by Jo Case
Andrew Solomon’s acclaimed Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression (2001) is a history of depression and an intensely personal account of living with it.
The New York writer concludes that in the long run depression “makes good people better” and “bad people worse”. Without romanticising or trivialising his experience, he realises he values his own happiness more for it being so hard won.
Far from the Tree, an extraordinary book 10 years in the making, similarly explores the way experiences one would “do anything to avoid” can ultimately enrich lives… He expertly weaves the diverse experiences of these families into a narrative whole, exploring a series of questions that sketch a nuanced portrait of difference.
(To read the full review, please visit The Australian website.)
