Ollie Ollie in Come Free

Ollie Ollie is an intimate exploration of childhood and the hidden impact of sibling loss. It is narrated in the raw, unfiltered voice of a young girl, with adult reflections interspersed. The book emerged out of eight years of intensive psychotherapy. It recreates the vivid landscape of a large, boisterous Catholic family in the 1950's and 1960's. The parents' gutsy determination to move on after the deaths of the three oldest children created a sense of inner isolation in the shy, introverted author as she coped with her own grief, terrors, and survivor guilt. As a backdrop to Anne's inner world and the often humorous and quirky family interactions, the shifts in the political and social milieu of American life are striking. Anne's experience of growing up Catholic and her spiritual struggles are a strong theme. The book reflects on the developmental impact of the deaths in the family, and on their continued power in Anne's adult life as she seeks catharsis, healing and closure.