Even in mid-century America, a family with twelve kids was a bit unusual. For Mimi and Donn Galvin, it was just life. Don and Mimi moved to Colorado for Don's military career, leaving behind their East-Coast lives and family. But with each child born, Colorado just became home. Don was busy with his career and chasing higher education, leaving Mimi home to raise their ten sons and two daughters. Mimi expected excellence from her children. From hockey to the piano to chess, she had high expectations. It wasn't until their oldest son, Don, went off to college that they realized that something was off with him. After some scary situations with a girlfriend and several trips to the health center, Don withdrew from the college. Life would never be the same for the Galvin family. Six of their ten sons end up with schizophrenia diagnoses. Six children in one family was(is) unheard of in any decade. For years six of the Galvin children were in and out of jail, mental health hospitals, and their parents' home on
Hidden Valley Road. But will the anguish experienced by the Galvin family help medical professionals understand this ravaging disease?
Hidden Valley Road is a fascinating, yet uncomfortable book. Mimi Galvin didn't seem like an easy mother to have, but she was her children's' biggest advocate. Whether it be for school, activities, or their mental health. Don Galvin was a "hands-off" father, leaving Mimi to struggle with twelve children. I get that it was common for that era, but I would have been very resentful towards an uninvolved husband. I mentioned that the book was uncomfortable and that is because people with mental health issues often hurt the ones they love. The Galvin family was no different. The sick ones often terrorized the siblings who were healthy. It was tough to read. CLICK HERE FOR SPOILERS
Bottom Line - Hidden Valley Road has appeared on every "Best of 2020" list out there. While I think it was a fascinating and important book, I would not add it to my "Best of 2020" list.
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I’ve read this one and I remember thinking Mimi wasn’t the best mother, but I felt sympathy for her. This was also at a time when mothers were routinely blamed for any mental disorders their children had.
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