My Eyes Feel They Need To Cry: Stories from the Formerly Homeless

Part social study, part oral history, this disjointed offering examines the plight of the homeless as they cope with and recover from the issues which led to their homeless status. Bloomfield, a researcher and former Community Outreach Liaison at the Michigan Historical Museum, spearheads this endeavor, which started life as a "project designed to give voice to and empower current and formerly homeless adults in transition" called "Your Story and Mine: A Community of Hope," produced in conjunction with Advent House Ministries. Drawing from the recollections, stories, art, poems, and essays produced by a variety of homeless adults, many of whom also struggled with substance abuse, mental problems, abusive partners or economic bad luck, it's an insightful, even poignant look at how people deal with adversity. Unfortunately, these valuable moments are set against, even lost to an overly academic framework, a dry narrative, and a lack of focus, leading to a powerful message otherwise buried. Far from simply being stories about the formerly homeless, this is just as much about Bloomfield and her experiences in dealing with her subjects, perhaps giving the book an unnecessary bias that detracts from what's important: "to move beyond the traditional clinical approach to assisting those in need." (July)