My Mother, Munchausen's and Me

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I am a lover of true stories (although I usually lean more towards true crime), I couldn't not pick up this book. I have always been fascinated with women who have Munchausen's (and Munchhausen's by proxy). Its a captivating topic and this book did not disappoint. Throw in some good old fashioned narcissism and you've got the makings of a great book.

This book could have been called: But she's my mother.....

Helen is a woman whose mother lied to her for decades feigning illness and gathering sympathies from a myriad of people in their lives. Even going so far as to cut out those who challenged her. Helens mother states she has ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis ("Chronic Fatigue Syndrome"), which severely limits her childhood as she is basically just a caretaker for her mother and the house as her mother cannot do normal activities such as housework. Over the years, after Helen marries and has kids, her mothers illness morphs into Parkinson's, which again sucks all the life from their relationship, this time ignoring the grandkids, using her more major illness as a excuse to not partake in their lives.

As the years tick by, Helen, starts to realize that her mother may be making up a lot of her symptoms. When she starts asking her mothers friends about this they respond by validating her suspicions. Even a nurse assigned to her mother says she's making it all up. The ME, the Parkinson's, its all been for show. To gain attention. She's a narcissist at her core. 

The revelation that her mother is a bold faced liar is almost too much. After her mother passes she able to read through her mothers journals that started in the 1960's and she that she's been obsessed with her health from a very early age. Even within her own journals she admits she's faking. 

I really enjoyed this book. It was sad, fascinating and a harrowing tale of a daughters devotion to her mother, only ending once she realized the horrific truth of her life. I would definitely read more by this author.