The Book - Fly Me to the Moon by H.E. Logue

Summary and Response to Fly Me to the Moon

The book Fly Me to the Moon by H.E. Logue is a fictional novel written about a woman suffering for bipolar disorder. The book follows the character of Eileen and her struggle with this disease.

Eileen Robbins is a very extroverted and proactive person. After graduating from the University of Alabama Eileen lands a job right out of college with the law firm LRS. Due to her excessive energy and determination she quickly becomes one of the more if not the most successful female lawyer in the state of Alabama. A side project she started was a the idea of flying to the moon. She was inspired by the 1969 moon landing and wanted to send her own space bus to the moon. Much of her time she spends getting wealthy businessmen interested and invested into her moon city project.

After having much success with gaining investors she, being a religious person, sees the possibility of using the trip to the moon as a way to promote God. She goes to a local pastor, Dr. Griffiths, to seek out his support and advice for doing this. She believed she was called by God to do so (discovering this by watching televangelists) and that Dr. Griffiths was part of that plan. Dr. Griffiths was knowledgeable in psychology and though speaking with Eileen thought that she was in a mania state and that was why she had such high hopes and plans. He suggested that she get checked out, to make sure that she was healthy and ready to pursue these dreams. This was slightly misleading but she eventually got diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The reader learns that Eileen's brother was a star on the football team in high school and appeared to have a great life, but suddenly, and with out any warning or note, he killed himself.

Eileen's family was never given a concrete reason as to why this had happened until doctors suggested that Eileen's brother probably suffered from the same disorder that she had. Inherited by their father, both Eileen and her brother, had received the disease through genetics. Eileen is shocked and embarrassed by the news about her problem. She doesn't want anyone to know since it could cost her job, friends, and even affect her relationship with her parents. She is put on medicine, on recently produced, to help her with the disorder. She is finally convinced to attend a small group in which a bunch of people with her same problems go to to talk about their problems and to help one another. There she meets a man named Freddie who quickly becomes one of her best friend.

While presenting her Moon City Project to a potential investor in Senator Johnson Eileen meets a charming man named Robert Dupree. They decide to spend the day exploring the Washington D.C., Robert would be her guide. They become infatuated with one another and even sleep together the first night they spend together.

Eileen returns Birmingham to continue her work at LRS but the two maintain their relationship. Dupree even comes down to Alabama with Senator Johnson to see her and they spend even more quality time. Eileen is afraid to tell Dupree of her disorder since she fears it would end their relationship. Their relationship becomes much more serious and Dupree eventually proposes. After he proposes Eileen feels obligated to tell him about her disorder. He is very accepting and loving toward her, even throwing in a very cheesy line that goes something like "If bipolar disorder is what makes you you I hope all of our children