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 == = = = = = = = = = I Never Promised You A Rose Garden = =Joanne Greenberg = = =

//"You were never one of them, not ever. You are wholly different."// (Greenberg, 51).

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Greenberg was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1932. She was growing up in a time of wars and violence, which may have been the cause of some problems she had later on in life. At the age of nine, she started creating her own mental world in which to escape the problems of everyday life. Eventually, this withdrawal from the real world became too much of a problem to disguise. At sixteen years old, Greenberg was admitted to [|Chestnut Lodge], a family-owned asylum in Marlyland. There, Greenberg was diagnosed as a schizophrenic. She had many horrific episodes, including cutting herself with tin cans and plunging burning cigarettes into the open wounds. Her doctor,, set out to cure Greenberg from her disturbing mental condition. Greenberg spent four years at Chestnut Lodge, meeting with Dr. Fromm-Reichmann regularly. Miraculously, Greenberg was able to be completely cured without the use of medication or shock treatments. In 1952, Greenberg was able to leave the asylum and head for the real world. She attended American University in Washington, D.C. and obtained her certification to be an emergency medical technician. Several years later, Greenberg married and had children. In 1964, Greenberg opened up and was able to publish her story, __I Nev____er Promised You A Rose Garden__. Though the story is technically fiction, Greenberg incorporates a lot of details of her own battle with schizophrenia, including the unique bond between herself and her doctor. Greenberg went on to write many more novels and short stories, all touching on serious and perhaps unfamiliar issues to the average reader. She has received several awards for her works, including the Christopher Book Award for //In This Sign//, and the Colorado Author of the Year Award in 1991. For a complete list of her works, click [|here].

Greenberg's __I Never Promised You a Rose Garden__
= = This story, set in the 1940s, describes Deborah's battle with schizophrenia. (To learn more about schizophrenia, click [|here].) At sixteen years old, Deborah is placed in a mental institution. The book tells her story through the use of high emotion and powerful language. Though most of the story is told strictly about Deborah, a few select scenes are told from Deborah's parents', sister's, or doctor's point of view. This gives the reader some insight to the rest of Debby's emotional journey. In fact, the very first chapter is told from the perspective of Jacob and Esther Blau, Deborah's parents. From the start, Jacob has a hard time putting Debby in a mental institution. He says to his wife, "They call it a mental hospital, but it's a place, Es, a place where they put people away. How can it be a good place for a girl - almost a child!" (Greenberg, 11). Esther replies with, "Oh, God, Jacob, how much did it take out of us to make the decision? If we can't trust the doctors, who can we ask or trust?" (Greenberg, 11). Immediately, the reader is made aware that this book is not only about Deborah. It's also about Deborah's family and their struggle with accepting the truth.

From an early age, Deborah struggles with the concept of reality. As her way of coping with the unknown, she creates //Yr//, a made-up land where she could escape everyday life. At first, //Yr// has beautiful gods and lands, but after awhile, the beauty starts to fade. The gods turn from comforting friends to controlling dictators, evaluating Deborah's everyday actions and punishing her for those they did not agree with. This imaginary land begins to consume Deborah's life. After trying numerous ways to deal with it, Jacob and Esther realize their daughter needs more help than they can give her. Debby is put in [|Chestnut Lodge], a mental institute. = =

The institute is divided into four wards - A, B, C, and D, with A being the most sane, and D being the least. The patients move from ward to ward, depending on their most current condition. Debby starts in ward B, but quickly finds herself in D, which has been dubbed by the patients, 'Disturbed'. Throughout her stay, Deborah is overcome with visits from her made-up land, //Yr.// These visits are described in detail, but just like in a schizophrenic's mind, really have no pattern to them. These passages are often confusing and abruptly take over the scene which was just happening. To add to the confusion, //Yr// has its own language called //Yri//. Many of the scenes which take place in //Yr// are spoken in this gibberish language and are hard to decipher. = =

One could argue that //Yri// adds depth to the novel by giving the reader a glimpse into the chaotic mind of a schizophrenic. On the flip side, the point could be made that this nonsense language takes away from the story because it confuses the reader and loses their interest. Overall, if one has the patience to read through these scenes, the experience will be very rewarding.

Another aspect of the book requires a certain frame of mind from the reader. Greenberg writes in such excruciating detail about Deborah's battles with schizophrenia, that it may sometimes cause the //reader// to feel 'insane'. A teen reviewer left this comment about the book: "I was so beyond horrified, I couldn't finish it, I was literally questioning my sanity, and suicidally depressed because it was so well written. I'm not exaggerating, It was really getting into my head and messing with me, I was beginning to feel traumatized ... I know it sounds completely ridiculous, but it left quite an impact" (Ember). Ember points out that one must be prepared to deal with those thoughts of a schizophrenic that may come across while reading the novel.

A scene that demonstrates this effect can be found as Debby's friend, Carla, tells about another patient, Doris. Doris Rivera had come to Chestnut Lodge and been cured of her multiple personalities. When this is shared with the rest of the patients at Chestnut Lodge, many of them have panic attacks, and the ward becomes chaotic. While discussing this with Deborah, Carla says, "She got well and went out and she's working, and we got frightened because we might someday ... have to be 'well' and be in the world; because there's a chance that they might open those doors for us, on ... the world" (Greenberg, 75).

As previously discussed, __I Never Promised You a Rose Garden__ is fictional, but based on the true story of the author's battle with schizophrenia. (To learn about another book based on the author's own experiences, click here .) Greenberg changes some names and minor details, but the story is the same. For example, [|Dr. Fromm-Reichmann], Greenberg's doctor, became "Dr. Fried" in the book. Therefore, since the basic idea of the story occurred in real life, I Never Promised You a Rose Garden could be classified as 'realistic fiction'. However, a significant portion of the novel is told in Deborah's made-up land, //Yr.// These sections are filled with mythical gods and creatures - obviously **not** realistic fiction - they could perhaps be considered fantasy. This blend of realistic fiction and fantasy will appeal to a diverse background of readers.

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What Makes This Book Outstanding:
For starters, __I Never Promised You a Rose Garden__ is completely unique. Most people are capable of making up a story with a decent plot, but it takes a special, courageous person to tell their //own// story. Joanne Greenberg has had an experience most readers will never have. She writes about Deborah's struggles with a strong passion. It is evident to the reader that Greenberg connects with her character on a personal level.

Schizophrenic's minds are a whirlwind of chaos. The thoughts running through their head at any given moment would be impossible for the average person to put into words. Because Greenberg has overcome schizophrenia, she is able to transfer the jumble of emotion on to a sheet of paper. The result is a truly remarkable novel - a novel most certainly worth reading.