{"product_id":"9781909770683-my-mother-munchausens-and-me","title":"My Mother, Munchausen's and Me","description":"\u003cmeta content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\" http-equiv=\"Content-Type\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA true story of betrayal and a shocking family secret\u003cbr\u003eTen years ago, Helen Naylor discovered that her mother, Elinor, had been faking debilitating illnesses for thirty years. Everything Helen knew about herself and her upbringing was founded on a lie. My Mother, Munchausen's and Me delves into the complex world of family bonds, mental illness and explores the nature of truth and identity.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAs seen on \u003ci\u003eThis Morning\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eThere was a time when I loved my mother. It's shocking to imply that I stopped loving her because mothers always love their children and always do their best for them. Mothers are supposed to be good.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e But my mother wasn\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e't good.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTen years ago, Helen Naylor discovered her mother, Elinor, had been faking debilitating illnesses for thirty years. After Elinor's self-induced death, Helen found her diaries, which Elinor wrote daily for over fifty years. The diaries reveal not only the inner workings of Elinor's twisted mind and self-delusion, but also shocking revelations about Helen's childhood.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEverything Helen knew about herself and her upbringing was founded on a lie. The unexplained accidents and days spent entirely on her own as a little girl, imagining herself climbing into the loft and disappearing into a different world, tell a story of neglect. As a teenager, her mother's advice to Helen on her body and mental health speaks of dangerous manipulation.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith Elinor's behaviour becoming increasingly destructive, and Helen now herself a mother, she was left with a stark choice: to collude with Elinor's lies or be accused of abandoning her. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eMy Mother, Munchausen's and Me\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e is a heart-breaking, honest and brave account of a daughter unravelling the truth about her mother and herself. It's a story of a stolen childhood, mental illness, and the redemptive power of breaking a complex and toxic bond.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhat readers are saying about \u003ci\u003eMy Mother, Munchausen's and Me\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'\u003cb\u003eAn absolute roller coaster ride of emotions!!!!\u003c\/b\u003e. \u003cb\u003eheartbreaking\u003c\/b\u003e. \u003cb\u003eclear your schedules\u003c\/b\u003e as \u003cb\u003eyou won't be able to put it down\u003c\/b\u003e. It will leave you absolutely shocked . If you read one biography this year \u003cb\u003emake sure this is the one!!!\u003c\/b\u003e. \u003cb\u003eI LOVED it\u003c\/b\u003e.' \u003ci\u003eBookworm86\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'I cannot even. \u003cb\u003eAbsolutely blew my mind\u003c\/b\u003e. \u003cb\u003ecried buckets of tears\u003c\/b\u003e.' NetGalley reviewer\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'\u003cb\u003eWow just wow\u003c\/b\u003e. fascinating. \u003cb\u003eheart wrenching\u003c\/b\u003e. \u003cb\u003eabsolutely unreal\u003c\/b\u003e. \u003cb\u003eMy heart absolutely broke\u003c\/b\u003e for Helen. \u003cb\u003eincredibly moving\u003c\/b\u003e.' \u003ci\u003eBooksandcoffeewithlexi\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'\u003cb\u003eAbsolutely amazing. I was hooked from the first page!\u003c\/b\u003e. gave so many insights and relatable experiences. such a good book!' Goodreads reviewer\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'A \u003cb\u003efascinating\u003c\/b\u003e account.' \u003ci\u003eThe Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'\u003cb\u003eI devoured this book in a couple sittings\u003c\/b\u003e as \u003cb\u003eI was\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cb\u003ecaptivated right from the beginning\u003c\/b\u003e. \u003cb\u003egripping\u003c\/b\u003e.' Goodreads reviewer\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'I seriously don't know where to start. \u003cb\u003eI'm absolutely staggered\u003c\/b\u003e. \u003cb\u003eastounding and heartbreaking\u003c\/b\u003e.' \u003ci\u003eBook.lover67\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'\u003cb\u003eMy heart broke\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003cb\u003e I was hooked throughout this entire read\u003c\/b\u003e.emotional and eye opening.' Goodreads reviewer\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'\u003cb\u003eGenuinely left me flabbergasted\u003c\/b\u003e. It was \u003cb\u003ea complete page turner\u003c\/b\u003e. really opens your eyes.' Goodreads reviewer\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'\u003cb\u003eWow. I did not want to put this down\u003c\/b\u003e.consumed much of my thoughts in the past few days\u003cb\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003ewhat a powerful story.' \u003ci\u003eBitesbooksbrews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'\u003cb\u003eEye opening\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003cb\u003edifficult to put down\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003cb\u003ewonderful\u003c\/b\u003e.' \u003ci\u003eLittle Miss Book Lover 87\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rarewaves","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39654837059681,"sku":"9781909770683","price":10.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0092\/7504\/8033\/files\/orig_28274683.jpg?v=1722499149","url":"https:\/\/www.rarewaves.com\/products\/9781909770683-my-mother-munchausens-and-me","provider":"Rarewaves.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}