Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD.
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
108 posts | 108 read | 3 reading | 72 to read
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
blurb
DieAReader
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image

#Two4Tuesday

1. My husband & my family

2. The Kolker family🏷️

TheSpineView Thanks for playing!🌞 4mo
DieAReader @TheSpineView ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 4mo
30 likes2 comments
review
Breanne1
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image
Pickpick

This was an excellent true story about a family of 12 where half of the siblings (all brothers) have schizophrenia. The toll this has on the family, the victims there were as a result; all had the possibility of making this story seem hopeless. Yet it was hopeful! I hope pharma and others continue the path to understanding this disease and finding safe treatment.
Book #30 of 2024

Soubhiville @Yenya1954 this might be the book you were told about. 6mo
Yenya1954 I believe you‘re correct. It‘s on my TBR list 6mo
9 likes2 comments
review
DieAReader
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image
Pickpick

#BookSpinBingo #ReadAway2024 #Wardens2024 #ReadMyRoom

🤯What a phenomenal read! Probably one of my favourites this year for sure!

TEArificbooks I just started watching the hbo documentary based on the book I read the book too. Very interesting 7mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 7mo
DieAReader @TEArificbooks Fantastic!! I‘m looking forward to watching it❤️‍🔥 7mo
See All 9 Comments
DieAReader @TheAromaofBooks ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 7mo
CoverToCoverGirl Awesome!🙂 6mo
DieAReader @CoverToCoverGirl 🤓❤️‍🔥Miss u my friend🫂 6mo
CoverToCoverGirl @DieAReader life stuff again. I‘ll be spamming you with a lot of reviews soon though. I‘m always reading. Hope all is well with you and Kevin. ♥️♥️ 6mo
DieAReader @CoverToCoverGirl 🤓📚Awesome! Looking forward to it. We are doing ok, life is life🙄 but we do the best we can🫂 Hugs to you & Dale as well❤️‍🔥 6mo
CoverToCoverGirl @DieAReader thanks hun.💙 6mo
46 likes9 comments
blurb
mcctrish
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image

Lights are FINALLY done. I wanted more and the last few years I‘ve forgotten or not bothered to get out and get them after Christmas on sale 🤦🏻‍♀️ this year I decided enough is enough EXCEPT there are now 3 kinds of white - white, warm white and antique white. My original are warm white but now even antique white is brighter than them UGH! I may actually be buying MORE lights after Christmas or labeling these somehow to mix them up for next yr

Cortg Yep! I have bright white around my porch and more of a gold white on my bushes. I might have to break down and get more lights and give the others away. Your tree looks great! 13mo
Tamra I share your OCD tendency for matching. 😂 Anything hanging that is crooked drives me nuts too. (edited) 13mo
mcctrish @Cortg WHY do they keep making new whites?! We had to buy new outside lights and the bright white killed me so I switched to red - I want warm light not GMC high beams 13mo
See All 8 Comments
mcctrish @Tamra YES!!!! This tree has got a crook in it so it looks like it‘s leaning from one vantage point and I can‘t look at it from there - my father in law came over and saw it, commented and then offered to help take it down and recut it “no thanks, just go home “ 13mo
Tamra @mcctrish 🤣 13mo
marleed Oh my gosh, that‘s interesting. I put out Christmas decor, but haven‘t put up a tree in years and now I realize it was before white lights came in vibrancy options. 13mo
mcctrish @marleed I do not understand why we need vibrancy options 🤷🏻‍♀️ 13mo
AllDebooks That's a beautiful tree 😍 13mo
38 likes8 comments
blurb
mcctrish
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image

My next audio book

41 likes2 stack adds
review
eanderson
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image
Pickpick

Such a heartbreaking but fascinating listen while walking a lot. My heart goes out to the families affected by this illness! 🥺

review
Blueberry
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image
Mehso-so

3 ⭐.
Lots of incredible research into schizophrenia but too many triggers for me.

Prairiegirl_reading It‘s not an easy read for sure. 1y
62 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
JoeMo
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image
Pickpick

This was a heartbreaking work of nonfiction about a family that was devastated by mental illness. In addition to the gripping personal story of the family, I was impressed by how much I learned about the history of how culture and the scientific community viewed mental health. I highly recommend this!

#bookspinbingo. @TheAromaofBooks

currentlyreadinginCO Agree with your review! 1y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 1y
32 likes2 stack adds2 comments
blurb
CuriousG
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image

30 book recommendations in 30 days...

Day 22: A fascinating read. There was so much to think about and how complicated life must have been for every single individual in this family. I read it awhile ago so I can't remember the exact content warnings to give, but I remember that abuse was involved in some way, along with the significant mental health concerns, and other very difficult topics as well. #30recsin30days

19 likes2 comments
review
carolpharmd
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
Pickpick

Can tell the author is a journalist. Very detailed writing style… If you enjoy clinical details & scientific research, this book is for you! Interesting read….

blurb
OrangeMooseReads
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image

Up next in audio

TiredLibrarian I loved this book. A difficult read, but so well done. 2y
23 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
RebeccaRoo7
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image

Enjoying this nonfiction title during a quiet day at work. Did the father in this story make anyone else discontented or frustrated?

#museum #work #nonfiction #schizophrenia #understanding #medical #mentalillness #spring #art #dysfunctional #family

review
CBee
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image
Pickpick

Just finished this on audio and I am blown away. Impeccably and extensively researched, this book really reinforced for me how mental illness is still so stigmatized. Though a lot of progress has been made, it isn‘t so much about changing treatments and formulating new medication, it‘s about changing the views and opinions of everyday people. I‘m in awe of this family, and admire them for the tireless work they do to try and help others (cont‘d⬇️)

CBee Affected by schizophrenia and other mental illness. Truly amazing book and really enjoyed the audio. Picture from Google, this is the whole Galvin family ♥️ (edited) 2y
AmyG This book blew my mind, too. Not only could I not temotey imagine having that many children but I don‘t know how this woman was able to deal with so much mental illness. 2y
DisneyFan Yes, loved this book too. Was so well written and I was so invested in all the family members. 2y
See All 11 Comments
MrT This post comes at the perfect time. Its my next read from my TBR. Thanks! 2y
CBee @AmyG I know! I can‘t imagine having that many children. I can‘t imagine having half that many 😂 2y
CBee @DisneyFan same! I‘ve been Googling the family and reading a bit more about them today. 2y
CBee @MrT oh great! I hope you enjoy it. 2y
DisneyFan @CBee If you have Apple TV, Oprah‘s book club had an interview with the youngest sister 2y
CBee @DisneyFan I do! I‘ll have to check that out. I saw that there might be a documentary too at some point! 2y
Megabooks This was fantastic!! 2y
CBee @Megabooks it really was! Glad you enjoyed it too 😊 2y
61 likes1 stack add11 comments
blurb
she.hearts.horror
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image

This is about to be a journey …

Sleepswithbooks This was a good journey 🙃 2y
she.hearts.horror @Sleepswithbooks I‘m excited to hear that! It‘s such a fascinating topic. 2y
4 likes2 comments
blurb
abookishbutterfly
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image

#junewrapup

June Reading Wrap Up

Favorite of the month: Hidden Valley Road

A History of Fear ⭐️⭐️⭐️

One‘s Company ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hidden Valley Road ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

And There He Kept Her ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bath Haus ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Counterfeit ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Nightcrawling ⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Noise Downstairs ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tender is the Flesh ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

An American Sunrise ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Patricia Wants to Cuddle ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ghost Eaters ⭐️⭐️

#readingwrapup #monthlywrapup

review
plemmdog
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image
Pickpick

On the surface, the Galvins appeared to be an all-American 1960s family. Half of the 12 children, however, were eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia. Kolker seamlessly weaves their story with the history of schizophrenia and psychiatric treatment. I couldn‘t put this down. It‘s a masterful achievement, and represents over a decade of research. The best nonfiction title I‘ve read so far in 2022.

review
abookishbutterfly
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
Pickpick

A meticulously researched and intriguingly presented look at schizophrenia. The narrative provides a raw view of the effects this disease had on one family with multiple diagnosed members. It also illuminates a clinical standpoint, raising awareness on the inconsistencies and issues within the mental health field, as well as the progress made, in terms of understanding and treating schizophrenia.

review
Bethanyroe
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image
Pickpick

Wow! This book was both impossible to put down and incredibly difficult to read. Masterful art of storytelling through the eyes of various family members. I love the depth and complexity of the human psyche it dives into. I very much enjoyed the artful way he portrayed the parallel roads of the family‘s journey along with what‘s happening in the scientific world. Great book!

blurb
LapReader
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image

Thursday‘s op shopping rewards. I got a discount due to being a regular shopper on some of the clothes. I got the teapot as I am interested to find out how it actually works. I assume a tea light goes in the bottom but there doesn‘t appear to be holes in what I thought was the loose leaf tea part in the middle of the tea pot and why the weird silver bit? Can anyone help me out? I go through glassware pretty quickly so got these pretties as spares.

DivineDiana Sorry, can‘t help. 🤷🏼‍♀️ But like your shopping finds! 3y
Jeg You have amazing op shops. 3y
curiouserandcurioser @LapReader i think i have something similar to your teapot!on mine, your teabags go in the middle part and then i pour boiling water in the teapot and let the tea steep. I then remove the teabags and have a pot of tea:) dont know if this helps, but hope so!! 3y
50 likes3 comments
review
rachelk
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image
Pickpick

This nonfiction book moves back and forth between the history of mental illness, medical case studies, scientific research and big pharma to the biographical story of The Galvin Family and their twelve children — half of whom become diagnosed with schizophrenia. Kolker used hundreds of hours of documented interviews to write this fascinating, heart wrenching and well organized book. Trigger warning: sexual abuse, violence, suicide.

Simona This book is on my TBR list since it was published … 3y
rachelk @Simona It‘s really interesting but pretty heavy. I think you have to be in the right mood for it. (edited) 3y
52 likes2 comments
review
TalesandTexts
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image
Pickpick

Such a heartbreaking book about a family with Schizophrenia. Their daily struggles, their contribution to scientific research & humanity‘s seemingly never ending challenge to find a reason & a cure for this dangerous condition.

The book has been very empathetically written. You feel acutely for the Galvins. It reminded me how so many of us take our cognition, speech, movement & freedom for granted. When in fact, they‘re our greatest blessings.

blurb
CuriousG
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image

Another week long camping trip means lots of hikes and sneaking reading time between activity. Having all the feels about this book. How terrifying for every single person in this family, all for different reasons. Just wow!

Jeannineth It was on my top 10 books last year. Can you imagine the life they lived in that family ? 3y
CuriousG @Jeannineth I can't even begin to imagine how it would have felt to live in that home. 3y
EvieBee I‘m getting the courage up to read this. I hear it‘s heartbreaking. 3y
See All 6 Comments
Gogobooks Among my top books for the year! 3y
CuriousG @EvieBee It is heartbreaking, but so worth reading. Lots of trigger warnings for every kind of abuse, as well as domestic violence and if you are sensitive to descriptions of severe mental illness. Even so, I think it's worth reading if you're able to. Felt triggered while reading it, but always able to stop and take a step back and come back to it. So glad I made it through the whole thing! 3y
CuriousG @gogobooks Mine too! 3y
20 likes1 stack add6 comments
review
Butterfinger
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image
Pickpick

My thoughts will be completely dominated by this case study for a long while. Brilliant writing. Hard to read at times, but the medical research of the roller coaster - therapy works, now medication, then nurture, nope nature is the cause was fascinating to me. Every member of this family was written with humanity and empathy, even when discussing the horrors. I appreciate the honesty that went into this book.

#ReadHarder2021

TiredLibrarian Love, love, love this book. Agree with you that it's well researched and shows great empathy for all involved. ❤ 3y
38 likes1 comment
quote
ashleyn
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image

*"Our relationships can destroy us, but they can change us, too, and restore us, and without us ever seeing it happen, they define us. We are human bc the people around us make us human."

*"The haves have these options and the have-nots do not."

4 likes1 stack add
review
LisaLovesToRead
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image
Pickpick

This book is eye opening. It was brave and wonderful that every living family member agreed to participate. Stylistically it was sometimes tough to follow with timelines & perspectives bouncing around, but the author did let each voice be heard.

review
SKlich
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image
Pickpick

I could not put this book down! It is fast paced, yet thought provoking. The struggles this family endured and the discoveries in mental health merge to make this one of the most fascinating books I have ever read!

blurb
ChaoticMissAdventures
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image

#weeklyforcast #stretchgoal getting through some of that #tbr

1 Women's Prize Long List
1 nonfiction
3 back list books

I think I have had let the great world spin for 3 years or so....

review
reema
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
Pickpick

The story is fascinating and tragic. There were a lot of interesting facts about mental illness in general and schizophrenia specifically. I was frustrated a lot of the time reading this. I realize at the time that mental illness wasn‘t discussed but amongst their own family? When they saw that so many of their other children were being affected by it? I just wanted to shake some sense into the parents.

4 likes1 stack add
quote
Layali926
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image

review
Julsmarshall
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image
Pickpick

Wow! This book was fascinating and powerful, so compelling that it reads like a thriller. An huge accommodation journalistic non fiction, it follows decades of research and a family experiencing unbelievable mental health challenges. A prime example of truth being stranger than fiction, I‘ll think about and remember this book for a long time. Wow! Highly recommend! #BookspinBingo #MarvellousMarch #nonfiction @TheAromaofBooks @Andrew65

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4y
Andrew65 Well done 👏👏👏 4y
60 likes2 comments
review
sarahljensen
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image
Pickpick

If you are interested in learning more about mental illness, schizophrenia specifically, I highly recommend this book. The treatment of the subject is nuanced and sympathetic, and it's just exceptionally readable.

#catsoflitsy #litsycats

Crazeedi Beautiful kitty 😻 4y
28 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
Yahui07
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image
Pickpick

Wow!! Love Love Love this book!!! Beyond 5 stars.
Such a touching and informative book.
Not only learn more about schizophrenia, medical development of it but also the impact schizophrenia can have on a family having 12 children and 6 of them having mental illness.
Such a great book. Cannot image how much effort and time the author had put in. Highly recommended!!

review
violabrain
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image
Pickpick

Wow, this book definitely lives up to the hype! Fantastic read!! I think it‘s the only nonfiction book I‘ve ever read that made me routinely stay up past my bedtime so I could keep reading!

8 likes1 stack add
review
Suet624
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image
Pickpick

A fascinating study of a family with 12 children, six of whom were schizophrenic. Alternating with the history of scientific pursuits in the field, the author does a great job of presenting each family member and their experience of their family life and the attempts of a mother to hold a family together in the midst of such chaos and, at least initially, a massive case of denial.

Crazeedi I've read about this book, thought it sounded fascinating 4y
Readerann Same. 4y
Suet624 @Crazeedi @Readerann the story itself is a tragedy in so many ways. A great read. 4y
59 likes1 stack add3 comments
blurb
Mitch
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image

A fab #januarywrapup! I‘ve revisited the Arctic and reminisced on seeing polar bears in the wild, been saddened by our approach to mental wellness, connected back to fantasy chunksters, cried through ‘80s Glasgow and chuckled at the sarcasm of Polish middle aged women. I‘ve also fled across counties in the best get away vehicles ever and shared in the friendship dogs offer us. Sooooo many great reads this month. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Booksnchill I read the first Mrs. Mohr book- I enjoyed it and you have reminded me to continue 4y
Mitch @Booksnchill I think the second one is out in March 👏 👏 👏 👏 4y
Booksnchill @Mitch excellent! 4y
See All 7 Comments
Deblovestoread Great reading month! 4y
Mitch @Kdgordon88 it really was - and the one benefit of being in lockdown is lots of reading time! 4y
Suet624 What a fantastic collection of books you read! 4y
Mitch @Suet624 I really did! Thank you 4y
85 likes7 comments
blurb
Suet624
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image

I‘m only 20% into this and I‘ve already blabbed so much information about it to my co-workers. From having so many kids (good lord!), to hearing about the history of psychiatric theories and procedures, this is fascinating!

kspenmoll Are you listening or reading? Maybe I can catch up(ha) I have the book. Well I could try.... 4y
MicheleinPhilly The number of kids alone is mind boggling. 4y
Suet624 @kspenmoll I‘m reading on a kindle. Not my preferred method but the library only had that option. 4y
See All 7 Comments
Suet624 @MicheleinPhilly I can‘t figure out how her body managed to have one every other year and then, for a period of time, every year! That right there feels like a form of craziness in itself. 4y
AmyG For the life of me-not only could I ever inagine having that many children....to have so many mentally ill. This whole story blew my mind. 4y
jdiehr I just bought this one yesterday! Can't wait to dive in. 4y
batsy This book sounds both fascinating and troubling. It's on my list... 4y
57 likes1 stack add7 comments
review
sebrittainclark
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image
Pickpick

4/5

This is an incredible book both about Schizophrenia and family with 12 children, 6 of whom were diagnosed with Schizophrenia whose DNA was and is instrumental in the study of Schizophrenia.

It's an incredible book, but the trauma experienced by every member of this family was absolutely heartbreaking.

This was also my #bookspin this month @TheAromaofBooks #bookspinbingo #doublebookspin

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 4y
59 likes3 stack adds1 comment
review
JPSHANK
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
Pickpick

At times, reads almost like a horror novel. It presents mental health issues from such a personal perspective. This book elicited a range of emotions from deepest sympathy to bleakest hopelessness. Highly recommend.

blurb
Mitch
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image

Evidently it‘s National Cuddle Up day! Blankets, puppy and books - I‘m celebrating to the hilt!

Cupcake12 Perfect afternoon x 4y
Deblovestoread 💜💜💜 4y
Sleepswithbooks @Mitch You re celebrating it perfectly!!!!!!!!! 💛🐶📖🥰 4y
See All 7 Comments
Soubhiville I live this photo so much! 4y
iread2much Aww, such a cutie! 4y
Megabooks 😍😍 4y
88 likes7 comments
review
Mitch
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image
Pickpick

A tragic story told sensitively - this is an amazing read. Kolker manages to give us the wider view of medical research into mental illness as well as one family's experience and the experience of individuals within that one family. It's heartbreaking, emotionally complicated and shifts over time - but Kolker keeps it focused, personal and ensures every family member is seen. A must read! #newyearwhodis

Mitch @vivastory - another 5 star read! This was a remarkable story in itself but it was told in such an engaging way that I was walking around the house with my book open unable to put it down! 4y
vivastory What a review! I agree, this was one of the first books I was able to completely lose myself in after everything changed here due to Covid. I can't wait to read his 4y
See All 6 Comments
Mitch @vivastory Ive read this one ( and seen the Netflixs dramatisation!) its good - but not of the same depth as Hidden Valley Road 4y
Cathythoughts Great review! I‘ve had this on kindle for ages ... must get to it 4y
Mitch @Cathythoughts once you start - you won‘t want to stop! 4y
86 likes1 stack add6 comments
blurb
Mitch
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image

Monday afternoon plans! I thought this might be hard to follow - but the individual children and their experiences is written in such a way it‘s so easy to see them as individuals and track their experiences. #newyearwhodis

monalyisha Oh my goodness! The snooziest of dogs. Made me melt. 💕 4y
vivastory Agreed! Kolker really emphasizes their individuality, despite their familial hardships. They really come alive. 4y
82 likes2 stack adds2 comments
blurb
Mitch
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image

Thanks for the tag @Cupcake12 #motivationalmonday

1- complete my 21 in 2021 list of things to achieve this year.
2- Curling up with Mr K, cats, pup and blankets to start the new series of Spiral !

How was your weekend @JaneyWaneyB ?

Cupcake12 Good luck with the list and your to do tasks sound fab! Have a good week @Mitch ❤️ (edited) 4y
Crazeedi You weekend sounds so wonderful! Have a great week Mitch!💕📚 4y
Mitch @Crazeedi You too xxx 4y
Mitch @Cupcake12 Hope you're week has some positive highlights! x 4y
40 likes4 comments
review
mjtwo
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD. | ROBERT. KOLKER
post image
Pickpick

1-4 Jan 2021 (audiobook)
A fascinating book which details the history of the Galvin family as a means of describing how medicine has dealt with schizophrenia over the past 60 years. Despite the heartbreak this family endured, their story is not depressing or sensationalist. Kolker writes with empathy, not dismissing the idea that having 12 children may have contributed to the problem, but also acknowledging Mimi‘s care and love for her sick sons.

britt_brooke One of my favorites of 2020. So fascinating! 4y
mjtwo Agree - I was not sure I wanted to read it but am very glad I did. 4y
6 likes2 comments