Hello dear Readers,
Below my book review of Group by Christie Tate.
Title: Group
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genre: Memoir/Mental Health
Author: Christie Tate
Publisher: Avid Reader Press
Publication Date: October 27, 2020
Publication Date: October 27, 2020
Language: English
Hardcover: 288 pages
Meet the Author: Christie Tate
Buy Me: Amazon
Meet the Author: Christie Tate
Buy Me: Amazon
Book Description
Christie Tate had just been named the top student in her law school class and finally had her eating disorder under control. Why then was she driving through Chicago fantasizing about her own death? Why was she envisioning putting an end to the isolation and sadness that still plagued her despite her achievements?
Enter Dr. Rosen, a therapist who calmly assures her that if she joins one of his psychotherapy groups, he can transform her life. All she has to do is show up and be honest. About everything—her eating habits, childhood, sexual history, etc. Christie is skeptical, insisting that that she is defective, beyond cure. But Dr. Rosen issues a nine-word prescription that will change everything: “You don’t need a cure. You need a witness.”
So begins her entry into the strange, terrifying, and ultimately life-changing world of group therapy. Christie is initially put off by Dr. Rosen’s outlandish directives, but as her defenses break down and she comes to trust Dr. Rosen and to depend on the sessions and the prescribed nightly phone calls with various group members, she begins to understand what it means to connect.
Group is a deliciously addictive read, and with Christie as our guide—skeptical of her own capacity for connection and intimacy, but hopeful in spite of herself—we are given a front row seat to the daring, exhilarating, painful, and hilarious journey that is group therapy—an under-explored process that breaks you down, and then reassembles you so that all the pieces finally fit.
Enter Dr. Rosen, a therapist who calmly assures her that if she joins one of his psychotherapy groups, he can transform her life. All she has to do is show up and be honest. About everything—her eating habits, childhood, sexual history, etc. Christie is skeptical, insisting that that she is defective, beyond cure. But Dr. Rosen issues a nine-word prescription that will change everything: “You don’t need a cure. You need a witness.”
So begins her entry into the strange, terrifying, and ultimately life-changing world of group therapy. Christie is initially put off by Dr. Rosen’s outlandish directives, but as her defenses break down and she comes to trust Dr. Rosen and to depend on the sessions and the prescribed nightly phone calls with various group members, she begins to understand what it means to connect.
Group is a deliciously addictive read, and with Christie as our guide—skeptical of her own capacity for connection and intimacy, but hopeful in spite of herself—we are given a front row seat to the daring, exhilarating, painful, and hilarious journey that is group therapy—an under-explored process that breaks you down, and then reassembles you so that all the pieces finally fit.
My Thoughts
I was a little hesitant to get into this one because it happened that a few days before I started it, my bookstagram was flooded with comments and reviews from people saying not really good things about it, and that they were not very happy with the book in general.
I have learned from my past mistakes, and decided to give it try nonetheless. I have learned that I rather form my own opinion that wonder why people did not like it. And once again, I am glad I did not give in into all the negativity from other people.
I can honestly say I really enjoyed Group. Christie Tate is a very unique and funny narrator. The way she presented herself. Everything on this book is not common or usual in the sense that Christie's story, and her experience with Therapy is so unique, that I loved.
I can completely understand why some people can perceive this book as dangerous, and not a very accurate representation of what therapy is, specially by Dr. Rosen actions, can be seen as very inappropriate and out of line, or like some people say, this book might prevent people from going to therapy or not have a good perception about it, however, I think, every person's experiences are different, this includes going to therapy, and we should not based Christie's experience on our own.
I appreciate the author's decision in sharing her story. I appreciate her honesty and openness. For me that is the value in Memoirs, that we can learn from other people's experience and relate somehow.