Home for the Bewildered


Fiction - Social Issues
355 Pages
Reviewed on 10/02/2024
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

Author Biography

Michelle Tobin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who works with adults from all walks of life. Michelle trained as a chef at the internationally acclaimed Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland. Most recently she earned certification in Integrative Medicine and Nutrition for Mental Health. Her clinical work includes cooking therapy as part of the treatment protocol. In addition to writing, she is an avid lap swimmer, dog walker, reader, fabric artist, and volunteer reader of manuscripts. Michelle is married and raised three children. Like one of her characters, Michelle is one of twelve children.

    Book Review

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Home for the Bewildered by Michelle Tobin is a poignant novel that delves into social issues surrounding mental health in 1970s Lansing, Michigan. The story follows Dr. Dorothy Morrissey, the first female psychologist at St. Lawrence Asylum, as she navigates her complex relationships with her patients amid a changing societal landscape. As Dorothy grapples with her patients' chaotic lives, she simultaneously confronts her own personal emotional turmoil and the strain on her relationship with her boyfriend, Kenneth. The novel explores the challenges of healing, both for patients and the healer herself. Tobin offers her readers a nuanced perspective on the struggles faced by healthcare professionals and patients during a time of societal upheaval and shines a light on how little support there was for either party during the 1970s. Her ability to present the inner lives of her characters with empathy and authenticity helps readers understand their experiences and struggles.

I loved the narrative style that gives different snapshots of patients from Dorothy’s educated but highly empathetic perspective. Each person is vividly drawn and multi-dimensional in their description and dialogue, each representing different facets of emotion and strain. Dorothy evolves throughout the story at the center of all these experiences, grappling with her own vulnerabilities while striving to support her patients. The intricate character work around her narration and dialogue invites readers to connect on a deeply personal level. At its core, the novel explores the theme of self-healing from every possible angle. Michelle Tobin poignantly illustrates that the journey to understanding oneself can be as complex as that of helping others, which is a strong message to take away from a deeply engaging character-led drama. Overall, Home for the Bewildered is an important and powerful read that will impress fans of emotive storytelling. It also has a lot to teach us about healing and how we view and treat others around us.

Richard Prause

Home for the Bewildered by Michelle Tobin tells the intriguing tale of Dorothy, the first female psychologist at St. Lawrence Asylum. Dorothy often gets overlooked by her family members. She is the first female in her family to attend university. But despite this significant accomplishment, Dorothy lacks their much-needed support and approval. However, she forms deep bonds with her patients and helps them cope with their different mental and emotional ailments. Her patients reflect a missing component or vulnerable side of Dorothy's life. Indirectly and directly, they remind her of some profound past or present event that she needs to confront. The ultimate question that persists is—can Dorothy also heal herself?

Home for the Bewildered is an irresistible and engaging psychological novel that will fully immerse readers into the lives of the characters. I intentionally re-read specific chapters because I wanted to re-capture the essence and vibrancy of each character again. Michelle Tobin has devised a vivid cast of characters that mirror authentic but deeply wounded souls. Each character is complex, fascinating, and flawed in their respective ways. You will even begin to empathize with the least likable character after spending time getting to know them on an intimate level. You will gradually see their lives reflected through your own—and your personal experiences will ultimately merge with theirs. Overall, this novel is an honest testimony of mankind's resilient spirit and our compassion for each other. This thought-provoking tale will stay with you. I highly recommend this well-crafted story to readers who enjoy books on mental health issues and confronting their innermost obstacles.

Jefto Pierre

Dr. Dorothy Morrissey is a compassionate psychologist employed at St. Lawrence Asylum. She treats and interacts with patients whose psychological issues somehow correspond with her own life. Dorothy belongs to a devout Catholic family and often feels divided between conforming to her family's conservative upbringing while embracing her Protestant boyfriend's more relaxed approach to life. She frequently clashes with her family's perceptions of how God-fearing women should occupy their lives. The people in St. Lawrence Asylum might revere her, but Dorothy's family, on the other hand, does not even acknowledge her numerous achievements. Michelle Tobin's novel, Home for the Bewildered, poignantly exposes the challenges of women in the 1970s who defy family traditions and carve their own pathways regarding marriage, family life, personal values, and professionalism.

Michelle Tobin’s unforgettable novel examines the human condition using in-depth insight, authenticity, and compassion. Home for the Bewildered beautifully touches on issues deemed 'sensitive' during the 1970s--these topics include homosexuality, mental health issues, family dynamics, issues surrounding gender roles, and traditional marital norms. Tobin does an incredible job of introducing her readers to a convincing and superbly fleshed-out group of characters. They all navigate challenging life experiences while forming meaningful human connections. Dorothy, of course, is at the center of those connections. She empathizes with her patients and serves as the compassionate listening ear they all desperately need. Ironically, this is the same compassionate listening ear she lacks from her family. Through Dorothy's character, Tobin imparts her astute insight into the fascinating life of a mental health worker. This story is undeniably an engaging and enlightening read. If you love novels centered on mental health and social issues, Home for the Bewildered flawlessly hits the spot.