Product Description
Sliding into the Rabbit Hole… Would She Ever Return?On the surface, Alice Laxton seems no different from any other college girl: bright, inquisitive, excited about the life ahead of her. But for years, a genetic time bomb has been ticking away. Because of Alice’s near-genius intelligence, teachers and counselors have always made excuses for her “little idiosyncrasies.” But during a stress-filled senior year at college, a new world of voices, visions, and unexplainable “knowledge” causes Alice to begin to lose her grip on reality.As Alice’s schizophrenia progresses, she experiences a disturbing religious “awakening,” believing that God and angels and demons are speaking to her. When others attempt to intervene, Alice is subjected to a wide range of “treatments” even more frightening and painful than her illness.Powerfully raw and brutally honest, Finding Alice is a story of individual suffering and hope, a family’s shared ordeal, and a search for true mental and spiritual healing.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 5.0 based on 18 reviews)

A powerful and challenging read by D. Goulton (New Zealand)

5 Stars
November 15, 2009
I've read two previous Melody Carlson books, both funny, light rom-com chicklit. 'Finding Alice' is quite different. Told in the first person, it chronicles Alice's journey into mental illness, in this case, paranoid schizophrenia, which is brought on suddenly when she is dumped by her boyfriend in her senior year of college. Alice equates many of her experiences to those of the 'other' Alice, in Lewis Carroll's 'Alice in Wonderland' and 'Through the Looking Glass'. She meets people she characterises as Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dweeb, the Queen of Hearts and the Cheshire Cat (actually, that really was a cat). There were probably more references that I missed, as I can't remember when I last read Carroll. This book is almost harrowing in places, but it is worthwhile reading to gain a better understanding of the illness, and the progress that has been made in the treatment of schizophrenia since the 70's and 80's. It also makes some important points about how Christians/the church think about and treat mental illness, which is illustrated by Pastor John of the cult-like Salvation Centre, and the more 'progressive' view of Golden Hills. If you've ever wondered what schizophrenia means but don't want the full-blown medical description, I recommend you read this book. It's opened my eyes.

You've Become Your Worst Enemy by Deborah (Reston, VA)

5 Stars
February 21, 2008
Alice is a twenty something college student who seems to be living a normal life. But then after her boyfriend breaks up with her, something in her snaps. Thus begins Alice's journey of life with schizophrenia. It's a a terrifying ride that robs Alice of all her senses and is definately not a trip to Wonderland. Shunned by the church and taken into an institution where drugs are forced on her, she hides out in the street, with her mind becoming her worst enemy. But there is hope and with a little help from new friends, a way where Alice will finally find herself again. This was one of the hardest and most impacting books that I have ever read. It was a definite eye opener with a subject you don't hear much about. I cannot even imagine what I would do if I was in Alice's situation. It would be a daily struggle to survive every day. Frankly it was quite scary to read about Alice's schizophrenia and what it did to her. The voices inside her head almost drove her to kill herself because they made her doubt everything and everyone. It was really frightening to think about how many people have to suffer from this every day and even if they get help, still have to deal with it for the rest of their lives. The worst part, for Alice, is how her church (which to me seemed more like a cult) completely shunned her and banished her because they believed her mental illness to be a demon. I really appreciated how the author handles this, showing the reader that while there are Christians who do understand and will help you out, there is also a darker side that won't acknowledge this situation. It's painful yet refreshing to show how there are severely flawed Christians who need to be taught not to be judgmental or walking around with planks in their eyes. I'm glad though that there was a glimmer of hope for her and that she was able to cope with her mental illness. I really love how Melody Carlson writes about subjects that many Christians shy away from and don't want to talk about. She writes these books with such conviction and grittiness because these are topics that we shouldn't avoid. This is edgy fiction at it best and I believe that it rivals mainstream fiction. This is not just a Christian novel, this is a novel that EVERYONE should read to learn more about what mental illness is really like. If you want a book that will leave you impacted, pick this book up.

A book really needed in Christian lit by Meg (Massachusetts)

5 Stars
February 10, 2008
I don't usually like Christian fiction because a lot of it is too fluffy and not like real life. I saw this book at the library, though, and picked it up. I really got drawn into the story - it is incredibly well written and Carlson's descriptions of Alice's psychosis and time leading up to it seem right on. I was a psychology major in college and am now studying to be a social worker; I helped with research on Christian attitudes towards mental illness as an undergrad. I also have a mental illness (although not schizophrenia). Christianity, it seems, tends to ignore mental illness, to the detriment of the many Christians who suffer from it or have relatives who do. It's a huge opportunity for ministry that we really drop the ball on. That's why I am so incredibly happy that Carlson wrote this book (if you ever read this, Ms. Carlson, THANK YOU!!). I'm hoping it will open people's eyes to the issue. It is also realistic in its expectations and I was really happy the cure wasn't just - pray and God will stop it, because that isn't the experience for most people. It also showed how we really need more than just meds, which is something the mental health community is just waking up to. Carlson is ahead of the curve! In short, this book has the potential to really open some eyes in the church. So - if you're Christian (or even if you're not, the Christianity is there but doesn't slam you over the head), and you're have a mental illness or are interested in it or just want a good read, I highly recommend this book.

Skillful and Unique by Allyn (USA)

4 Stars
December 25, 2007
For some, the frightening descent into full-blown paranoid schizophrenia is rapid. Alice Laxton, an intelligent and seemingly "normal" senior at an Oregon university, finds her life spinning out of control after a break-up from her boyfriend triggers the beginning of a long list of eerie symptoms. First, Alice begins hearing the insistent voice of "Amelia." Then she begins to suspect that everyone is plotting to hurt her. Finally, the cruel tricks that schizophrenia plays on her mind take her places she never imagined...back to the confines of her strict fundamentalist Christian home, to the streets, and to strange places of healing that Alice never believed she'd find. Carlson has done a masterful job crafting this novel about schizophrenia. The first person narration works perfectly, giving Alice's voice a poignancy it would not have had otherwise. As Alice narrates her story with the perfect mixture of realism and intelligent eloquence, readers will feel as if they are living through schizophrenia along with her-fighting to figure out what is real and what is merely a part of a diseased imagination, wondering if a broken life can ever be truly repaired, and sometimes being forced to accept kindness from unlikely sources. And speaking of those unlikely sources of kindness, the supporting characters in this novel (in typical Carlson fashion) are well-drawn and unique. But beyond being a novel that is easy to get lost in, "Finding Alice" is also an enlightening look at mental illness in the context of a Christian worldview and a brave exploration of a subject that seems to be rarely addressed in Christian fiction. Kudos to Carlson for choosing to forgo the cliched "Western frontier" settings and instead writing about a fresh subject with universal relevance. If you enjoyed "Looking For Cassandra Jane," you will definitely find this genuine, hope-filled story equally satisfying.

A book that gave me hope by S. Watts

5 Stars
December 05, 2007
This book gave me hope. My mother is paranoid schizophrenic, as is Alice, the main character in this book. Before reading this book, I had lost all hope that there was help for my mom, but after reading the book and seeing how Alice found and accepted help from others, it allowed me a glimpse of the hope I once had. Thank you Melody Carlson!

SIMILAR PRODUCTS

	Crystal Lies by Melody Carlson (Author) A Son’s Addiction. A Mother’s Heartbreak. A Family’s Crisis. As the wife of a prominent city attorney and the mother of two teenage children on the brink of adulthood, Glennis Harmon lives the kind of successful, high-profile life that many people envy. But when nineteen-year-old Jacob is drawn into substance abuse, Glennis’ “perfect” world shatters like a crystal vase rocked from its once-steady shelf. Glennis struggles to understand the response of her family as...
	Bad Connection (The Secret Life Samantha McGregor, Book 1) by Melody Carlson (Author) Meet Samantha McGregor She seems like your average teen, but Samantha is unusually gifted. God gives her visions and dreams that offer unconventional glimpses into other people’s lives and problems. It’s a powerful gift with a lot of responsibility… Bad Connection: Book One Kayla Henderson lives on the edge. She likes to break the rules, considers partying an extracurricular activity, and can’t stand her parents. So, most people aren’t surprised when she...
	Beyond Reach (The Secret Life Samantha McGregor, Book 2) by Melody Carlson (Author) If You Thought You Needed Vision, Would You Ask God For It? Exhausted by her role in the dramatic rescue of Kayla Henderson, Samantha McGregor is ready for a vacation from her God-given visions. But when Sam gets her wish and the visions actually go on hiatus, she’s beginning to wonder if she’s lost her spiritual gift forever. To make matters worse, her police friend Ebony needs her help! Peter Clark has been dead for several years, an open-and-shut case of suicide, but...
	Looking for Cassandra Jane by Melody Carlson (Author) Written in first-person, memoir style, this is the heart-touching story of Cass Maxwell, a girl struggling to find her identity during the turbulent sixties and seventies. Forced to make her own way from childhood, Cass's strength of spirit lifts her above her circumstances as God calls her to a life of hope and freedom.
	On This Day by Melody Carlson (Author) As One Marriage Begins, Five Others Are Put to the Test. Drawn to Lakeside Inn from a variety of locations as diverse as they are, Elizabeth Anderson, Suzette Burke, Ingrid Campbell, Margaret Simpson, and Laura Fairbanks–the bride’s aunt, family friend, bridesmaid, grandmother of the bride, and sister of the groom–seemingly share little more than their collective joy for the couple marrying at the mountain resort. During the course of one unforgettable day, however, each woman...