72 Hour Hold

Bebe Moore Campbell weaves a tale of unrelenting love and pain in her latest novel 72 Hour Hold. 72 Hour Hold tells the story of Keri, a successful owner of an upscale Los Angeles Boutique whose beautiful, intelligent 18 year old daughter has been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder. Quite gifted and on her way to Brown University, Trina's life has come to an abrupt halt as her disorder overtakes her and Keri tries everything, legal and illegal, to try to save her daughter from this debilitating disorder.

Moore Campbell does an excellent job of portraying the hell a family has to go through when a loved one has been diagnosed with a mental illness. The struggles with the health care system, the erratic behavior, the toll it takes on the healthy family members, are all told in breathtaking detail and roll off the pages in a fast paced, rollercoaster ride that keeps you guessing from beginning to end.

The best part about 72 Hour Hold is that it manages to never come off as preachy or judgmental. There's some scathing commentary on the problems with the mental health industry in this country and the novel handles that discourse in a way that allows you to understand both sides of the issue from patients rights, to the needs of the families trying to save their relatives and the overworked and under-funded system we have in place to deal with some of our most troubled citizens. Moore Campbell offers insight into a world that few are privy to or want to admit they are a part of and in so doing challenges all of us to do something to better the treatment and understanding of those who suffer from a mental disorder, whether we are personally affected by it or not.

The one criticism I have of the novel is how the main character, Keri is very difficult to sympathize with. She is judgmental, unforgiving, arrogant, short-sighted and all around a person that is very hard to like. She is incredibly inconsiderate of those in her life and completely unaware of the needs and desires of others. I spent the whole novel being amazed at her sense of entitlement and superiority. At the same time I found Keri's character trying, I also recognize that making her such an imperfect person, one who expects and has attained success it makes her daughter's illness all the more devastating and ultimately makes the novel much more dynamic and interesting.

Bebe Moore Campbell has always been good at creating characters and stories that are compelling and believable. Her characters jump off the page and feel like they could be people you know in your own life. 72 Hour Hold is no exception. It's a great read and excellent social commentary on an issue that doesn't receive near as much attention as it deserves.

Tamika Johnson is a freelance writer and owner of PrologueReviews.com. To read more reviews by Tamika Johnson or to receive or to have your book, music, or film reviewed visit http://www.prologuereviews.com

---

Review of Alicia Maldonado: A Mother Lost by Ardain Isma

This modern, aristocratic book portrays real-life events and how hard... Read More

James Martells Methods and Yahoo

In James Martell's Affiliate Handbook, he mentions that he focuses... Read More

Fire in the Ice: Book Review

"An excellent novel that will wring tears of frustration and... Read More

Review: Profit From The Author Inside You

I've reviewed a number of eBooks recently, and none of... Read More

The World is Flat - This Book by Thomas L Friedman has Taken the Online Entrepreneurs by Storm

The New York Times' columnist visits India often. I read... Read More

Author Releases Comprehensive Family History Book On The Family of JACKEL, JECKEL, IEKEL, YAKEL

When the topic of family history comes up, where do... Read More

Who Moved My Cheese? For Teens - AchieveMax® Top Ten Book Review

Who Moved My Cheese? For Teens by: Spencer Johnson, M.D.Spencer... Read More

Book Review: Christmas in Dairyland

Author/Publisher Christmas in Dairyland by LeAnn R. Ralph Published by... Read More

Metaphorically Selling

The Big IdeaA lot of people consider selling a very... Read More

Book review on Finite Capacity Scheduling, Part II

Now add ten more car wash trucks, with the corresponding... Read More

How to Survive Sudden Leadership Challenges - Covey Has Some Clues

I have decided to start with this text as simply... Read More

Nice Girls Don?t Get the Corner Office 101 - A Book Summary

Dr. Frankel clearly identifies the common mistakes ?101 in all-that... Read More

Book Summary: The 17 Indisputable Laws Of Teamwork

To achieve great things, you need a team. Building a... Read More

Druxel Manor - Book Review

"Druxel Manor is a stimulating thriller-mystery-romance novel that keeps the... Read More

The Rich Jerk Review: New Agressive and Effective Internet Marketing Methods for All

The Rich Jerk "Making Money on the internet is Easy"... Read More

Book Review: Seth Godin - All Marketers Are Liars

Let me start with a small disclaimer: I am a... Read More

Unspoken Dreams - Book Review

"Carol Bennett writes a stunning mystery-thriller. Her chilling entrance is... Read More

Book Review: Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands {How To Do Business In Sixty Countries}

Kiss, Bow, Or Shake Hands: How To Do Business In... Read More

Book Summary: Secrets of Word Of Mouth Marketing

Spread the word about your hot new product or company!Word-of-mouth... Read More

What Really Works - AchieveMax® Top Ten Book Review

If you watch television, read the newspaper and/or magazines, frequent... Read More

Fun Works - AchieveMax® Top Ten Book Review

Fun Works: Creating Places Where People Love to Work by... Read More

HIV-Muscles: This is the Title of a New Book about One Mans Battle with HIV

Today Lavaine is doing well and able to go about... Read More

Giving Feedback or Writing Reviews of Bad Stuff

Some book reviewers say that when they don't like a... Read More

Moon Child - Review

Moon Child by Simone Maroney is a larger sized adventure,... Read More

Albany, NY Family History Reference Now Available Thanks To Author Joseph Yakel

"Personal research references, especially for families who once lived in... Read More

Multi-talented Author Joseph Yakel Releases Both Historical and Comedy Works

Author Joseph Yakel is leading a two-pronged charge to provide... Read More

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince - A Review

If writing was a religion, it shall be easy to... Read More

Entrepreneurs Reach Record Income Levels Using New EBook on Adsense and Adword Techniques

The "Rich Jerk" has created quite a stir on the... Read More

Review for Broken Angel, by SW Vaughn

Broken Angel, by SW Vaughn, breathes with an insistent life... Read More

How Would You Move Mount Fuji? - AchieveMax® Top Ten Book Review

For a number of reasons, today's hiring managers from Wall... Read More

On the Brink of Risk - A Book You Wont Put Down

On the Brink of Risk is a fiction novel inspired... Read More

Be the Leader - AchieveMax® Top Ten Book Review

The author of Be the Leader: Make the Difference, a... Read More

Second Eden Book Review

"Carlton Austin has crafted a wonderful piece of work in... Read More