Lost in the Reflecting Pool: A Memoir

When Diane, a psychologist, falls in love with Charles, a charming and brilliant psychiatrist, there is laughter and flowers?and also darkness. After moving through infertility treatments and the trials of the adoption process as a united front, the couple is ultimately successful in creating a family. As time goes on, however, Charles becomes increasingly critical and controlling, and Diane begins to feel barraged and battered. When she is diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer, Charles is initially there for her, but his attentiveness quickly vanishes and is replaced by withdrawal, anger, and unfathomable sadism. What Diane previously thought were just Charles' controlling ways are replaced by clear pathologic narcissism and emotional abuse that turns venomous at the very hour of her greatest need. This is a memoir and a psychological love story that is at times tender and at times horrifying, Lost in the Reflecting Poo chronicles one woman's struggle to acknowledge what she has always seen, to survive within?and ultimately break free from?a relationship with a man incapable of caring about anyone beyond himself.