I was a sensitive child, raised in a loving but highly disciplined family. My wonderful mother, I love her so much. But she is always very adamant about how we must behave in public. Telephone and table manners, language, appearance, behaviors. I must behave like a little lady, no lols, no swear words. If I appeared "bubbly", my mom would tell me that it is not "ladylike". I should show reservation and never appear overly excited. My brother and I were the model children. Everyone asked my mother: how did you manage? They behave so well!

With my personality and family education, I grew up evaluating myself by gauging how I am received by others and seeing myself through others' eyes. I was always very attuned to other people's feelings and a huge part of me always wanted to make things better for them. I was afraid if God forbid someone is not happy with me. I never said no. If someone asks something of me, I want so desperately to give whatever they need to them, even if that means I would end up having nothing. It is most important that I behave in the most selfless manner, because mama said, I am supposed to be a great child, who always shares, always makes people happy, never appears eager and always yields. Let other people have it, show grace and generosity.

This upkeep of "acting like a true lady" who is the embodiment of virtue is so ingrained in me. My tendency of avoiding confrontation made my road to adulthood that much harder. I always wanted to make other people happy. Whoever asked, received. I would work myself to the bones or swallow my anger when other insulted me. Never stood up for myself. I was scared. It was as if I was still 5 years old and I always was on my best on the phone because, what if they complained to my mother that I was not polite on the phone?

My mother loves me and wants only the best for me. She wants me to be a great person who helps people in need, shows kindness and be understanding. I internalized those "expectatations" and turned them into a prison. This book, liberated me.

Another person who suffers from similar "symptoms" as I did, told me about this book. She said: look, you do not have to make other people happy ALL THE TIME. Nothing matters if you are miserable. And you are NOT responsible for other people's happiness.

I picked up this book with much self doubt. I did not realize that there was a "problem" with my being "proper". Co-Dependency is a topic which is prevalent in the treatment of alcoholism and substance abuse. This book dedicates a lot of pages to people who struggle with their relatinoships with significant others who suffer from substance abuse. But it also discuss at length the necessity of expressing and accepting oneselves, the importance of recognizing our own needs, emotionally or physically, not belittling ourselves and our feelings, seeing oneself in his true colors: a imperfect human being who may occassionally act in self-interest. It is not a crime nor is it immoral to want to be happy. So what if you are not nice all the time? So what if you are "a bad person"? So what, if you want the best spot in the parking lot for yourself? It is ok. Being proper and a good person, does not mean self-sacrifice. If you are not happy with how people treat you, you must tell them.

I am still a recovering co-dependent patient. I still suffer from guilt when I know someone wants something from me and I am not giving it. But this book really helped me to see that I am not responsible for other people's happiness. If they are not happy, I don't have to save the day. It is ok, if I just go home and watch TV. I don't have to take the earliest apppointment because someone else does not want to get up early. I don't have to put on a smile when someone is mean to me. I can tell them to fxck off. It is ok.

Thank you Ms. Beattie. My mother gave me life, love and support. You gave me courage.

"Binary stars are gravitationally bound. Gravity is the way we fall together." Sarah Gerard's novel is full of beautiful and painful analogies involving the life cycle of a star, a codependent relationship, and anorexia. When I pick up a novel and see the word "anorexia" printed in the plot description I immediately become concerned. Not because I am bored by the subject but because with out a careful hand the story can quickly turn into a lifetime original movie.

 

Sarah Gerard has more than just a careful hand. She has an powerful and intense sense of timing and prose. She writes with a sense of urgency that gives you a sense that the characters, much like dying stars, are screaming towards oblivion. 

 

The young woman in the story is on a road trip with her alcoholic boyfriend. Neither one of them able to cope with their own inner demons, let alone each others. Sarah Gerard paints a clear and unapologetic picture of what anorexia looks like in todays society and the isolation that comes with it. Its a powerful commentary on todays culture that is hyper-focused on perfection. Two Dollar Radio continues to find unique and gifted authors worthy of publishing. Binary Star is great addition to their family. One that I will likely come back to again and again in the future.

I wanted to learn about co-dependency because I wasn't completely sure what was meant by being co-dependent. This book is wonderfully written and is extremely informative.

 

I wish I had read this book as a young woman so I could have been more aware of relationships with friends and others during that time of my life who may have been codependents. I believe reading this book as a young adult would help aide in figuring out personal issues (and relationships with others) sooner in life rather than later.

 

Although the book also focuses on alcoholism, substance abuse and 12-step programs, there are many more topics in this book that relate to general life issues. Learning to love and accept yourself (and others), expressing yourself, setting goals and learning how to communicate properly are just some of the helpful topics covered.

 

This book is actually a 2 in 1 book with 'Codependent No More' being published in 1987 and 'Beyond Codependency' being published in 1989. Melody Beattie, the author, is a recovered addict, alcoholic and codependent. The reason this book is so insightful is because Ms. Beattie wrote from the heart. She shares her experiences and those she has connected with vividly in this book.

 

I must tell you that I started this book on February 11, 2014 and to my surprise I finished it exactly a year later. The reason I spread this book out over such a long period of time was because it is not 'light & fluffy' reading. It is intense and thought provoking. This was a borrowed book, but if I owned a copy I would go through the book again and highlight many insightful and smart advice that I could pass onto my daughters.

This book has helped me understand myself to a degree that I never thought. It's shown me I have a lot of work to do in my life to be at a point where I can be truly happy. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, and will loan it to anyone who asks. Either you'll learn something about yourself, or you'll learn something about the people you hold close.