Rating: 
Summary: There but for the grace of God . . .
Review: There but for the grace of God . . . goes any sincere, hard working, well meaning, struggling middle class parent. Shaw's phrase "too true to be good" comes to mind. This is a harrowing story, full of those little details that make it so real and punctuate the enormity of the situation the author faces and describes. It is every parent's nightmare come true, and only the hardest heart could fail to feel for the author, her daughter, and the rest of her family.Relieved of about 100 pages, this would be an excellent book. As is, the book, like its author's anguish, just seems to go on and on and on, sinking at times to grim and somewhat fatiguing repetition. I read this as a possible book to assign to my college class, and I had to conclude that many of my students would be reluctant to plow through all of it.My advice to would-be readers? If you have had to deal with a very troubled teen, then run, don't walk, to obtain and read this book. For the rest of us, if you are a fast reader and/or have plenty of time, give it a try, as it is a very good and worthwhile book. If you are a slow reader, or if your reading time is limited, you might want to consider the "opportunity cost" of investing your time here. I enjoyed it, but I might have spent the time better.One thing for all readers--and the author--to bear in mind (and I speak as a psychologist): In all probability, nothing the author did, and nothing the author failed to do, was primarily responsible for her daughter's plight. That may be the hardest thing to accept, and/or the greatest relief in a miserable situation; but it is definitely one of the most important lessons of the book. My hat is off to the author for having the courage to write and share her story. There but for the grace of God . . . .
Rating: 
Summary: A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Courage
Review: There's an old country music song (I forget which one) where a seasoned singer tells the wannabe singer that writing and singing songs is easy, that, "son, all you have to do is make folks feel the way you do."Anyone who's ever bothered to attempt to tell a story in song or on the page knows how difficult this communication can be, but Martha Tod Dudman makes her readers truly understand the pain and love and confusing paradox that comes with raising a child who is in dire emotional straits. Dudman shows her readers the other side of the mirror of books like Girl, Interrupted--the pain and profound frustration of watching your daughter vanish. Of watching her harm herself. And of trying anything and everything to save her. Martha Tod Dudman is unflinching in her honesty and Augusta, Gone is told in a prose that is flinty and hard-won. It is a book that should be on the shelves of parents and psychiatrists (along with Mary Pipher's Reviving Ophelia) and anyone who has a child or loves children. Augusta, Gone is a wonderful and rare book full of love and grit and great integrity.
Rating:
Summary: Today we are the same
Review: This book has moved me so much in alot of ways. I can read this book over and over again. I got plenty of my friends to read the book and they feel the same. Many mothers and daughters are like Augusta and her mother today. I compared myself to her many times and thought how her mom was like my mom.Who just wanted to love so much and try to understand how our lives are going and what were trying to accomplish. I feel that every young girl should read this book and in little ways everyone relates to it. I don't recomend this book to boys though, not many could at all relate to it even though young boys do also have there trouble's. There will come a day I know that I will be albe to talk to my mother about things I cant right now. I'm guess im in one of those stages that I feel like she wouldnt understand and that she couldnt take hearing about my troubled problems.
Rating: 
Summary: Poignant retrospective/Lacking specific info!
Review: This book was recommended to me at this time during desperate moments with my "young"adult daughter! Scanning it, as time is short, I wonder if others would have appreciated more specifics naming, for instance, the educational consultant who became so very important in the end result! When one is faced with a post-teen who still exhibits symptoms of eating disorder, sporadic drug use, lack of conscience, trouble with the "law", etc.,any NAMES of people or places to contact is vital when all avenues have seemed to be exhausted!
Rating:
Summary: One question
Review: This is is a magnificient book, superbly written, that will be a help to many parents. It seemed strange that the only anti-depressant medications mentioned are ones being used illicitly by the kids in the local school. I'm not saying that they would have worked, but usually after several suicide attempts the question of Prozac arises. When someone says "I don't feel good" but "Nursie says I'm not sick" then clinical depression might be a possibility. It is so compulsively readable that I finished it rapidly so perhaps I missed something. It is mentioned that Augusta is fearful of being treated with drugs at Forest Ridge.
Rating:
Summary: Tear Jerking and Breath Taking
Review: This was the most amazing book I have ever read! My name is Trystin and here is my story. Im a sixteen year old girl who cared about no one except myself. I was into sneaking out and hanging out in all the places I was forbidden to. I was into all the things Agusta was into and it landed me in a youth program. Now im happy and love my mother and after reading the book I understood my moms point of view. This book I belive has helped me turn around and become the person every one knew I was. This is the best book ever read. Trystin-Oregon
Rating:
Summary: honest, thought-provoking
Review: We can be thankful that Martha Tod Dudman is honest and articulate. The result is a book that you want to think about and discuss. However, compared to other readers, I have a very different take on this book. Maybe it's because I have been much luckier with my daughters, or because I'm a guy. But whatever the reason, I wanted to shake the author and say, "Wake up! You are in an abusive relationship. Defend yourself!" One of the most poignant anecdotes is where she describes how she makes lunches for her daughter, but her daughter does not eat them. And yet her daughter insists that "you have to make my lunch. You have to." I want the mother to say, "No, I don't have to make your lunch if you're not going to eat it. Lunch is food. It is not something I make for you just because I crave your approval." Instead, the mother goes on making lunches. I am not suggesting that by changing her behavior the mother could have made one iota of difference in how her daughter turned out. But I am disturbed that neither the author nor many of the other readers of this book recognize the distinction that I see between loving your daughter and giving her total power over you. If we are going to celebrate this as an exemplary mother-daughter relationship, then we should celebrate women who tolerate and submit to abusive husbands as exemplary, also. Instead, I would hope that we could encourage parents to be more assertive with their children.
Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended!!!
Review: We thought Martha Todd Dudman created a profound example of the anguish as well as triumph in a very deep, penetrating analysis of the complex mother/daughter dynamic. Our entire group thought the book was very well written, believable, and had heart. Though we were in agreement that although it was a writing achievement technically-fast-paced and clean-we thought it ended far too soon. She certainly left us wanting more! Interestingly enough, our conversation did not so much surround the story itself, but turned immediately into a psychological review. Analyzing the characters behavior was a primary focus rather than the actual storyline. We thought it gutsy to share the emotional reality of motherhood that some of us would never admit. The faults, the shame, and the guilt were on every page. We examined her intrinsically and found she had many faults-possibly just making her very human. On the other hand, we thought she was well aware that her career pulled her away from her needy children, yet did little to change that. We also thought she walked when she should have talked. We felt Martha's emotional distress caused more grief and created a larger wedge between herself and Augusta. When the seriousness of Augusta's situation came finally sank in, Martha was already too emotionally spent and immediately threw down a gauntlet, pushing Augusta into further resentment and delinquency. As far as Augusta goes, we figured what teenager HAS the coping mechanisms to deal with such a violent emotional time as puberty? This alone, made it difficult for us to judge her behavior. We thought she made mistakes, of course, but that is a time in life when we are immature, invincible adults! It is a natural process of growing up. Yes, she was terrible to her mother and physically abusive to herself, but thankfully, Martha loved her so much to stick it through and try to find solutions. We thought Augusta is lucky to have had the opportunities she did to regain her sanity, which many people do not. Overall, we thought Martha was a good mother and Augusta was a good 'kid' both of who made mistakes. The reality is, they are both still here to talk about it. Success! Fabulous read! Looking forward to the next 'Dudman' - will it be a work of fiction next time?
Rating:
Summary: Augusta Gone Review
Review: When I first picked up the book I did not know that the story was going to mostly be about Martha and how she felt, I thought that it was going to be about how her daughter felt also. When I started reading it I thought that Martha¡¯s style of writing was very unique. Martha Dudman had different kind of writing that I was not used to. I found that she seemed to shout at you through the pages, she spoke straight from her heart. And it made me appreciate the true story a great deal. As the chapters go on and on I found that Martha dragged on a little too much in parts of the book that I was less interested in and she could have gone into more detail in parts that I as the reader wanted to know more about. I feel that this is a story that every mother and daughter should read. As a 17 year old girl I feel that this was a story that many adolescence¡¯s and parents could learn a great deal from. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone!
Rating:
Summary: Moving & Emotional
Review: When I first picked up this book, I did not know if it would be about Martha Dudman or her daughter. I found a wonderful symbiosis of both of their experiences and how it affects the author, which would be the true meaning of a memoir. Martha Dudman tells her tale in true, flowing thought; and her use of metaphors and descriptive language is succinct. I could not put it down. I was crying, laughing and wanting to give my own two cents throughout the entire book. The author does not try to analyze or offer explanations, she simply tells her story as it happened. It is a riveting tale of woe and hardship; and the reader feels the pain and helplessness of the author. I loved it and I would definitely recommend it.
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