What She Left Behind: A Haunting and Heartbreaking Story of 1920s Historical Fiction Paperback – December 31, 2013

Great author keeps you from putting the book down until and after it has been read.

"What She Left Behind" reminded me of being in high school and reading "Flowers in The Attic". A real nail biter of a book, that is hard to put down. Fortunately, I was only fifteen when I read "Flowers In The Attic", and it was a grand experience for a young person like myself who had not read that many novels yet. At 45, I can appreciate the page turning aspects of a book like "What She Left Behind", but must also point out that it is hardly elevated literature. In no way am I trying to sound snobby. I finished this book in less than a week, which is unusual for me. It is indeed a compelling read, and hard to put down. It flows along nicely, and never gets off track. This author has a flare for writing suspenseful chapters. I admired the subject matter of the book very much, and always appreciate even the slightest bit of light being shed on anything that has to do with mental illness. So I indeed recommend this book.Having said that, I must confess that there are issues here that may be problematic for some. I will not go so far as to say this book is amateurish, but will say that it probably would appeal more to a younger female audience than any other. Both of the main characters are young females. One of them has her story portrayed in the 1930's, and the other the 1990's. This formula is starting to get tiresome at this point, as it seems nearly every other book I read has two separate stories taking place with decades in between them. Orphan Train, The Pieces We Keep, Water For Elephants, Sarah's Key, Those Who Save Us, to name a few. Often times one of the stories will be great but not the other, which is confounding to me, as a good story does not need to be anchored with a happy ending that takes place fifty years later, at least not to me.Clara, the main character from the 1930's has a big problem. She's been wrongfully committed to an asylum. This nightmarish experience is riveting, and at times gasp inducing. I was on the edge of my seat and sincerely experienced the "cringe" factor on numerous occasions while reading about her experience in such a God awful place. How authentic of a story this is I couldn't say. I know that the portrayal of asylums through most of the twentieth century are not usually ones that will make you think about butterflies resting on newly opened daffodils. This story does not break any new ground in that I believe most of us have had numerous encounters with reading or viewing a story about someone being trapped in an asylum against their will. Still, it is compelling to read about if for no other reason than to help purge our own fears about such a horror happening to us. The nature of what seemingly occurred at one time in these places, is truly unfathomable to me, but then, so is what happened during the Holocaust. Though sometimes certain subjects can become redundant, I believe that these Evil's that human beings are capable of need not be forgotten, as I'm a true believer that we are in fact doomed to repeat such atrocities if we don't keep reminding ourselves. Though Clara's story is not written in the most skillful fashion, it is written in a manner that keeps your interest, and stirs your emotions.Meanwhile the story of Izzy in 1995 is not quite as interesting, nor is the connection between her and Clara. However, a different set of life circumstances is pondered during Izzy's story, albeit not particularly original either. Izzy has grown up in foster care trying to survive with the knowledge that her Mom killed her Dad when she was a young girl. She wrestles with knowing that her Mom is committed to a psychiatric facility, and subsequently lives fearful of mental illness, what might cause it, and if she eventually may fall victim to it. This had the potential to be explored much further than it was, and I believe is a relatable fear to many people, but the author steers away and instead focuses too much on Izzy's experience with trying to fit in at a new school and make new friends, and the crush that she has on a boy that is in a relationship with a "mean girl". Again, the author's talent for writing suspenseful scenes is on full display, and in fact a scene where a group of kids who get together at night and scope out an abandoned asylum will have you hard pressed to stop reading.For me wanting to keep reading is first and foremost as to if a book is good. This book is good. The other elements, writing style, language use, etc..I can ignore if I feel like I'm learning something, and I'm being entertained. I feel that a letter grade or star grade is not possible for this novel. For me it deserves and A for storytelling, and C for not rising above the many cliche's contained in these two characters stories.

Loved this book.

I got this book because the authors previous book "the life she was given" was the book that got me back into reading as an adult. That all said, I was very disappointed in this book. It seems unfinished/ rushed, including a few big errors in the story, it tells us a big part of a characters story and then 2 chapters later it changes what happend and how that character acted, with no explanation or reasoning. Also TW it used sa alot, like alot, alot. I wouldn't mind it if it was tactful, (and in some cases it is used tactfully) but it's used for almost every other character and seems like it is being used to be used in some of the cases. One of the romances also seems forced / doesn't make sense to me. However it did keep me intrigued and kept me on my toes, it also does have a happyish ending, which is not common with this author. If you intrigued get it, however I suggest looking at this authors previous works if this your first time encountering her one of her books.

Wow what a story. Simply phenomenal.I picked this book up Tuesday night late. Just finished on Friday night. This author's work will keep you glued to the pages.A book on duel time Lines.1929.1995.I loved Clara's Character in the story.This story is one that will most definitely pull on your heart strings. So many things that happen to the people in this story definitely sad.This book actually brought tears to my eyes a few times. Sad suff.But such a wonderful story.I will say I absolutely loved the ending.I simply didn't see any of that coming.I truly enjoyed this book .

Ellen Marie Wiseman Triumphs with What She Left BehindMary E. Latela, May 20, 2016Two young women, born sixty years apart, cross paths in almost amazing coincidences. When your resources are books – when you never speak to people who are in the institutions, as staff or as patients, your characters can not breathe. Otherwise they will be like pressed flowers, sharing a similar fate. Clara, the daughter of well-to-do parents is pledged to a young man of promise. In other words, her marriage was pre-arranged. Instead, she falls for attractive, handsome Bruno, an Italian immigrant whose family crafts shoes. He is plain-spoken; unsophisticated. Ethan is the man her parents have chosen …sophisticated, but more importantly, very, very wealthy.Izzy is the 20th century Clara, who has suffered loss and death, and been moved from foster home to foster home, lamenting that she doesn’t seem to fit in anywhere. When she moves yet again to a school where name-calling and teasing reign, she fears the worst. When the other girls learn she is an orphan, they torment her with ugly talk. They tell her that her mother is in prison for killing her father, an out-of-control wannabee who abused wife and children.In a questionable decision, the new foster parents bring Izzy to work at their museum on a study of the now defunct mental hospital, a project which both fascinates and frightens Izzy.Stereotypes are, of course, fictional beings, so much like paper dolls that they take us by surprise, and if taken to extremes they weigh too heavily upon the reader. Izzy finds out the details of the crime which sent her mother to prison. She learns what life is like in a state mental hospital. She is led to believe that her mother may still be alive. She gets absolutely no help in sorting out her sad home life.Author Ellen Marie Wiseman is a superb storyteller, who indicates her sources, several weighty books on life in the state institution. The problem with using books is that the characters may be flat, like pressed flowers, all having similar range of emotions. One wishes she had conversed with some current staff or patients from the state facilities.As a former mental health worker in a state hospital, I did see horrible practices, but the decision was made, thank goodness, to “close the swamp.” The dismantling of the sturdy, filthy old buildings took time.Wiseman trips lightly over sexual abuse, starvation, and girls enduring pregnancy without treatment. This is not a light topic. Either you write about it deeply, or you write briefly but respectfully. This is the tip of the iceberg. When persons with mental illness were treated like naughty children, the “caregivers” worked for the paycheck only. They frightened the patients.In What She Left Behind, all the doctors seem to act like perverts, and there is no one to talk to. When Clara’s father sent her to the hospital, he thought he was punishing her, perhaps that she would snap out of her stubbornness, but she did not. She became more determined to speak up, to speak out for others, to roam the hallways looking for signs of life, hoping that her estranged mother would be in the shadows. Many of the caregivers were simple people, capable of following orders but intimidated by the doctors and nurses. Some of the doctors were blatantly inappropriate, but some few were professional, caring practitioners.Ellen Marie Wiseman’s book is a serious, rich, thorough novel, and she states that her purpose is to address what it feels like to be imprisoned by your parents in a mental hospital. And she has done that - superbly. Besides those women who folded into themselves, others fought their caregivers, and some died. Even those girls who had no mental illness could not help but fall apart in this dismal setting.I strongly recommend this fine, elegantly crafted novel, to those who work in healthcare or in social work. For novelists, it is a treat full of excellent writing. This critical topic confronts people in our own time, and we need to prevent abuse from destroying fragile souls.

I experienced so many emotions when reading this book, I won’t forget this one ! I couldn’t stop reading, Clara felt real to me, tragic and inspirational. Wiseman is also my favourite author, she never disappoints.

I couldn’t put this book down, it was a real page turner! Beautifully written and full of emotion, sadness and moments of joy. It illustrated the total horror of Mental institutions and the lack of understanding around mental health and man’s cruelty towards their fellow human beings.

An intriguing book about two women, one sent to an asylum and another living with a foster family, both coming to grips with their lives. Heartbreaking and hopeful this book deals with the state of asylums and bullying, and with the strength of the characters who endure and find hope and joy at the end. A wonderful story.

I enjoy this book as a good read but at the same time a little sad about the conditions that were endure by people who needed help and compassion. I know that the character was fictional but I really felt for her and what she went through.

Two interesting characters stories skilfully entwined. Unsettlingly story based on true stories from the fairly recent past. Believable characters of real interest.