Who Would Like This Book:
If you're fascinated by the mysteries of the mind and enjoy deep character studies, "The Fifth Sally" is a ride you might not want to miss. Daniel Keyes dives into the theme of multiple personalities with empathy and intrigue, crafting memorable characters that share one body but have five distinct voices. Fans of psychological dramas and anyone curious about mental illness - especially Multiple Personality Disorder - will likely find this novel especially compelling. Keyes’ storytelling keeps things emotionally charged and personal, often blurring the narrative lines to keep you guessing who’s in control.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers felt the story didn't quite reach the heights of Keyes's more celebrated works like "Flowers for Algernon" or "The Minds of Billy Milligan." If you’re looking for ultra-realistic depictions of mental illness or prefer stories based on true events, you might find this novel a bit too neat or simplistic. A few found the dialogue a touch corny, the personalities less believable, and the plot less gripping than they’d hoped.
About:
The Fifth Sally by Daniel Keyes delves into the life of Sally, a woman who suffers from Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD). Sally discovers that she has four other vastly different personalities residing within her, each struggling to emerge. Throughout the book, readers witness the different facets of Sally's personalities - from the motherly Sally to the tomboy Derry, the party-goer Bella, the artist Nola, and the menacing Jinx. The narrative follows the complexities of Sally's mind as she navigates through her various personalities and the challenges they present. The writing style of the book seamlessly transitions between the different viewpoints of Sally's personalities, providing a unique and captivating storytelling experience.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings may include themes of mental illness, trauma, and possibly emotional distress but are generally not overwhelming.
Has Romance?
There is a romantic element as Sally develops feelings for her psychiatrist.
From The Publisher:
The powerful, moving and turbulent novel of Sally Porter and the multiple personalities she has no idea she lives with... From the award-winning bestselling author of FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON: 'Heartbreaking, and utterly, completely brilliant' GUARDIAN
Sally Porter is perfectly 'ordinary'. A waitress, divorcee, and loner in the great city. But, though she is unaware of it, she is also four other, quite different people: Nola, the cold independent artist who has a studio in Greenwich Village; Derry, the happy-go-lucky tomboy; Bella, the highly-sexed live wire with a talent for singing and dancing; and finally Jinx, the hate-filled killer.
Whenever events put too much of a strain on Sally Porter, she feels a headache and a blackout coming on - and a new character takes over. If there is a man to be fascinated, she will become Bella. If there is an intellectual problem, she will become Nola. And - as happens in the opening scene of the novel - if there is a to be dealt with, she becomes the vicious Jinx.
It is the task of the wise and patient psychiatrist, Dr. Roger Ash - a man who nevertheless has severe problems of his own - to deal with this case of multiple personality and, through painstaking therapy, to try to fuse the four disparate personalities into "the fifth Sally."
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The Fifth Sally?
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