Wednesday Afternoon Discussion Group

Library : Boxford Town Library

Location : Adult Room Boxford Town Library, 7A Spofford Road Boxford, MA 01921, Boxford, MA, 01921

Start : Wednesday 25th of June 2025 1:00 PM

End : Wednesday 25th of June 2025 2:00 PM

Description :

In June, we will be discussing More or Less Maddy by Lisa Genova. Neuroscientist Genova, who has previously explored the ramifications of Alzheimer's, Huntington's disease, and ALS in fiction, now turns her gimlet eye to bipolar disorder. Maddy Banks is a sophomore in college at NYU, searching for her passion when she walks into a comedy club and discovers it. Maddy believes doing stand-up is her calling, but it also sets off a manic episode that leads her to believe Taylor Swift is looking to collaborate with her. Things come to a head when Maddy goes home to Connecticut for Thanksgiving and winds up hospitalized. Her diagnosis of bipolar disorder comes with a host of complications—medication that brings her mood crashing down, a persistent metallic taste, and skin issues and weight gain that affect her self-esteem. Maddy gradually balances out, but her fretful mother doesn't want her to return to stand-up, fearing it will trigger the whole syndrome again. Genova paints a realistic and often painful picture of the toll mental illness takes on both the affected person and loved ones, making for a visceral, harrowing, and undeniably powerful read. Booklist Welcome back to our afternoon book discussion group! Everyone is welcome and no registration is required. For more information, call or e-mail Beth Safford, Head of Reference, at esafford@boxfordlibrary.org. boxfordlibrary.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/wednesday-afternoon-discussion-group-11/