Journal Entry 1 by sarradee from Dallas, Texas USA on Friday, October 17, 2008

Product Description
For decades, a well-to-do Baltimore family guarded a secret they felt too ashamed to reveal, much less speak of among themselves. For one daughter, that secret would haunt her for years but ultimately compel her to take surprising risks and reap unbelievable rewards—the story of which forms the stunning narrative of this remarkable memoir.

When Molly Bruce Jacobs, the family’s eldest daughter, finds herself newly sober at the age of thirty-eight, she finally seeks out and comes face-to-face with this secret: Anne, a younger sister who was diagnosed at birth with hydrocephalus (“water on the brain”) and mental retardation, was institutionalized. Anne has never been home to visit, and Molly Jacobs has never seen her. Full of trepidation, she goes to meet her sister for the first time. As the book unfolds and the sisters grow close, Jacobs learns of the decades of life not shared and gains surprising insights about herself, including why she drank for most of her adult life. In addition, she gradually comes to understand that her parents' reasons for placing Anne in a state institution were far more complex than she'd ever imagined.


About the Author
Molly Bruce Jacobs’s short stories have appeared in numerous literary journals and her articles and essays have appeared in AARP The Magazine, The Baltimore Sun, Redbook, and various other publications. Before turning to writing full-time, Jacobs practiced law in Baltimore, Maryland. She now lives in western Massachusetts. Visit her at www.mollybrucejacobs.com.


Weird to think that you could have an unknown sister that your parents turned their backs on as "too hard to deal with", guess that's one of the advantages of having money being able to sweep problems under the rug. Must be nice. The book could have been a little bit longer, but I guess since the author didn't really have all that much to go on, only visiting with the sister a couple of times and skimming the 35 years of medical records since her parents chose not to discuss it, there wasn't that much more to tell.

Going to Candib who likes an interesting memoir. 

Journal Entry 2 by sarradee at RABCK, RABCK -- Controlled Releases on Friday, October 17, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (10/17/2008 UTC) at RABCK, RABCK -- Controlled Releases

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In the mail to Candieb, going to the post office anyway so decided not to wait until the next meetup. 

Journal Entry 3 by candieb from Austin, Texas USA on Monday, October 20, 2008

Thank you! This could have waited, no big deal, but thank you!! I'm going to add it to my TBR "soon" pile. I hope to get to it during a cold winter day! 

Journal Entry 4 by candieb at Triumph Cafe OBCZ -3808 Spicewood Springs Rd in Austin, Texas USA on Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (3/10/2009 UTC) at Triumph Cafe OBCZ -3808 Spicewood Springs Rd in Austin, Texas USA

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Bringing to the meetup tonight. If no one wants it, I'll leave it on the shelf 

Journal Entry 5 by luna-librarian from Austin, Texas USA on Friday, March 20, 2009

Intriguing story of addiction, recovery and the secrets families hold. My aunt worked in an institution similar to one described in the book and I still have fond memories of her taking me to play with the kids in the institution. It wasn't until I was in high school that I realized that they all had Down's Syndrome. As a kid they seemed just like my other friends and were just as fun to play with. 

Journal Entry 6 by luna-librarian at Genuine Joe Coffee, Anderson Ln. near Burnet in Austin, Texas USA on Friday, March 20, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (3/20/2009 UTC) at Genuine Joe Coffee, Anderson Ln. near Burnet in Austin, Texas USA

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Somewhere on a table. Happy spring equinox!