Honest & Insightful...A True Life Journey
Written: Mar 19 '07 (Updated Mar 19 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Honest, touching portrayal of life
Cons: none
The Bottom Line: Not just for people in the mental health field...this book is for everyone who enjoys honest human relationships.
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| cmaw63's Full Review: |
I was given Riding the Bus With My Sister: A True Life Journey by a friend who knows I work with adults who have developmental disabilities. I thanked my friend and put the book away. I spend 8-16 hours a day giving my all for my clients...when I'm at home I want to give my all to my husband and myself. I didn't want to mix my home life with work.
Riding the Bus is about one woman wanting to know and understand her sister that has mental retardation. Before reading this book, my thought was... why the hell didn't she know her already? I didn't want the anger I feel at some of my clients families (or lack of) to spill over at home. It is a balancing act to keep my two lives separate.
Then I read the book...
Rachel
Growing up in a dysfunctional family is hard enough, but for Rachel, being the primary friend of her sister Beth is an added weight. It is, usually, one she takes on with sisterly love, yet at times she admits the embarrassment and frustration she feels at her sister who has mental retardation. A depressed mother, a father that eventually leaves taking the youngest child, a boy, with him, all of this plays into shaping who Rachel grows up to be...
a woman that lives for her work as a writer and shuns close friendships.
Beth
As an adult woman living on her own, with the help of social service agencies, Beth has discovered her "calling". Riding bus's in her Pennsylvania hometown and getting to know the drivers. To the dismay of Rachel and her social workers, Beth has no interest in working or other activities. Beth may have moderate mental retardation, but she knows what she wants and how she feels. With today's society promoting independence and free choice, Beth gets her way.
Beth knows all the drivers, routes and times for each bus. It has become her life. When Rachel asks Beth what she wants for her birthday, Beth tells her... I want you to ride the bus with me. When asked for how long...one year.
Rachel and Beth
Riding a bus through town and countryside, once or twice a week, Rachel learns more about herself than she does Beth. Each bus driver is different. Some are friendly, others mean...funny or serious...chatty or stoic...they all make an impact in their own way.
Beth's flamboyant outfits (orange shirt, pink shorts and blue socks for example), disregard for others feelings and lack of work frustrates Rachel, so she turns to the social agencies. She learns how and why Beth is allowed to "get away" with things.
Beth and the bus drivers teach Rachel more about relationships and how to be honest with herself than she could have learned anywhere else. In trying to change Beth, Rachel herself changes.
Real
This book was so much more than I thought it would be. Not only does Rachel Simon catch the dynamics of having a sibling with a disability...she launches us into a multitude of relationships, some fleeting, others long term. All leaving an impact.
What could have been a sappy/sweet "my poor sister has mental retardation" story, isn't. Rachel reveals her feelings of frustration and anger just as easily as the proud and loving moments. I applaud her for that.
If you have someone in your life that has mental retardation or if you're looking for an understanding of relationships Riding the Bus With My Sister: A True Life Journey is a must read. Maybe, we're the ones that need to change.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
cmaw63
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 in Pets, Home and Garden, Books |
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Member: Julie
Location: Illinois, USA
Reviews written: 307
Trusted by: 73 members
About Me:
Looking forward to my first grandbaby. She's due November 24!
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