts. From the very beginning the reader is pulled into Roxanne’s story as we find out she has 3 daddies within her short 11 years. Your heart immediately goes out to her and you become attached to this young woman in the story. Even if one hasn’t experienced mental illness it is very easy to become attached to Roxanne throughout this story. One gets the feeling they are not just reading a story, but reading something that touches you to the core.
Being the first book in a series, A.J. Irwin does a phenomenal job at setting the stage for what may happen next. The author takes readers on a journey through Roxanne’s life From her teenage years of attempting to care for her siblings and run the house, to her married life and the tragedies she faces; each time also struggling to control her mental illnesses. Irwin writes in a way to makes the story seem a little too real; the interactions and dialogue are believable and easy to follow. Some of the things Roxanne deals with throughout the story give the readers chills thinking that someone actually experiences something like it.
A. J. Irwin is an author with the ability to bring her story to life. Mental illness is an interesting thing to deal with and she takes it and creates an entertaining and thought- provoking tale as one woman tries to handle her life while living with several illnesses. It’s interesting that she included a multitude of illness rather than focusing on just one. Because she takes a step into the unknown and creates something chilling, thrilling and exciting to read, this book is definitely one which needs to be read, and readers will look forward to reading other books not only in this series, but also by this author.
