Synopses & Reviews
Growing up in the fifties, Carolyn Spiro was always in the shadow of her more intellectually dominant and social outgoing twin, Pamela. But as the twins approached adolescence, Pamela began to succumb to schizophrenia, hearing disembodied voices and eventually suffering many breakdowns and hospitalizations.
Divided Minds is a dual memoir of identical twins, one of whom faces a life sentence of schizophrenia, and the other who becomes a psychiatrist, after entering the spotlight that had for so long been focused on her sister. Told in the alternating voices of the sisters, Divided Minds is a heartbreaking account of the far reaches of madness, as well as the depths of ambivalence and love between twins. It is a true and unusually frank story of identical twins with very different identities and wildly different experiences of the world around them. "This harrowing but arresting memoir--written in alternating voices by identical twins, now in their 50s--reveals how devastating schizophrenia is to both the victim and those who love her."--Publishers Weekly starred review "[A] riveting memoir . . . Divided Minds does a remarkable job of interpreting [a] hellish realm."--People, three stars "[Divided Minds] successfully yields compelling insights on familial bonds and the ravaging effects of mental illness on family."--Library Journal "The combination of first-person narratives provides an unusually well-rounded portrait of schizophrenia."--Kirkus
Review
"This harrowing but arresting memoir--written in alternating voices by identical twins, now in their 50s--reveals how devastating schizophrenia is to both the victim and those who love her."--Publishers Weekly starred review "[A] riveting memoir . . . Divided Minds does a remarkable job of interpreting [a] hellish realm."--People, three stars "[Divided Minds] successfully yields compelling insights on familial bonds and the ravaging effects of mental illness on family."--Library Journal "The combination of first-person narratives provides an unusually well-rounded portrait of schizophrenia."--Kirkus
Synopsis
A riveting true story of sisters who were identical, until the voices began
Growing up in the fifties, Carolyn Spiro was always in the shadow of her more intellectually dominant and socially outgoing twin, Pamela. But as the twins approached adolescence, Pamela began to suffer the initial symptoms of schizophrenia, hearing disembodied voices that haunted her for years and culminated during her freshman year of college at Brown University where she had her first major breakdown and hospitalization. Pamelas illness allowed Carolyn to enter the spotlight that had for so long been focused on her sister. Exceeding everyones expectations, Carolyn graduated from Harvard Medical School and forged a successful career in psychiatry.
Despite Pamelas estrangement from the rest of her family, the sisters remained very close, “bonded with the twin glue,” calling each other several times a week and visiting as frequently as possible. Carolyn continued to believe in the humanity of her sister, not merely in her illness, and Pamela responded.
Told in the alternating voices of the sisters, Divided Minds is a heartbreaking account of the far reaches of madness as well as the depths of ambivalence and love between twins. It is a true and unusually frank story of identical twins with very different identities and wildly different experiences of the world around them. It is one of the most compelling histories of two such siblings in the canon of writing on mental illness.
Synopsis
Growing up in the fifties, Carolyn Spiro was always in the shadow of her more intellectually dominant and social outgoing twin, Pamela. But as the twins approached adolescence, Pamela began to succumb to schizophrenia, hearing disembodied voices and eventually suffering many breakdowns and hospitalizations.
Divided Minds is a dual memoir of identical twins, one of whom faces a life sentence of schizophrenia, and the other who becomes a psychiatrist, after entering the spotlight that had for so long been focused on her sister. Told in the alternating voices of the sisters, Divided Minds is a heartbreaking account of the far reaches of madness, as well as the depths of ambivalence and love between twins. It is a true and unusually frank story of identical twins with very different identities and wildly different experiences of the world around them.
About the Author
PAMELA SPIRO WAGNER is a writer and poet living in Wethersfield, Connecticut. She is the winner of the 1993 Connecticut Mental Health Media Award, Tunxis Poetry Review First Prize for three consecutive years, and the 2002 BBC International Poetry Award. Her work has appeared in
The Hartford Courant, Tikkun, Trinity Review, Midwest Poetry Review, and
LA Weekly. CAROLYN S. SPIRO, M.D., is a private practice psychiatrist and writer living in Wilton, Connecticut. Pamela and Carolyn worked together for three years on
Divided Minds.
Reading Group Guide
1. Before reading this book what did you think schizophrenia was? What do you think it is now?
2. The “crowns incident” was significant for both twins. How did this theme play out in the rest of the book? Talk about how childhood events, seemingly meaningless, can form and change you for the rest of your life.
3. It seems that Pam first experienced symptoms in 1963 when JFK was killed. If she had told her parents, teachers or Lynnie, how do you think they would have handled it at that time?
4. Carolyn reacted very differently, both to JFKs death and to adolescence in general. Do you think her response was “normal”?
5. How would you interpret the twins experience of Gray Crinkled Paper? Is it only another one of Pams delusions, or could it have a greater spiritual or metaphorical significance?
6. Treatment of schizophrenia has changed a great deal since the 60s although there is still a terrible stigma attached to having this illness. What do you think should be done to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness?
7. This book was written in part to help others understand the experience of schizophrenia both from the viewpoint of the sufferer and the sibling. Has it succeeded? Why?
8. Carolyn becomes a psychiatrist while Pam gets sicker. Why doesnt she treat Pam herself? Do you think family members should treat their own siblings or children? Why or why not?
9. What role does writing play in Pams life? Do you think it is true that madness and creativity go hand in hand?
10. From your own experience, what do you think of the current state of mental health care? Is it adequate? What changes would you make?