I am the author so I will not review my own book but I will include two I feel are fair from an anonymous 'fan' and a friend. (Both gave it 5 stars):Somewhere the sunshine is breaking through, 15 Sep 2008 By Gayalondiel.Dark Clouds Gather: The True Story About Surviving Mood Disorders, Eating Disorders, Attempted Suicide and Self-Harm by Katy Sara Culling is one of the most painfully honest books I have ever read. It is written as an autobiography of Katy Sara's experiences as a child, teenager and adult suffering from (mostly undiagnosed) bipolar I with a host of concurrent conditions, as the title suggests. Katy Sara is a highly intelligent individual who has studied chemistry, biochemistry, medicine and psychiatry to various levels up to and including a DPhil at Oxford. She is also distinguished among those people I can name as having been through the most troubling disorders and states of mind that I am aware of. Katy Sara is therefore particularly well, if not uniquely qualified to present the many aspects of her illness with both the awareness of her feelings at the time combined with highly analytical hindsight. She writes articulately about the circles in which her mind could run, exposing without judgement or awkwardness the less desirable view of the world and of individuals that is somewhat inevitable for someone with that condition.I could go on and on about this book, but I will try to keep it brief. Katy Sara is a miracle - in more sense than one. She is a miracle because she lives, having detailed no less than 443 identifiable suicide attempts in just shy of thirty years of life. She is a miracle because she has been clinically dead at least once, possibly more. She is a miracle because her intent with writing the book was to write "the book I needed to read when I was ill," and in doing so has given up more of herself that anyone would be expected to give into the public arena. Most importantly, though, she is a miracle because she continues to give, online, in her work, producing more books (I am aware of at least two further volumes) and she continues to improve to this day. The final chapter of the book, though hopeful, is tinged with resignation to her illness: the epilogue is brighter by far. She continues to brighten, even when she has hard times, and offer support freely to those people who have not yet learned to live with their illnesses, as well as those who have but continue to need help.In terms of readability, Katy Sara's writing style is not my style of choice, but then I like my writing to be quite formal, with a slightly obsessive-compulsive need to have the formatting consistent throughout. The writing style does however reflect the subject matter well and underlines the personal and individual nature of the book. It is augmented by frequent quotations from other writers to provide a break in a narrative that feels at times unrelenting, and supported by extracts from Katy Sara's diaries and her medical notes. The book is by no means an easy read, on the contrary it can be painful, tiring and frustrating in places, sparing no detail save the uncommon knowledge that could provide someone with the means to end their lives. At the same time it is a compelling story and the final chapter provides such a powerful lift that you cannot help but feel that there is hope, not just for Katy but for anyone fighting the same demons.Anyone struggling with mood disorders, eating disorders, anyone feeling a loss of hope or lack of self-esteem, and anyone struggling to know how to support and understand a friend or family member in that position, this book is a must. Nowhere else will you find such honesty and understanding. --------------------------------------------Sarah Mercer (bulimic, borderline personality disorder) Feb. 2008"I found it a compelling read, very well written. I think it is quite unusual as Katy is in a position to combine extensive intellectual expertise with quite extraordinary personal experience. The brutal honesty of this book is quite unusual but so refreshing, the fact that little is censored is so important - it facilitates a deeper understanding of mental illness and the hell the sufferer experiences. Honesty and open disclosure is the route needed to break down the social stigma surrounding mental health matters and this book takes a huge step forward in this respect. I gained greater understanding of my own illness and even felt more accepting of the struggle I faced, but most of all seeing how low one person can sink and to then recover enough to be in a position to help others gives me hope for my own recovery."