Daphne Merkin: This Close to Happy

In her brave, heartbreaking, and riveting memoir, Merkin reveals candid details of her life-long struggle with depression. She grew up in an unnurturing and abusive environment. She fantasized of killing herself at a young age. Merkin’s relationship with her tough German-Jewish mother was cold, critical, controlling, and complex. She despised her mom, but had a hard time without her. In addition to depression, this is an eye-opening book on parenting. It’s a dark yet beautiful read.