Carol Hebald's story of overcoming the assumed difficulties that she would have in life is an inspiration; not only to those who have dealt with mental illness, but also to those who have had real and/or perceived constraints put upon them by various medical facilities/personal. I enjoyed reading Carol's memoires and sharing in the tales that brought her to where she is now.

Intimate in its personal revelations, yet universal in scope, The Heart Too Long Suppressed is a powerful and gripping account of one woman's courageous struggle to come to terms with a difficult past. Toward the end of the book, Hebald speaks briefly about "pain as nourishment" for the artist. Herein lies her strength: She transforms tragedy into lyrical art. I was struck throughout by her dazzling shifts of tone. Her ability to balance between acute perception and precarious illness is nothing short of amazing. This book is a major accomplishment. I recommend it enthusiastically and without reservation.

Actress/author/professor Carol Hebald's THE HEART TOO LONG SUPPRESSED is an enthralling memoir of mental illness - her own - written with understanding, breathtaking revelations and, yes, tremendous wit. The reader is led behind the scrim that would seem to separate the rest of us from this disease and our only partially realized, rarely totally sane, selves.

By the time Hebald reaches middle age, she discovers that the parent-guide whom she always sought through much emotional turmoil in truth existed and exists within herself and in God. The reader cannot help but see a parallel life path in every person on earth.

Beautifully written with compelling can't-put-down force and much spit-fire repartee, this is a must read. I do hope someone is wise enough to transfer Hebald's masterful work into film.