Gorilla and the Bird: A Memoir of Madness and a Mother’s Love by Zack McDermott
Where to find this book at Reed Memorial Library:
- Adult Non-Fiction
- Call number: 616.895 M143
- View it on our catalog
Librarian Katie from Adult Services has another recommendation for us, this time with Gorilla and the Bird: A Memoir of Madness and a Mother’s Love by Zack McDermott. Keep reading to get the scoop on this hard-hitting and insightful memoir.
Although titled The Gorilla and the Bird, this memoir is actually about humans. “This book explores the experience of twenty-something public defender Zack, whose life is changed by a psychotic break,” Katie explains. “It explores his experience with bipolar disorder and the way his mother remains by his side as his advocate and best friend through it all.” The title references their affectionately-given nicknames: Zack, the gorilla, and his mother, the bird.
This book is a noteworthy to Katie because she says, “I liked the first person account of living with mental illness and the open, honest conversation about how many aspects of his life were changed.” Readers who are interested in biographies/memoirs and mental illness will definitely want to check this one out.
Thanks for the recommendation, Katie!
Sincerely, Cornelius 