irismurdoch

Iris Murdoch(1919-1999) born in Dublin, grew up in a suburb of London. She studied
classics, ancient history and philosophy at Somerville college in Oxford. In 1948 she
was elected a fellow of St. Anne's College, Oxford and worked there as a tutor until
1963. Following this, Murdoch mainly devoted herself to writing, at times lecturing
at universities. Murdoch is best known for her novels which combine rich characterization
and exciting plot lines, usually involving ethical dilemmas or sexual themes. Her first
published work, Sartre, romantic Rationalist was a critical study. Murdoch went on to
produce 26 novels and other works of philosophy until 1995. In 1956 Murdoch met and
later married John Bayley, a professor of English literature and also a novelist. Their
relationship as her Alzheimer's Disease progressed as he struggled to take care of her
physical health, their home and both of their emotional needs is beautifully presented
in the movie Iris. She attributed the early affects of Alzheimer's disease to writer's block.
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/imurdoch.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_Murdoch

Amy Tan, born in Oakland, California in 1952 wrote the best selling novel The Joy Luck
Club which was turned into a movie for which Tan wrote the screenplay. Tan's parents
were Chinese immigrants and her works explore the mother-daughter relationship
and what it means to grow up as a first generation Asian American. Tan wrote the
novels: The Kitchen God's Wife, The Hundred Secret Senses, The Bone setter's
Daughter and Saving Fish From Dying as well as two children's books The Moon Lady
and The Chinese Siamese Cat. Tan's mother Daisy witnessed her mother committing
suicide. Tan believes that her grandmother, her mother and herself all suffer from
depression. Tan received a Master's Degree in Linguistics at San Jose State University
and her first job was as a children's speech therapist. However, in 1985, after her
psychiatrist fell asleep for the third time during one of their sessions, Tan decided to
quit therapy and take up writing instead. Tan takes medication to treat her depression.
http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/tan0bio-1
http://www.amytan.net/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amy_Tan

Rachel Simon, born in Newark, New Jersey in 1959 is the author of Riding the Bus With
My Sister. This story describes the author's relationship with her mentally disabled
sister who spends much of her time enjoying the social stimulation offered by riding
the buses all day long. The book explores the author's feelings about growing up with
a mentally disabled sister, the family dynamics and her present day obligations. Ms.
Simon also delves into the ongoing conflicts the disabled face around independence
versus support to live a healthy lifestyle. The book has been turned into a film starring
Andie MacDowell as Rachel and Rosie O'Donnell as her sister Beth. Simon is also
author of the novel, The Magic Touch, a collection of stories, Little Nightmares, Little
Dreams and an inspirational book for writers, The Writer's survival Guide.
http://rachelsimon.com/
Riding the Bus With My Sister

Janet Reno, born in 1938 was the 78th Attorney General of the United States and the
first woman to hold that post. Raised in Florida, Reno enrolled in Harvard Law School
in 1960 as one of only 16 women in a class of more than 500 students. She had difficulty
obtaining work as a lawyer three years later. In 1971 Reno accepted a position with
the Florida Dade County State's Attorney's Office. Her Republican opponent Jack
Thompson campaigned against her, demanding to know her sexual orientation.
She became a partner in a private law firm in 1976. In 1978 Reno was elected to the
Office of State Attorney and reelected four more times. She helped to reform the
juvenile justice system, pursued delinquent fathers for child support payments and
established the Miami Drug Court. In 1993 Reno was nominated and confirmed Attorney
General under Bill Clinton's presidency. In 1995 she revealed that she has Parkinson's
disease, an incurable degenerative illness that causes muscular stiffness and involuntary
tremors. The Parkinson's Action Network will host the 13th annual Udall Awards Dinner
this September where Reno will receive an award for pubic service.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janet_Reno
http://www.wic.org/bio/jreno.htm
http://www.parkinsonsaction.org/content/view/231/10/

Patty Duke, born Anna Marie Duke in 1946, is an academy award winning actress on
stage and screen, perhaps, best known for her role as Helen Keller in the Miracle
Worker. Duke's childhood was very difficult with an alcoholic father and depressed
mother. Her mother handed 8 year old Duke over to the care of her managers who
promoted her as a child actress. Duke played her role as Helen Keller on Broadway
for nearly two years and then received the Academy Award for Best Supporting
Actress when the play was made into a movie in 1962. Duke earned an Emmy award
for her roles as twin cousins Patty and Cathy Lane on her own television series, The
Patty Duke Show. As her career soared, Duke suffered from bipolar disorder and anger
over her difficult, at times, abusive childhood. In the 1980's her condition stabilized with
lithium medication and she was on the road to recovery. In 1987 Duke published her
autobiography Call Me Anna, for the first time publicly revealing her manicdepressive
illness and became a spokeswomen for mental health issues. Following the success
of this book, the publisher asked her to write A Brilliant Madness: Living with Manic
Depressive Illness published in 1992. This book tells Duke's story in alternating chapters
with the facts about manic depression told by medical reporter Gloria Hochman in the
other chapters.
http://pattyduke.net/blog/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patty_Duke
http://officialpattyduke.com
A Brilliant Madness: Living With Manic Depressive Illness