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Summary: Icy Sparks
Review: I fell in love with Icy Sparks and her loving family. Icy represents a part in all of us that sometimes just cannot help doing what we know is wrong and yet loving ourselves regardless. The reader is a witness to her disorder, which at the time, doctors did not how to treat. Lessons of life for all of us are inscribed in this masterful novel.
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Summary: Icy Sparks
Review: This has been one of the best books I have ever read! Gwyn Hyman Rubio has now been added to my list of "Favorite Authors!"
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Summary: Odyssey and Triumph
Review: This book was a gift to me from a person who recognized the difficulties a family faces when a child has Tourette Syndrome. It follows the childhood, adolescence and early adulthood of a girl in the 1950's with a condition that we now know as Tourette Syndrome, but back then, and in that area, was simply called "the fits." We see the heroine as a person first, even a delightful and insightful person, but one whose symptoms are misunderstood, and who sometimes endures egregious "treatments" that never cure her "problem." Today, we consider ourselves "enlightened" in our views of Tourette Syndrome, but I can report that this is only true in the abstract. Revulsion toward people who cannot control some movements or noises continues even to this day, and prevents their full acceptance and participation in activities that we 'normal' people take for granted; attending church, being allowed in a 'normal' classroom, being accepted by 'normal' peers. The book details how cruelly a likable and talented girl is treated because of her differentness in the 1950's, but it is not so far from the truth of what sometimes happens today to these defenseless and innocent children. This book could have descended into the misery these people often suffer, but instead it's a book of self discovery, and even triumphs. There is a hilarious passage where Icy is involved in her first relationship with a boy. Although she has Tourette's, we know her as a teenage girl first. We can all identify with the awkwardness that she encounters in what she might have expected to be a romantic interlude. The book follows Icy to early adulthood, with the scars but also the self knowledge that Icy carries like a veteran. The ending is so uplifting, that I wanted to shout and applaud. All children with Tourette Syndrome, and all the people who care about them, especially their teachers, should read this book cover to cover. Yes, there can be happiness and achievement and triumph for people with Tourette. The book reminds us not to write them off.
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Summary: Embracing empathy
Review: Rubio intertwines the lives of different characters to show that everybody has differences and that empathy can help people be more understanding. Icy Sparks reveals herself to the reader allowing a glimpse into her world dealing with Tourette's Syndrome. Much more is revealed to the reader though through Miss Emily, Mamie Tillman, Matanni & Patanni, and the patients at the Sunshine Building at Bluegrass State Hospital. A world filled with judgement & intolerance is shown through the eyes of Icy Sparks who hopes to overcome these judgements. This novel will leave the reader feeling empathetic towards Icy and realizing that everyone has some ICE (bad) and some SPARK (good) in them.(some people are just better at hiding the ice than others).
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Summary: A work in progress...
Review: I have not yet finished reading this work, but was encouraged to do so when I saw it featured on Oprah. I do, however, have to protest labeling 'Tourette' as a mental illness. As a 45 year old woman who has, I believe, overcome a devastating childhood where Tourette caused me great embarassment and humiliation my mental capacity was never called in to question, nor has it been since! I think it is dangerous for anyone to label it as such. I look forward to completing the book and still encourage others to do the same...
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Summary: Icy Sparks is in all of us.
Review: I read this book when it first came out a few years ago. It was recommended to me because I have a daughter with Tourette Syndrome. The story is an interesting study of feeling out of place and trying to find a way to connect to those around us. We have certainly as adolescents or children, felt as though we were the center of everyone's scorn. The double curse of being an adolescent and having Tourette's however, seems almost too much to bear. As someone who is familiar with T.S., it is gratifying to see this neurological condition brought to the general public. I feel it is important to note however, that a relatively small percentage of Touretters actually swear as part of their illness. With all that said, I found the story to be a good read.
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Summary: Get the tissue handy!
Review: This was a real tear jurker and a very good read. I also recommend "The Second Coming Of Age" by: Vedrine
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Summary: Icy: easy to relate to-helps understanding mental illnesses
Review: As a person suffering from OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder), and as a pharmaceuticals R&D scientist, I have learned that Tourete's Syndrome and OCD are thought to be related in terms of brain biochemistry. The most troublesome cases are those in children, who cannot understand what is happening to them. I know children with OCD and they talk to me in a very frightened tone. Icy reminds me of these children. She hides when the impusles become to difficult to resist. The writing here is especially good in describing Icy's struggle. The earlier quote that she is "a little girl who had to keep all of her compulsions inside," is right on the money. I had some trouble believing that her institutionalization at the Bluegrass State Hospital would 'persuade' her that there are actually children more "different" than she. Most children haven't the capacity to accept that. It is one of the great unknown epidemics in today's society. It is also somewhat difficult to believe the epilogue as children don't necessarily 'prevail' over these disorders - they are with them for the rest of their lives in nearly all cases - but they can learn to control the disorders - and that's the critical thing for those in therapy to understand. I was moved by the quote: "Children silent as stone sing for me. Children who cannot speak create music for me." This is the hallmark of a good child psychiatrist/psychologist. While I think this book is a valuable addition to anyone wishing to learn more about the stigma of mental illness this is a must buy. However, as a 'recovery' story it still seems misunderstood by readers. The 'overdone' prose it how people with these disorders speak of their 'affliction'. I applaud Rubio for recognizing this. I also about Rubio's pointing out that most people with mental illness are actually suffering from a biochemical imbalance which is treatable - not from 'brain fevers'. Too many people today still think the latter - in this book note how Icy is isolated from her friends and community. I want to disagree with those people who want to 'label' this book as 'Appalachian' or as a metaphor for society or as a book for women only. I think this book is a must read for anyone interested in learning about the stigma of mental illness. The above metaphors do apply but I think they miss the key point of the book. This is a valuable contribution to the genre of 'memoirs', real or fictional, of people with mental illness. There are even some books about these disorders written as children's books! I can only hope Rubio will continue to write in her pleasant straightforward style on similar subjects. Buy this book - you won't be disappointed.
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Summary: A moving and realistic story!
Review: This is a beautifully written book. The story will move you to tears. I couldn't put it down. Oprah deserves a round of applause for her excellent choice this month!
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Summary: Ignorance is not bliss for these townsfolk
Review: This is a brilliant novel, even more so when coupled with the awareness that this is the author's first. What an accomplishment. The book centers around Icy Sparks, age 10, orphaned and afflicted by "fits", as Tourett's was known back then in 1950. She is tormented by her classmates, and suffers the consequences of her tics; throwing her head back, assuming strange posturing and yelling profanities. The urge to do these tics becomes so powerful that she runs to her grandmother's and grandfather's cellar to turn them loose. The burden is great, but not as large as the ignorance of the town folk as they shun this charming, sensitive child. The story line centers on Icy and the few people who support and love her. It is this strength which allows Icy to tackle the difficulties that confront her.
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