Official Review: With This In Mind by Nancy Pilling

[Kdonegan91]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "With This In Mind" by Nancy Pilling.]

---

3 out of 4 stars

---

Share This Review

---

The non-fiction book titled With This In Mind by Nancy Pilling will twist the reader's emotions. At times you will be angry and heartbroken but then feel optimistic and encouraged. Nancy Pilling takes you along as she relives all of her life-changing moments from her youth to the present. Naturally, she starts the book detailing her abusive and disturbing childhood. Her adolescence is warped from the beginning by alcoholic, abusive, and neglectful parents. Also, she did not have any close family or friends that could have became the positive role models she so badly needed. Next, Pilling takes you through her even more complicated and emotionally rough teen years. She introduces her struggles with young love and the negative consequences that followed. As the book progresses, she writes about her personal struggles as a young adult dealing with depression. She mentions every issue from frequent one-night stands to reconnecting with family and coping with childhood memories. The book closes with Nancy Pilling as a mature older adult that is still trying to figure out life one day at a time. Throughout With This In Mind, the author is faced with many disturbing dilemmas, horrifying nightmares, and unwanted memories.

I genuinely enjoyed Nancy Pilling's book. One aspect I enjoyed is how she chronologically details her life without it becoming too detailed or boring. She gives just enough detail about the major events in her life. She also discusses how she feels and reacts to each crisis. Therefore, you really connect with the author and see things from her point of view. Pilling did an extraordinary job describing her life even though it had to have been difficult reliving most of it.

On the other hand, the book has dozens of spelling and grammar errors. It makes reading it difficult because you get caught up on the mistakes. Since the book obtains so many errors, it has an unprofessional finish. This book definitely needs revised and proofread a few times. Once that is accomplished, With This In Mind will be an excellent read.

Overall, my favorite element of the book is how Pilling never lost hope even through the worst times. She lives through major depression and a horrifying life but never loses hope that it will turn around. Also, a small part of the book that I enjoyed was she created a wonderful life for her daughter and is a terrific mother. She did not replicate her own bad childhood for her daughter. I believe that takes strength and courage to rise above every bad situation and forgive just so your child can have a better life than you did. I give her all my respect for doing so.

On the contrary, there was one major factor I did not like aside from the spelling and grammar errors. I did not like how she really doesn't go into detail about her siblings and mom. By not going into more depth, you never really understand their particular relationships. She mentions that she loves them and the occasionally communication between them. I would have liked to have known why they aren't close and why they are not there for each other. I felt like she kind of left this subject too vague.

I give With This In Mind by Nancy Pilling a 3 out of 4. I would have given this book a four out of four if she would have went into more specific details about her relationships with her siblings and mother instead of just leaving it unknown to the reader. I felt like these relationships were an important aspect of the book. In addition, this book needs proofread badly. There is not any valid excuse to have a book left unprofessionally written especially after it has been published. In closing, I believe this book would appeal to anyone who needs to read a success story of someone who struggles daily with severe depression and experienced a terrible childhood. Nevertheless, this book does detail a few graphic events that would not be suitable for a younger audience.

Pilling, Nancy. With This In Mind. Equine Publishing, 2015.

Reviewed By: Kimberly Donegan, Oct 2016

******
With This In Mind
View: on Bookshelves

Like Kdonegan91's review? Post a comment saying so!

[Peggys+Place54]

Thanks for the review. That topic is a tough read. I appreciate your thorough information. I think I would have a problem reading it also, with the proofreading being an issue. Not sure yet, if I will read it.

[Celticlady]

Very nice review! Thank you for sharing it!

[ebeth]

Thank you for the review.

[Kdonegan91]

Thank you all for your kind words.

[Wasif Ahmed]

I usually do not read non fiction but this book seems ok. Great work on the review though.

[Kdonegan91]

Thank you

[AA1495]

Wish it was edited better! I'm glad you enjoyed the book though! Thanks for the great review!

[Kdonegan91]

Thank you

[kimmyschemy06]

Sounds like an interesting book. That was very keen of you to have noticed that the author did not elaborate on her mother and siblings I agree that errors can be very distracting. Good job on the review.

[Kdonegan91]

Thank you

[Elaine5]

I really like reading autobiographical books. However, errors like you have described really drive me round the bend. It's disappointing to hear they are so numerous. Thanks for your review. I'll be able to avoid the frustration!

[Kdonegan91]

I feel the same way about the errors. Thank you

[bookowlie]

Nice, thorough review! It always bothers me when a book has too many grammatical and/or spelling errors. It's distracting and I also feels it's unprofessional in a published work. Since people are usually paying for the book, they deserve to get a professional product.

[Kdonegan91]

Nice, thorough review! It always bothers me when a book has too many grammatical and/or spelling errors. It's distracting and I also feels it's unprofessional in a published work. Since people are usually paying for the book, they deserve to get a professional product.

I couldn't agree more! Thank you