Susanna ended up in a psych hospital at the age of 18 because her shit was, allegedly, bananas. This is an account of the two years she spent there being nuts. She is piloting this narrative boat, and she sounds sane, PLUS she keeps telling you she's not mad, but when you try peeling back your hand-skin to confirm that you still have bones...girl, you might not be the Mad Hatter but you definitely have him on speed-dial.On the other hand, she makes a compelling case for 'borderline personality' being 'extreme teenagerism.' '"[I]nstability of self-image, interpersonal relationships and mood...uncertainty about...long-term goals or career choice..." Isn't this a good description of adolescence? Moody, fickle, faddish, insecure: in short, impossible.' Touche, Kaysen. Maybe you were just the teeniest of teens.
And this is the first time a book I've read has been accurately described as 'darkly comic.' Those words usually mean 'Horrible things happen, but they happen ironically so it's secretly hilarious. Whatever, you won't get it.' And I don't. This, though. I want to say I enjoyed it because it's a fresh perspective on the madhouse bla bla social critique blah but I really enjoyed it on the level of the sentence. I can't even quote you a funny bit because the whole thing is a funny bit; there is low-grade funny running all through, and it is cumulative. The 'darkly' bit comes because, though it SOUNDS like larfs, you know that being in a nuthouse is no festivus. There are Rules.
And then you blink and now we're talking about the mind versus the brain and how a lot of Mind (memories, moods, etc.) is turning out to be Brain, and it's so SHARP and INSIGHTFUL and still WICKEDLY AMUSING and overall it is very, very kind. You will want to mind-hug everyone in this nuthouse except for the shitty nurses, whom you will want to mind-slap.
And it's short! Have I mentioned that? Its, like, less than 200 pages. I almost want to read it again immediately. How about you read it instead.
Nine caterpillars.
I am assuming this is the book that spawned the movie? The movie that spawned Angelina? Didn't know it was a book first, but I love psych books.
ReplyDeleteAnd I guess I feel a little better, with confirmation that teenagers are generally all slightly insane. Now maybe I won't rush to commit my daughter.
It's been years since I read this, but I remember really liking it. (The movie, not so much.) You have inspired a re-read!
ReplyDeleteI never would have expected this book to be full of larfs and no bike riding. You ALMOST make me want to read it even though this is the kind of thing I avoid like the plague.
ReplyDeleteI really liked it- yes, lots of funny even in a sad macabre kind of way. And the movie stunk. I got bored.
ReplyDeleteSo much better than the movie - and how is it that I had forgot I'd read it? I do not know! Am I insane? Perhaaaappppssss.
ReplyDeleteI read this in college and loved it. I actually had a copy that was missing a few pages from the middle and I had to track down a library copy because I wanted to finish it so badly.
ReplyDeleteI have this on a list of books that I probably should read, but it was pretty low in priority compared to the rest of the list. But now that I know it's delightful? It's been given a higher priority number.
ReplyDelete