Rating: Summary: Thank you for all the support, affirmation and encouragement Review: I have been so moved by all the support, affirmation and encouragement that I have been receiving from people who have bought and read Willow Weep for Me. I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for their thoughtful comments. Writing this book, as you can imagine, was extremely difficult. I had never before placed myself in such a position of vulnerability. I had never allowed people to know just how much pain I had been going through in my emotional life. I just want to thank everyone who was touched by my words, by my story. This--the writing of the book, the connection with my readers--has been such a healing experience, and I feel so blessed and honored to have been given such a tremendous opportunity. Thank you so much.
Rating: Summary: I felt like I was reading my own life story! Review: I have been suffering from depression for longer than I care to admit. I grew up with a depressed mother who never sought help. I am about the same age as the author and have experienced many of the same things she has been through. I am still struggling with therapy, medications and trying to adjust to being a newly divorced single mom of a very sick little girl. I love to read and this is the first book I have read in a long time that I can truly relate to and find some hope for my future. I am so happy to know that I am not alone. I will try not to feel so guilty that I am not the strong black women that society has told me I need to be. This book has taught me that I am strong; strong enough to deal with this condition and keep moving forward.
Rating: Summary: Excellent, the author and her book are inspirational. Review: I heard Ms. Danquah speak about her life and her book at Delta Sigma Theta's National Convention. I immmediately bought the book and briefly spoke with Ms. Danquah about her experiences while she autographed my copy of her book. Once I started reading the book I couldn't put it down. It was excellent in two aspects because it will enlighten people who don't know what it's like to suffer from depression and for people that do suffer from depression they'll realize that others are suffering and surviving despite the illness. It teaches about the disease and what it feels like to live with it. It's message is important because so many Black women suffer alone with depression because of the fear of being stigmatized or because they don't have anyone to talk to about it. My sorority and people like Ms. Danquah are committed to helping women with depression know that there is hope and help available. It also displays Ms. Danquah's bravery and inner strength to tell her life story. Thank you, Ms. Danquah!
Rating: Summary: Eloquent and Passionate Memoir Review: I picked up this book at the suggestion of a very good friend who is well-versed on the dynamics of depression. Initially, I did not want to read it because I thought it would be, well, depressing. Therefore, it sat on my bookshelf for well over a year. How wrong I was! This book is searingly beautiful, and is also very empowering! Just by reading about Ms. Danquah's struggles with this illness made me want to make changes in my own life. Ms. Danquah's book, although it chronicles her serious, debilitating bouts with depression, is life-affirming and powerful! Willow Weep For Me is beautifully and eloquently written and speaks to the strength of this intelligent, articulate young woman who had the courage to bare her vunerability and to tell her remarkable story. God bless you, Ms. Danquah. You have given us all an extraordinary gift with your writing.
Rating: Summary: Eloquent and Passionate Memoir Review: I picked up this book at the suggestion of a very good friend who is well-versed on the dynamics of depression. Initially, I did not want to read it because I thought it would be, well, depressing. Therefore, it sat on my bookshelf for well over a year. How wrong I was! This book is searingly beautiful, and is also very empowering! Just by reading about Ms. Danquah's struggles with this illness made me want to make changes in my own life. Ms. Danquah's book, although it chronicles her serious, debilitating bouts with depression, is life-affirming and powerful! Willow Weep For Me is beautifully and eloquently written and speaks to the strength of this intelligent, articulate young woman who had the courage to bare her vunerability and to tell her remarkable story. God bless you, Ms. Danquah. You have given us all an extraordinary gift with your writing.
Rating: Summary: It is transforming my life Review: I read a review of this book in a magazine about two years ago and kept in stored in the back of my mind to read, mainly because it is titled after one of my favorite Billie Holliday songs, but also because it was the first book dealing with Black women and depression that I'd every seen. After a recent bout of depression, my therapist loaned me the book from the counseling center's library. Too depressed to do the hundred other things that were begging to be done after that session, I started reading the book, finishing it in about a day because I just couldn't believe that there was someone else out there who was hurting the way I was for as long as I had been. I had to know how it all turned out for her.The book gave me hope. Meri's story is very similar to mine (save the alcoholism and single parenthood). Her story gave me hope, answered my questions about the effectiveness of drug therapy, and showed me that while depression can be a chronic illness, it is not untreatable if one has courage and faith. I have been working a lot with some of the suggestions that she made in the book and have had a marked improvement in many areas of my life. I feel truly blessed to have read that book and I am grateful that Meri was humble enough to share her story with all of us sisters who have suffered in shame and silence. God bless her; God bless us.
Rating: Summary: A must read Review: I read this book after going through a bad break-up with my fiance. It's wonderful to read about a black woman being totally honest about her emotions, her illness and her reality. I appreciated Meri telling her story without wearing the "Superwoman" mask mainstream America forces on black women. This was an eye-opening book and it helped me to realize that I don't have to wear the superwoman mask. It inspired me to be brave enough to be honest about my own emotions and vulnerabilities! Black women and men should read this book, and everybody else should too! Dispel the myths!
Rating: Summary: Depression does not discriminate Review: I'm not giving a review I'm just voicing my opinion and concern, please don't get defensive, but all nationalities suffer from this illness; oh by the way, I'm African American, Black American etc. (which everyone is politically correct, you can use it) the point is, we all need help in realizing we are not alone with this illness that seems to break our spirit and leave us so hopeless. I'm sure this book is fabulous and I congratulate Ms. Meri Nana-Ama Danquah for sharing her story with all of us - exposing your vulnerability to anyone is not easy to do. We need to know we're not alone. God Bless & Thank you.
Rating: Summary: Thank You! Review: Ms. Danquah's book was eye-opening and somewhat scary because I could see a lot of myself in her struggle with depression. Fortunately for Ms. Danquah, she had friends that she could turn to who were also suffering from the same disease. She was not alone. Due to her personal experiences, I believe Ms. Danquah encourages those who suffer from depression to seek help, via, psychotherapy and medication. Do whatever you have to do to get healthy and stay alive. The financial pressure to get help can be outstanding, but it's worth it. Thank you, Ms. Danquah for your courage to share your life and your personal struggle with depression. You have given me hope. God bless you.
Rating: Summary: Oh boy! Is my fire lit! Review: Oh boy! Is my fire lit! My friend raved over this book. Couldn't put it down. Told me she wanted me to read it so bad, she'd buy me yet another gift. I came to this site on Amazon expecting to get depressed into oblivion and instead I'm lit up with fury. Still, I will buy this one and give this one as a gift. There are important issues in this work that we women, especially we black women, must address. I have only read the first chapter of Danquah's work and I already know its importance. I sat up in my bed and fire filled my soul. "I want the rest of this book!" I said. Before I can write my final review, I will have to read the rest of the book. But the part that has my embers glowing is her interpretation of the black woman's Strength Mystique. I teach this mystique. I am famous for saying, " Dig deep. Down in your soul, black girl. Grip Harriet Tubman, take Sojourner's hand and pull ! Pull them out. Let their power and strength raise you to the heavens. And then, conjure your own." Danquah appears to be attacking the Black Woman Power Mystique that I live by, that I depend on, that I interpret my Mama by, that I interpret in my world -- and all over a color -- a skin color -- that she seems to not find grace and power and strength in -- but a need to be vulnerable and emotional. No! I say no! Danquah's description is impeccable, don't get me wrong. Sistah can write. Bravo Danquah! You go gurl! Write your a*s off -'cause you good. But that don't mean I have to agree with your interpretation. And so far, I don't -- but I look forward to reading the rest of the book. I just ended a long stinch with depression that had gone on for years. I didn't even know I was depressed. What ended my depression and put me back on this lively track? Education. I read what I was feeling by other people. I chose my solutions. I chose plant estrogen, vitamins, minerals, exercise and St. John's Wort. I know I don't eat right. I know I don't move enough. So, I experienced an illness that I have to deal with. But it was the power and strength of the Black Woman Mystique that helped me to get up and at'em. No one in my village is going to let me victimize myself by constantly going over and over something. They have illness too. Soon, that is all we will be talking about. No Danquah! I am (black) woman, hear me ROAR! I like having strength --as purpose.
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