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Melanie Caldicott (6 KP) rated 600 Hours of Edward (Edward, #1) in Books
Apr 29, 2021
A sweet thought-provoking tale about Edward - a man with OCD and aspergers. Cleverly written it takes the reader on a journey to understand Edward's condition but, more importantly, to get to know the man behind his disabilities. Powerful insights are revealed which actually open windows not only into mental illness but human nature. I enjoyed this book.
Lena Dunham recommended Kicking Sick: Your Go-To Guide for Thriving with Chronic Health Conditions in Books (curated)
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated The Outrun in Books
Sep 23, 2017
An important read, but a little haphazard
Dealing with an addiction is no mean feat, it's an illness as Amy Liptrot explains in this memoir where she battles alcoholism. Some of the incidents are truly horrifying, not because of 'what she does to herself', but more so what the illness does to her and as a result her life spirals downwards. And while that part I can truly engage with, the random long explanations about her newfound passions for astronomy, sea and bird life seems to go off in a tangent.
You can definitely recognise her addictive personality manifesting in new hobbies, and obsessing in the same way. And at least that's healthier, but as a reader, I seemed to lose concentration on her rural lifestyle. Very good insight into mental health and addiction though.
You can definitely recognise her addictive personality manifesting in new hobbies, and obsessing in the same way. And at least that's healthier, but as a reader, I seemed to lose concentration on her rural lifestyle. Very good insight into mental health and addiction though.
Cat Goddess Freyja (16 KP) rated We Have Always Lived in the Castle in Books
Dec 5, 2018
Beware of the Sugar Bowl
This is a great book! I read it in one of my college lit classes, and fell in love with Shirley Jackson's writing. I can't give a review without spoiling this whole book but it is so worth the read. It deals a lot with mental illness and the affects of a society on outcasts.
Lena Dunham recommended Conversations With Friends in Books (curated)
Such a good book! Mental illness can be a very touchy subject and I feel like Nicola handled it with grace and opened the reader's eyes to being on the inside. The pacing is perfect, not feeling rushed like some romances can. All of the characters are perfectly crafted, their flaws making them even more relatable and harder to let go of at the end. Fantastically written!
Erika (17788 KP) rated Silver Linings Playbook (2012) in Movies
Mar 9, 2018 (Updated Mar 9, 2018)
This movie did not impress me at all, and JLaw definitely didn't deserve the Oscar for this cluster (she should have won for Winter's Bone). The portrayal of mental illness was shiesty, in my opinion. Bradley Cooper was ok, but not his best.
Writing this has reminded me that I need to toss the dvd in my sell pile to go to half price books.
Writing this has reminded me that I need to toss the dvd in my sell pile to go to half price books.
Alyson Richman recommended When Breath Becomes Air in Books (curated)
Jonathan Caouette recommended A Woman Under the Influence (1975) in Movies (curated)
AmyBee (4 KP) rated The Bell Jar in Books
Sep 5, 2018
I cannot believe I have only just read this for the first time! The Bell Jar is definitely deserving of it's status as a 'classic' in semi-autobiographical fiction. Plath really captures you with the stream-of-consciousness monologue of Esther Greenwood, a young woman who narrates her journey into insanity in the 1950's.
The Bell Jar is narrated in a similar vein to and is quite reminiscent of Virginia Woolf's novel 'Mrs Dalloway', although it has a decidedly more risqué tone as the narrator talks in great detail about subjects which would not have been deemed acceptable in the 1920's (such as losing her virginity!).
What particularly gripped me about this novel is that Esther's mental illness seems to sneak up on her and this is reflected in the novel, as it almost seems to take the reader by surprise that this seemingly normal young woman is falling deeper and deeper into her illness.
Mental health stigma is also clearly represented in the novel, as it almost seem is at points that Esther's illness is treated as a joke, and definitely not taken seriously by most. It's also interesting to read about the archaic means of treatment for mental health sufferers eg Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) AKA Electroshock therapy, and it's aftermath.
All in all, a very thoroughly enjoyable read. Highly recommended for lovers of classic literature surrounding mental health issues.
The Bell Jar is narrated in a similar vein to and is quite reminiscent of Virginia Woolf's novel 'Mrs Dalloway', although it has a decidedly more risqué tone as the narrator talks in great detail about subjects which would not have been deemed acceptable in the 1920's (such as losing her virginity!).
What particularly gripped me about this novel is that Esther's mental illness seems to sneak up on her and this is reflected in the novel, as it almost seems to take the reader by surprise that this seemingly normal young woman is falling deeper and deeper into her illness.
Mental health stigma is also clearly represented in the novel, as it almost seem is at points that Esther's illness is treated as a joke, and definitely not taken seriously by most. It's also interesting to read about the archaic means of treatment for mental health sufferers eg Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) AKA Electroshock therapy, and it's aftermath.
All in all, a very thoroughly enjoyable read. Highly recommended for lovers of classic literature surrounding mental health issues.