Review: The Problem With Crazy
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 15, 2014
I got a copy in exchange for an honest reviewNormally I avoid books that deal with illnesses as best as I can, but when I read the blurb of this book I just knew I had to read it and I am really glad I did. The Problem With Crazy is a story about a girl named Kate who's whole life changes when she finds out her dad has Huntington's disease and she might have it too. The book deals with a lot of heavy issues, but there are also enough happy and light moments.The start of the book felt a slightly slow, it also reminded me a bit of Lauren her other book, Finding Home, although I am not sure why exactly. Then the story really started and quickly I was so absorbed in the story I just wanted to keep reading. The problem With Crazy is a really great book that made me experience so many different emotions. I once had a lecture on university about Huntington's disease and I always wondered how someone would deal with knowing they could inherit it and whether they wanted to get tested or not. It really sounds like a horrible disease.What amazed me the most is how realistic this book is, it's not all happy or all sad or just okay all the time. It's just like real life, it has it's up and downs and it's big ups and big downs. And The Problem With Crazy takes the reader to all those ups and downs. It was a crazy ride, but it was also a really good story. There is so much in this book, it's not only about battling a disease, or learning how to live with someone who has a disease, it's also about appreciating the little things in life, surviving, dealing with painfull things and there is also love and friendship and beautifull touching moments.I really liked Kate as a main character, she not always deals with her problems the right way, but I still thought it was admirable what she did do and how she dealt with everything. She went on, even though a lot of bad things happen. Sometimes I wonder how she was able to get up every day, but there are also those little sparks of light and happiness and they seemed even more wonderfull towards the backdrop of all the pain and hurt.From the start I didn't like Dave, his behavior just rubbed me the wrong way. I didn't really feel their romance. Luckily later on in the book there is some real romance and I really rooted for them. Stacey, Kate her best friend, she was wonderfull although sometimes she seemed a little pushing. Sometimes she was pushing Kate to do certain things, although they where usually for the best. Lachlan and Jonny where two other great characters. They where amazing and I wondered how they where even still standing and getting on with their lives and starting a coffee shop after everything that happened. I also really liked Kate her mom and dad and all the family interactions and how they changed and later on in the book there are some really touching scenes and I loved how family played a part in this book.To conclude: I really enjoyed this book, it started slightly slow for me, but after that I simply didn't want to put this book down. There are so many highs and lows in this book, there is so much pain, hurt and sorrow and also places filled with light, hope and happiness. This book almost had me crying a few times. It deals with so many problems and issues and real life. Most of all that's what I loved about this book, how real it was. This stuff really can and does happen out there and it's frightening, but it's also amazing how realistic the author managed to write this. I really liked most of the characters and how their relations developed in this book. I also liked the focus on family and how it played a role in this book. There are some really emotional and touching scenes and this book was definitely worth the read.