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I bought this book because I had a lifetime of blackouts and traumatic memories and was diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder which is the new term that has replaced Multiple Personality Syndrome. I have been reading different books of this nature to try to touch base with another individual who may have had the same experiences that I had and I needed to have that commonality. This book was written on a level that the everyday person can understand. It wasn't overcome with overwriting & medical jargon. It was written from both the psychiatrist's and patient's perspectives and it probably helped the individual get thru the writing of the book by doing it that way. I am attempting to write about my own life and because I have no steady structure to support me (such as the psychiatrist in "The Flock"), I am floundering around right now on the right direction to head with my story. Anyone interested in this book would also be interested in "When Rabbit Howls - The Truddi Chase Story", "Sybil" and "The Three Faces of Eve". The levels of explicit and graphic nature of the story and the most adult are "When Rabbit Howls" next being "Sybil" and the mildest with "The Three Faces of Eve". I was a little let down that there was not more intense, detailed history of her childhood. Something seemed to be lacking, but there was enough similiarities between some of our experiences that made me feel a kinship and keep reading it. It is simple and to the point without getting caught up in past history, just current events. Most of the story takes place once the woman has begun therapy and only touches very briefly on what may have caused her to be like that to begin with. You never really know for sure. If you like plain, simple and to the point stories, then "The Flock" is for you.Read full review
There is no good prototype to writing a book like this and about this subject--but I believe that The Flock may just provide one. A book about a Multiple Personality, in the days when Dissociative Identity Disorder was called Multiple Personality Disorder. This is an important distinction because people don't always make the connection--and often get this disorder confused with Schizophrenia or some other diagnosis. This book establishes just what MPD or DID is. It identifies it in a patient who in no way is leading Her therapist to the diagnosis. It involves a therapists forming a medical opinion and seeking the advice of an authority on the subject, in this case, Dr. Cornelia Wilbur who happened to be the therapist for "Sybil" the character based on a true life figure, adapted to book and screen. The subject of the book, Joan Francis Casey, comes to be diagnosed by Her therapist as having MPD/DID. Dr. Wilbur expresses in conference Her belief that this is a valid diagnosis. The book moves through as a series of journal entries by Joan Francis~vis a main Alter-Personality named Renee. Renee makes the journal entries on behalf of 'The Flock'. The patients' entries are followed and/or preceded by the therapists entries and observations of sometimes identical situations and occurance. The patient moves through a lot of classic denial behaviors as typical of psychiatric patients, and the therapists concomitant coming to a thorough realization of the patients patterns, and the need to confront them so that healing can displace acting out behavior. This book has not simply an ending but, multiple endings if you will. It is very happy/victorious, and tragic, and filled with incredible victories and equally formidable defeat. The victories are those that are utterly invisible to the observer. One who has lived through any psychic trauma will appreciate this book for encouragement and candor--and the interested reader browsing up on the subject will also--but the latter should not confuse this book with a textbook or definitive presentation of Multiple Personality Disorder. It is one incredibly brave and creative woman's story. It inspired Me and I reread it many times...it gives one much to consider...and makes one wish to be a better person-realizing how very much ones actions affect the rest of humanity. Read it, and Re-read it, and read Sybil also before and/or after. Dr. Schreiber's work: Sybil is a very good companion to this one. Finally, this is a good book for a book club I would suggest, and should be occasion for much lively dissection.Read full review
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