Girl, Interrupted

Extremely captivating and interesting, i could not put this book down, i was so invested on what was going to happen next!

I sometimes struggle to focus on books but i found myself gripped by this one. Its shorter then other books, but is packed with so much, the author articulates their experiences in such a way that it is easy to follow and draws you in, it offers such an insight into the experiences of these women in this hospital that you feel like you are watching it happen. I could also see this being potentially triggering due to the nature of being in a mental health institution Some trigger warnings to note: self harm/suicide, drug abuse, SA, parental abuse (there are probably more I havent mentioned but these are what stood out most to me)

Good

This book .... THIS BOOK! As a huge fan of the movie, I was ominous to read the book as I feared it would make me dislike the film or dislike the book, both of which I didn't desire. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I loved BOTH! Reading the book from Susanna's point of view really dove into the life of a patient in a mental health ward in the 70's. I loved the 'diary' writing style and how each story was not overly explained it was simply another entry in her life. The simple writing style and added inserts from her medical record really helped to understand what was happening in the story. I loved her description and breakdown of BPD, and as a sufferer myself I really related to everything she was saying! I will give a trigger warning to people who struggle reading about Mental health, suicide and self harm as some of the entries could be distressing for some readers. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this read and I will be recommending to anyone and everyone !

Good book, but it came with things wrong with it and i know i didn’t do this.

Currently 19 years old, recently diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, and confused as heck, I've been researching and reading a lot about it, and I just so happened to stumble upon the movie Girl, Interrupted. There's no doubt I loved it - how could I not, with Winona Ryder portraying Susanna, and Angelina Jolie as Lisa? So I then thought I'd tackle the book. It's short, to the point, and a captivating insight into Susanna's thoughts, and her time at McLean Hospital. Sadly I couldn't relate to her being admitted to hospital, but her thoughts, feelings, and way of thinking? Totally relatable, and some of her behaviours mirror my own. I love how this book spoke to me, and for anyone looking to understand the topic a little better, I urge you to read this book. #BPDawarenessmonth

I have BPD and unlike more common mental illnesses, there are far fewer books, TV shows or movies featuring characters or people with the disorder. You can see a remarkable shift between the previous knowledge and treatments of BPD at the time of writing to those of the present time. I’d like to say that attitudes to those living with BPD have also improved, but unfortunately, stigma is still fairly entrenched within both the public eye and the profession itself. Overall, I’d say I enjoyed the book much more than the film. I feel as though the movie romanticises mental illness a little, whilst the book more accurately reflects the raw and gritty reality of living with mental illness, and of course, how it could affect any of us.

I watched the film (which is one of my favourites) before reading the book, and was still not disappointed despite the obvious changes in story which the film had done - to give it more of a story for the cinema, I guess. When viewed as two entities, and the book being more of a memoir than the punchy story in the film adaption, the book is still an amazing account into Susanna Kaysen's mind and views on the world, as well as an informative look into how mental health was viewed and treated in the 60s. I read it from cover to cover in one sitting, and felt really connected to her. Her writing is in no way self-indulgent, but often beautifully written - especially on the occasions when she did let herself run away with her mind, and rather funny and quirky in places too. If you loved the film, then definitely get hold of the book for more background information on the people living in McLean (Claymoore) with her, including what happened to Lisa Rowe.

It’s so refreshing to hear stories from psych hospitals. Not the stories about how torturous the “treatments” used to be or “I spent 24 hours in a haunted insane asylum,” but real stories. I’ve been admitted to residential care and found it comforting to read about another persons experience. It’s fantastically written too, witty, raw and engaging. The book itself came in perfect shape, no smudged or misprinted lines, so that’s nice. Definitely a great read for anyone interested.

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良かった

Una historia real narrada en primera persona por Susanna Kaysen. La autora recuerda su dura adolescencia con depresión, un intento de suicidio y su ingreso en un hospital psiquiátrico. Recomiendo este libro porque da una idea muy realista de cómo es vivir con depresión y de cómo eran los hospitales psiquiátricos en los años sesenta. Muy fácil de leer. El libro estaba en muy buenas condiciones y es ligero para llevarlo a cualquier sitio.

This is so easy to pick up. I read it a chapter at a time between meetings. Each chapter was like a self contained short story that all strung up together in a chain. It was honest, transparent and sensitive while allowing itself to be absurd and funny. Dark humor in the best way. If you've had mental health struggles I think you'll find a real sense of understanding here, it's written with such respect and comradery while still remembering to have fun.