My Father’s Suitcase by Mary Garden

 

The first thing I did on finishing reading My Father’s Suitcase was buy a copy of  Mary Garden’s earlier memoir, The Serpent Rising, which I am going to read next. The pattern of Mary’s life was set in train not only by her sister’s mental and physical abuse, but also by her parents’ response to it, and I am keen to read about her reasons for going to India and what happened to her there.

Mary writes with heartbreaking honesty. When abuse happens firstly in a marriage and then in a family and so goes on to become almost a way of life, serious damage is going to be done. I’m trying very hard here not to give away too much of Mary’s story but I am still feeling sad for that little girl hiding in a tree or a cave to escape the injustices in her life.

I am speaking as a second-hand witness to a similar situation but I think, surely, so much damage to all members of a family could be avoided if they were taken more seriously by mental health authorities when asking for help. No favours are being done for anyone when the person causing the damage is cursorily examined and  assessed as not having any problems. When physical conditions are mis-diagnosed, or not diagnosed at all, there can be tragic outcomes; the same can be said and should be recognised for mental conditions.

Bipolar and schizoaffective disorders when undiagnosed can ruin many lives.

This is an important book as well as an intensely personal look into the devastation which can be allowed to happen within a family. It is an absolutely riveting read and it will speak to a lot of people.

I wish Mary Garden a happy and peaceful future.

Published by Justicia Books.