| I'm sure that I've said it before, but, if | | | | dark storm clouds scudding across an ominous |
| not, I'll say it here. I am firmly convinced | | | | sky."2) pg 200: "We are all defined by the |
| taht your attitude is a very key component | | | | dark, I thought. Anyone can portray anything |
| both to your quality of life, and, to your | | | | in the daylight. But it is only at night, |
| ability to - in balance - effectively manage | | | | after the world had closed in, that our true |
| your Chronic Illness!And, with this in mind, | | | | selves come out."3) pgs 218 & 219: "Sometime |
| my advice is to develop hobbies. Within your | | | | later that day, or maybe after the next, but |
| hobbies, remember to share with others, | | | | certainly at some point during the steady |
| especially the "guides" within your hobbies, | | | | procession of mad folks being escorted into |
| your thanks for their input. For example: | | | | Lucy Jones's office, it occurred to me that I |
| perhaps you decide that you want to become a | | | | had never really been a part of something |
| great cook, and use Martha Stewart as a | | | | before.....As a child, not being able to join |
| model. After you dook something, using one of | | | | in is a terrible thing. Maybe the |
| her recipies and receive rave reviews from | | | | worst.....In all those years, I was never |
| your "eaters", write Martha a thank you email | | | | once invited to a birthday party. Never asked |
| or letter! It'll make both of you feel so | | | | to a sleepover. Not once shoved into the back |
| much better.For me, I love reading. And, when | | | | of a station wagon for an off-the-cuff trip |
| I finish a book that I really love, I go to | | | | to Friendly's for an ice-cream sundae. I |
| the Author's website and let him/her know, | | | | never got a phone call at night to gossip |
| and thank them. Most even write back! I even | | | | about school or sports or who had kissed whom |
| got an autographed "drink coaster" from one, | | | | after the seventh grade dance.....My life was |
| and am going to be a "reader reviewer" of one | | | | unique because of the absence of all those |
| of my favorite author's upcoming book, while | | | | little things that make up everyone else's |
| it is in draft.I've copied below the | | | | normalcy." |
| thank-you email that I just sent to an author | | | | |
| so that you can see what one looks like. Hope | | | | 4) pg 269: "But that wasn't the real terrain |
| you too enjoy a hobby and thank those who | | | | of each housing unit. The contours and |
| inspire you.Dear Mr. Katzenbach:Not sure why | | | | topography were really defined by all the |
| I just found you, but am soooo glad that I | | | | variety of madnesses contained within." |
| did! The Madman's Tale is the third book of | | | | (Note: this one REALLY resonated with me, as |
| yours that I have read, and just finished it. | | | | I was a Human Resources Executive for over 30 |
| (Started with State of Mind, followed by The | | | | years before I went on Disability. Whenever I |
| Analyst). Loved State of Mind; liked the | | | | walked into a room, I took deliberate "stock" |
| technical structure of The Analyst, but | | | | of the temperature of the room; of the |
| thought it was too sad - he was soooo | | | | currents and eddies swirling around; of who |
| isolated - but REALLY LOVED THE MADMAN'S | | | | was bouncing off of whom, etc. I've just |
| TALE!!I am a voracious reader (I've been | | | | never seen it articulated as you have |
| "managing" Multiple Sclerosis for over 45 | | | | done!)5) page 326: IMHO, this is the |
| years, and now find myself on full time | | | | depiction that separates someone like Francis |
| Disability) particularly of books of | | | | who may be "crazy", yet is still humane, from |
| intrigue. I find, however, that increasingly | | | | a sociopath! I loved how you phrased it!! |
| I need novels that keep me invested within | | | | "All my life, all I wanted was to be normal. |
| the book. If the story is too predictable, it | | | | Even tortured, like Peter and Lucy were, but |
| just doesn't "hook me".You, sir, have a | | | | normal. Able to modestly function in the |
| marvelous mastery of phraseology; your | | | | outside world, enjoy the simplest of |
| lyrical prose paints pictures so accurately | | | | things.....But I couldn't, because I knew, |
| that I found myself in the Hospital along | | | | right in that moment, that I would forever be |
| with Lucy, Peter and Francis!! I have | | | | doomed to be closer in spirit and action to |
| obtained, and will read next, Hart's War - | | | | the man I hated and the man that scared me. |
| the book, and not the movie. I want to view | | | | The Angel was giving in and luxuriating in |
| my OWN mental movie through your | | | | all the murderous evil thoughts that lurked |
| words!Couldn't help but document, and share | | | | within me. He was a fun house mirror version |
| back with you, some of my favorite phrases | | | | of myself. I had the same rage. The same |
| from The Madman's Tale. These specific | | | | desire. The same evil. I had just concealed |
| phrases were so eloquent; they so accurately | | | | it, shunted it away, thrown it into the |
| depicted an emption, or a feeling, or, in the | | | | deepest hole within me that I could find and |
| case of Francis, so clearly defined, in my | | | | cover it up with every mad thought, like |
| humble opinion, (IMHO) SPECIFICALLY WHAT IT | | | | boulders and dirt, so that it was buried |
| MEANS TO BE "HUMAN", that I couldn't help but | | | | where I hoped it could never burst forth."In |
| let you know just how your words affected me! | | | | these few words, you clearly articulated the |
| Your prose kept me reading EVERY WORD, and | | | | essence of "free will". AND, IMHO, just why |
| not just skimming to catch the thread of the | | | | God gave us humans free will. He wants us to |
| story, hurrying to "who done it"!Many authors | | | | control our baser, evil urges, and do what is |
| can describe events, action, places and | | | | "right" through choice, not through |
| things, and some can capture the superficial | | | | coersion.You have succeeded in depicting the |
| quality of the characters. What I find unique | | | | essence of being "acceptable"; of being |
| about you, Mr. K., is your ability to capture | | | | acknowledged as a human being, with "rights" |
| the essence of each character's "ghestalt"; | | | | to exist. And, after all, that's what all |
| raison d'etre (sp?); unique personality; and, | | | | humans live their existence for; simply to be |
| how each both taps into the collective | | | | acknowledged as existing.Well, I've taken up |
| humanity, yet stands uniquely apart from | | | | too much of your time. If you want to use my |
| it.1) pg 168: "When I think back, I can see | | | | words as a review of your book anywhere, |
| so many little things that should have meant | | | | please feel free to do so.Also, if you ever |
| something....I was young, and I didn't | | | | need to a reader to read an ARC of your new |
| understand that crime is like all the | | | | book(s), I'd be delighted to do so.THANKS, |
| mechanical parts of a transmission. Bolts and | | | | again, for many enjoyable hours! I'll |
| nuts, screws and pins, all meshing together | | | | probably be writing you again after I finish |
| to create a self-contained momentum that | | | | Hart's War!About DisabilityKey.comThe |
| travels forward, controlled by forces that | | | | Disability Key Website ( ) is designed to |
| are a little like the wind; invisible, yet | | | | assist each person in his/her own unique |
| leaving signs in a piece of scrap paper that | | | | quest to navigate through the difficult and |
| suddenly takes flight and dashes down the | | | | often conflicting and misleading information |
| sidewalk, or a tree branch being tugged frist | | | | about coping with a disability. |
| one way, then the next, or merely the distant | | | | |