David was a 16 year old boy, who enters an institution, because of his nightmares and fear of touch. He meets a young girl by the name of Lisa who has a split personality. This story is of their growing as a person, growing in love. This story wasn't like anything I have ever read before, because it was written as a case story would be. The only real thing that I found similar about this book was that two people fall in love. I was very touched by the character of Lisa. The reason why is that Lisa has a split personality. One moment I could be extremely happy and the next severly depressed. I could understand her more than the character of David. "Big fat John, fat cat John---he's gone, he's gone---Fat John is gone!" This was from her personality when she was Lisa. While when she is Muriel she is no longer childish, but more lady like and silent. I really liked the theme of the book, which was that people can change and can get better over time. The reason I rated this book so low, is because I had really didn't like how it was written. I found that the play was written a lot better. In the play and movie, you got to meet characters like Simon, Josette, Kate, Carlos, Sandra, and etc. They were also students at this institution. I did like how you got see more of what David and Lisa were thinking and their background. You could start to get a sense of their background.I really hated how the book ended, but I enjoyed the moment when David and Lisa met. This book is not for everyone and I really do not recommend it, unless you are trying to get background on Lisa and David, or have an extra half an hour to burn. But I do highly recommend reading/seeing the play and/or seeing the movie.

If you think quotes from Lucille Ball, Aesop, Herman Melville or Marlene Dietrich can help you survive - then this book is for you!
It offers 355 'pearls of wisdom' - such as:

#270:Talk to yourself out loud
#326:The best way out is always through (Robert Frost)
#289:Hindsight is always twenty-twenty (Billy Wilder)

In hindsight - I wouldn't have wasted my money.