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82nd out of 403 books
—
910 voters
The Loony-Bin Trip
by
Kate Millett
Millett's staggeringly personal account of her struggle to regain control of her life after falling under an ascription of manic depression.
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
August 28th 2000
by University of Illinois Press
(first published January 1st 1993)
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Aug 04, 2008
jo
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
those interested in lesbian autobiography, mental illness, and art
this is my second time around, after many years, and i still find this books exceptional. first of all, kate millett writes beautifully. this woman's had many careers -- artist, activist, feminist theorist, writer -- but if her talents resided only in putting words in sequence and saying amazing things with them, she should still be qualified as a genius.
this book oozes pain. if you cannot deal with pain, you should not read it, otherwise you'll find it long, verbose, overwritten, or self-indul...more
this book oozes pain. if you cannot deal with pain, you should not read it, otherwise you'll find it long, verbose, overwritten, or self-indul...more
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Millet writes a brave and honest depiction of her struggle with bipolar disorder, and her decision to stop taking the lithium she has been prescribed for years.
What follows is a description of euphoric mania at her women's artist colony in Upstate New York, in New York City and finally in Ireland, where she is forcibly sent to a horrific mental "hospital." If not for her contacts with influential people, she might still be there. This memoir is set in 1979-80, but one wonders how much things ha...more
What follows is a description of euphoric mania at her women's artist colony in Upstate New York, in New York City and finally in Ireland, where she is forcibly sent to a horrific mental "hospital." If not for her contacts with influential people, she might still be there. This memoir is set in 1979-80, but one wonders how much things ha...more
Millett's exploration of her struggle with bipolar disorder (or something I'm interpreting as bipolar disorder) is remarkable for its honesty. The effects of her illness on her and the others around her is profound; as she struggles to regain her footing, she also struggles with the perceptions of those around her who have decided her judgment can't be trusted. Powerful and a bit scary.
This is my all-time favorite first-person account of mental illness. It is written by the feminist author Kate Millet and describes her experience with bipolar disorder. In the excerpts of her journal you can really see her struggle as she decides to go off her medication and becomes more symptomatic. It is the best written account I've seen of what it is like to have manic episodes.
I hated this book to levels that surprised me. I got the feeling that the author wrote the book as proof that she isn't crazy but, instead, I felt trapped inside the mind of someone I'd see wandering the streets, talking to herself. Especially during the first 2/3 of the book, where she's manic. Highly repetitive, paranoid, and booooring. And the chapter about the horse's penis?!? Man, I'm liberal and open minded but that chapter gave me the creeps!!
This book was recommended to me after I comple...more
This book was recommended to me after I comple...more
I got entirely fed up with the narrowness of the voice of this author. It was somewhere around page 125 and her exploring the efficacy of bestiality and the eroticism of a geldings swag that I decided this book just wasn't for me.
I CAN agree with the author's frustration that once you've been labelled as "crazy" or... anything for that matter... everyone around you and everything is seen through that filter. Frustrating!
I CAN agree with the author's frustration that once you've been labelled as "crazy" or... anything for that matter... everyone around you and everything is seen through that filter. Frustrating!
Overwhelmingly honest, at times a tedious read, but good contribution, adding awareness, to an important topic. Found this book at a thrift store; it looked interesting and was.
Read this book about 25 years ago and it still comes back to me sometimes. I recommend it to people who want an "insider" perspective on the bi-polar experience.
difficult to follow this woman's journey. Seems like she denies that she has mental illness but frustrated that she can't function in the world.
A really great book shows us how everything is great and worth to die for
I couldn't get into this book and quit about half way through.
Feb 05, 2011
Kat
added it
Great read
Turgid and humorless. But in the best way possible.
I feel as though the main themes of this book could have been distilled into two excellent things I read recently: Crazymaking writing from inside madness into "Eden Express" by Mark Vonnegut; Second wave feminist projects and the disillusionment from their impending breakdown into "Insurgent Muse" by Terry Wolverton. Go to those books first.
I feel as though the main themes of this book could have been distilled into two excellent things I read recently: Crazymaking writing from inside madness into "Eden Express" by Mark Vonnegut; Second wave feminist projects and the disillusionment from their impending breakdown into "Insurgent Muse" by Terry Wolverton. Go to those books first.
Nov 28, 2008
Needleroozer
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone interested in mental illness and mental health
This a true story about how Kate Millet ended up being committed to a mental hospitals against her will. SCARY, especially the mental hospital in Ireland. A must read for anyone who thinks mental hospitals help people heal.
This book is an amazing trip into the thoughts of a woman committed to a mental hospital. It was very scary at times, but fascinating!
deep down, i think that her mental illness destroyed relationships with people she loves. isn't that a good reason to get on meds??
Depressing and unsettling. I spent most of the time wondering if the author was aware she wasn't the hero of her own autobiography.
May 18, 2013
LiteraryBabe
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Mar 18, 2013 10:56am
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