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Off the Furrow
Off the Furrow
Off the Furrow
Ebook394 pages5 hours

Off the Furrow

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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About this ebook

Howard Mirth is a sixty-five-year-old son, husband, and father. He earns a decent living, pays his taxes, loves his family, and stays out of trouble. But one day he snaps, and he finds himself locked up in a mental hospital. Join Howard as he sorts through his confusing life and finds his way back to the real world.
LanguageEnglish
PublisherAuthorHouse
Release dateMay 16, 2021
ISBN9781665526234
Off the Furrow
Author

Mark Lages

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Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5

7 ratings3 reviews

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Once again, Mark Lages made me laugh at poor Howard Mirth and after he snapped one day he gets locked up in a metal hospital and has very strange visions! Howard is very funny as his, family sits down for dinner and his mom tells everyone that his dad's pees in the clothes hamper!!!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I thought I would enjoy this book more than I did. I received an Advance Reading Copy from the Publishers as a win from First Reads.The main character is sixty-five years man with a job that he was successful enough to care for his family, married and a survivor from a not very happy childhood. He did not feel loved by either of his parents. He was coping but later wonders what is all for. Then, he ventures into mental illness and slowly with the help of his psychiatrist and nurse. It is strange for me because he had a weird sense of humor. At the beginning of the book, I was eager to find out what happened next, but after a while the court scenes and his jokes did not fly for me.My mother went into a deep depression three times when I was growing. We discussed her experiences in the mental hospital and the things that triggered her depression. Her experiences seem much more traumatic by comparison, and I lost my empathy for the main character. I got tired of what felt like gimmicks to me and felt that the book did not realize the potential it could have achieved. It became more and more difficult to read. I trudged onward to the end, but do not want to take another journey with the author after that. The humor did not save the book for me
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    "Off the Furrow", by Mark Lages, is imminently revealing, unavoidably personal, and highly readable. It is now my favorite work by this author. Howard Mirth is an advertising executive in his sixties who is seemingly successful in all aspects of his life. One day, during an ad campaign, Howard unravels as he is speaking. He knows what he is saying--but no one else does. Deciding to shake off the oppressive weight of the world, Howard heads for the desert. Luckily, he is rescued, but he is just beginning a journey that will take him through a long series of mental vignettes in which his life and a lifetime of observations play out. As Howard recovers in a mental hospital, his family, friends, and coworkers all cope with his condition in their own way. His wife, Victoria, handles things in the best way she knows--by talking. As she sits by Howard's bedside, she talks and talks--of family, friends, his employer and coworkers, and the family dog. Howard hears her voice and perceives her words, but he is somewhat confused about the passing of time. Gradually, through his own psychological processing, and with professional help, he begins to regain a clearer sense of self. His journey toward wellness is fascinating--even entertaining--and also uncomfortably close to home for readers. I actually am a former ad person in my sixties. Howard's mindful interactions include many different people and experiences, but some of his best advice comes from a mouse. You will root for Howard to see his way clear again--he's not perfect, but he's a decent guy. "A mouse knows these things."Book Copy Gratis Author

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Off the Furrow - Mark Lages

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