His Bright Light

Nick rocketed through life like a shooting star. He spoke in full sentences at the age of one. He was a brilliant, charming child who never slept. His gift for writing was extraordinary, his musical talent promised a golden future. But by the time he entered junior high, he was hurtling towards disaster. His mother tried desperately to get him the help he needed - the opening salvos for what would become a ferocious battle for his life. At once a loving legacy and an unsparing depiction of a devastating illness, Danielle Steel's tribute to her lost son is a gift of life, hope, healing and understanding to us all.

At that time, there wasn't as much information regarding treating bi-polar disorder, otherwise known as manic depression as there is now. Although I'm grateful to see there have been strides in the medical field, there is still more to be uncovered and revealed regarding brain disorders. I get into more detail about my thoughts in my vlog review: Mar 12, Stephanie Payan rated it liked it. I'm really torn on how to review this book. I read it because as an author I love Danielle Steel. Also, the battle that her son had with being bipolar, manic-depressive hits very close to home with me.

I hoped to read this and grab insight, and see how she handled the battle and struggles that are "bipolar lows". I'm not sure that it did that, but I was touched by her journey. It was a very touching story of unconditional love. She loved her son for every second of his life regardless of what he I'm really torn on how to review this book.

She loved her son for every second of his life regardless of what he did and what condition he was in.

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She gave him everything imaginable. For a normal person that wouldn't be financially possible to do what she did for her son. I have no doubt that if I were in her position I would do everything in my power to help him, but I would never be able to afford the extended resources she had.

I loved her detail of his life and how regardless of how it seemed on the outside she would always explain the positive of his soul and spirit and be optimistic. This review is rambling - but that's how I felt parts of this story were. They were all true events, feelings and reactions but I felt at times she was repetitive. I feel like this is a story I can't judge or critique because it was so traumatic I can't fathom going through it myself - then having to relive it while writing this book would be devastating all over again.

I give her so much credit for having the strength to tell this story and share it with the world. It took me extra time to read the last two chapters because I couldn't stop crying. If nothing else this story reminded me to love him more unconditionally and make sure he knows it always. What could have been a beautiful and moving book was ruinned slightly by Danielle's waffling.

This is the third book I've read by her and I'm seeing a pattern. The stories she tells are interesting she just ends up making them less so by repeating herself. I'm not sure why she does this? To make the book longer? Because she thinks the reader is stupid and unable to remember something she told them a couple of pages ago? I have loads of books by her on my tbr list and I hope they are not all like What could have been a beautiful and moving book was ruinned slightly by Danielle's waffling.

I have loads of books by her on my tbr list and I hope they are not all like this! This is the story of Danielle's son, Nick. Who tragically killed himself when he was I think this book was a way for Danielle to work though her grief, she obviously loved him very much and did everything she could to help him. I had to keep pushing myself to read this, for the reasons listed above, there are only so many times I can be told how amazing and bright Nick was.

He seemed to fit alot into his short life and I enjoyed reading about his rise to fame with his band. There were some poems in the book, I didn't like the ones written by Nick but the ones written by Danielle are beautiful.

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The chapter written after Nick's death was the most page turning and sad. She stops repeating herself here and just tells what seems to be a really honest and heartbreaking account of events. I was reading this in the staff canteen at work and it was a struggle not to cry. If you are a fan of Steel then this will be worth it but for fans of tragic life stories, you may want to go elsewhere for something to pull at your heartstrings. And it always makes me feel really mean when I've not "enjoyed" books like this but thats just how I feel about it.

Oct 24, Ghizlane Eddiba rated it it was amazing. Danielle Steel, the famous writer, speaks in this book about the story of her son Nick. Since his early age, Nick was seen as a bright, talented and charming child. His gift for writing was astonishing for a child his age, his musical talent was extraordinary, his social intelligence was at its top level, but the time he started the junior school, some alarming signs were seen in this extraordinary child, like not being able to sleep, having depression, panicking during social events, not being Danielle Steel, the famous writer, speaks in this book about the story of her son Nick.

His gift for writing was astonishing for a child his age, his musical talent was extraordinary, his social intelligence was at its top level, but the time he started the junior school, some alarming signs were seen in this extraordinary child, like not being able to sleep, having depression, panicking during social events, not being able to handle minor stressful situations and committing suicide attempts several times. After struggling with doctors, hospitals, therapists, his mother got finally a diagnosis, explaining his disease as being a manic depression.

His mother did her best of efforts to help him, but whenever he grows up his disease became more dangerous and incontrollable, his last attempt of suicide was successful This book is an alarming sign for everyone suffering from depression, it warns everyone to take the symptoms seriously, to get the right diagnosis at the early age, and to get the right doses of medication in the right time, no one is excluded even kids could suffer from this disease.

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Oct 28, Jen rated it really liked it. Very moving, interesting book: I used to read DS when I was in late H. But I loved this book, which is nonfiction. I wish DS had included the journals from his last years, as I think they would have been very telling. After reading it, I feel a soft sp Very moving, interesting book: After reading it, I feel a soft spot in my heart for Nick and wish I had met him. My heart goes out to all families dealing with problems like this. Unfortunately, most families don't have the resources DS does to get diagnoses and find help.

Mar 10, Sophie rated it liked it. I'm not sure how to feel about this book. It was interesting, but I felt she wanted to explain her mistakes, to gain redemption. It is hard to have anyone you love with mental illness. But pushing him this hard, conjuring the feeling in him that "I'm not healthy", isn't a good way. Not one calm moment, no wonder he was frustrated. There is always a chance to commit suicide, mental illness is hard to bear.

But there are more gentle ways, with a calm environment, some relief will come.

He was a gre I'm not sure how to feel about this book. He was a great guy, I feel so sorry to lose such person. He was talented and intelligent. I'm sure he would be a great writer or poet. Danielle Steel's battles to get her son properly diagnosed and then her descriptions of the difficulties of everyday life reverberate loudly with my own experience.

The unwritten messages I received from this book are: Don't give up fighting for your loved one. Don't lose sight of who they really are. Keep on encouraging and supporting them no matter what they say or do. Try and develop a network of true friends around everyone. I stumbled across this book by chance. Nov 19, Jill Robbertze rated it liked it. I have very mixed feelings about this book. I'm deeply sorry for what happened to Nick and for D.

S and her family's loss but I couldn't help suspecting that drug abuse played a bigger part than what was described in the story. I do think Nick's whole situation was very unique due to the family background, being brought up very spoiled, having so many siblings, having a famous and busy mother. Although interesting, I also found this a somewhat tedious read due to too much repetition.

Oct 04, Diane rated it it was ok. This book started out interesting to me, finding it amazing that not too long ago, Danielle Steele had such a hard time trying to get her son, Nick, diagnosed with manic depression, but as the book kept going, it became harder to read, as I felt she was trying to convince herself that she was a good mother. There is no doubt that she went through a lot to try to get the best care for her son.

Sep 19, Rachel rated it liked it. Tragic, truly truly tragic. To be honest I fell in love with the smiling face on the cover so I read it not knowing who he was or what the book was about. Turns out it is a biography written by Danielle Steele about the life and death of her son, Nick Traina, who was an amazing and unique person, but he suffered from bipolar disorder and ultimately died from an overdose. Jan 07, Kim rated it it was amazing.

Though there is some hard language in here and the topics of suicide and manic depression are tough to read about, this story is real. The struggles are real. The disease is a killer and the cure unfound still. I loved this mother's perspective. I also envied her the resources and support people she had in feeling with this child.

What some of us wouldn't give for those resources! Jan 08, Kimbox rated it it was amazing. Wonderful book, very good explanation of bipolar and how it manifest itself. Very heart wrenching and touching, but very well worth the read if you are touched by someone who suffers from mental disorders bipolar, depression, Mar 30, Karen Miller rated it it was amazing.

Anyone who has ever struggled with a child dealing with depression will be able to relate to this nonfiction account. Anyone who wants to understand what it is like to struggle with a child who is dealing with depression should read this book. It is informative, sensitive and well written. His Bright Light 1 7 Dec 29, The Story of Nick Traina 1 5 Nov 20, Steel has been a permanent fixture on the New York Times hardcover and paperback bestseller lists.

In , she was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for having at least one of her books on the Times bestseller list for consecutive weeks. But Guinness was premature. He had friends, a life, a family, a career, he had fun and happiness and sorrow. He moved through the last few years of his life with surprising grace, despite the handicaps he was born with. And we were incredibly proud of him, as a man, a musician, and a human being. He was a talented, brilliant young man with a disease.

But the disease did not stop him from being who he was, or us from loving him as he was. In retrospect, I think it was one of the best gifts we gave him. Acceptance of who he was, and unconditional love. In our eyes at least, his illness was only one facet of him, not the whole of him.

There is no denying that it is a hard, hard road, loving someone with bipolar disease. It is their problem, not yours, and yet it becomes yours if you love the person suffering from it.

His Bright Light

You have no choice. You must stand by them.

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You are trapped, as surely as the patient is. And you will hate that trap at times, hate what it does to your life, your days, your own sanity. But hate it or not, you are there, and whatever it takes, you have to make the best of it. I can only tell you what we did, what we tried, what worked, and what failed.

His Bright Light: The Story of My Son, Nick Traina

You can learn from what we tried to accomplish, and develop better avenues that work for you. We tried a lot of things, and flew by the seat of our pants some of the time. There are no rule books, no manuals, no instruction sheets, no norms. You just have to feel your way along in the dark and do the best you can. You try anything and everything you can until the very end, and then all you have is knowing how hard you tried.

His Bright Light: The Story of Nick Traina « Danielle Steel

He knew how hard we tried for him, and he tried too. We respected each other so much for it. We loved each other incredibly because we had been through so much together, and we cared so much. He and I were very much alike actually, more than we realized for many years. He said it in the end. He made me laugh. He made me smile. He was not only my son, but my best friend. And if it helps someone then it is worth reliving it all, and sharing his joys and his agonies with you.

I am not doing it to expose him, or myself, but to help you. Would I do it all again? There was nothing better in life than knowing that things were going well for him. I would not have missed a single instant with him. He taught me more about love and joy and courage and the love of life and wonderful outrageousness than anything or anyone else in my life ever will. He gave me the gifts of love and compassion and understanding and acceptance and tolerance and patience, wrapped in laughter, straight from his heart.

And now I share these gifts with you. Love is meant to be shared, and pain is meant to be soothed. If I can share your pain, and soothe it with the love Nick shared with all of us, then his life will be yet one more gift, not only to me and his family this time, but to you. It was Nick who made it all worthwhile, and worth fighting for.