Review of Long Lankin

Oh, the doors were all bolted, oh, the windows were pinned, but at a small peep in the window Long Lankin crept in.

This Young Adult debut by Lindsey Barraclough takes place in England in 1958.  Cora finds herself and her little sister shipped off to live with their aunt in the country.  But their aunt is hiding a terrifying secret that could mean big trouble for Cora’s little sister Mimi.

This is a chilling horror story with several alternating narrators.  While the different voices can be a little confusing, it works very well for this story. The alternating narrators allow the readers to really understand the three main characters.  One of the narrators is the aunt and we get to see the many facets of her personality, instead of just the mean old woman everyone else sees.

Because the book takes place in England there are a lot of unfamiliar English words, but they are easy to figure out through context, and the unique dialogue and narration make it very authentic.

Though the story itself is about the supernatural, the characters and setting are very realistic and detailed.  The relationships between the characters are also very believable.  One really great thing about this book is the way the characters treat each other.  Cora is not always nice to her friends and family and though she loves her little sister, she uses bullying tactics to manage her.  We see all sides of the characters, and they are not always painted in the best light, making them all the more realistic.

This is a genuinely scary book.  The author describes many disturbing scenes, such as murder and kidnapping, but nothing graphic.  Tempering the scary tone of the book is the wonderful relationships between the characters that are just as absorbing as the plot.  Cora makes friends with Roger and Peter, two boys from a large family that live down the road.  The descriptions of their hectic and crowded lifestyle is funny and engaging. The dynamic between all the siblings rings very true.

The one complaint I have about this book is that Cora and Roger have to do historical research to find out who has been taking the local children.  The letters and historical documents are written in a dense manner and can be difficult to understand.  It is also hard to keep track of the different historical characters.

Despite this problem, I really liked the idea of using historical documents and research to solve a mystery, as you don’t often see this in young adult books.  There are also some scenes involving child abuse, made all the more disturbing because the adults in the book do nothing to stop it.  But because this book takes place in the fifties the adult reactions are realistic for the times.

I also liked that this book is not part of a series.  There is a conclusive and satisfying ending that won’t leave you hanging.  A refreshing approach in a time when series are very popular, especially in young adult novels.

This novel is a promising start for a new author and will have you waiting for the next book.

Sybil Exposed: The Extraordinary Story behind the Famous Multiple Personality Case

Written by Debbie Nathan
Call # E sy15n

Have you read the book Sybil or seen the movie? If so, you’ll know it’s a disturbing story of a severely abused woman who developed Multiple Personality Disorder.  But is it true? Journalist Debbie Nathan takes an in-depth look at the three women behind the Sybil controversy and the phenomenon of Multiple Personality Disorder in Sybil Exposed.

Debbie exposes the horrible and immoral treatments Dr. Wilbur used on Sybil and other patients.  The woman known as Sybil was treated with drugs she became strongly addicted to and electroshock therapy.  Sybil had false memories under hypnosis and drug treatments and created dozens of multiple personalities that she later confessed were fake.
What is interesting about this book is that the author explores the social reasons why so many women were coming forward claiming to have MPD.

Though this is a nonfiction book on a serious subject it is very well written and engrossing.  Because the subject matter is interesting it is easy and quick to read.  The research is very in depth and the author was able to speak to several residents of Sybil’s hometown.  She then compared their memories to the false memories of Sybil’s many personalities, making a clear and concise argument about the truth behind the Sybil story.

Because this is a serious topic and covers controversial and illegal psychiatric treatments some of the material can be upsetting.  The detailed descriptions of treatments and experiments are very disturbing.  There are also references to severe child abuse.

Though some of the information is upsetting it is also important.  The history of psychoanalysis and psychiatric treatment is fascinating and helps readers understand the history of psychiatry and gives insight into our mental health care system today.

If you’ve seen the movie based on Sybil and her multiple personalities or read the book, Sybil Exposed is an eye opening look at the real story behind them.  But you don’t have to have seen or read the original Sybil stories to understand and appreciate this book.  An engrossing read.