Girl, Interrupted

Mar 14, 2012 Nataliya rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone who is interested in medicine or psychology

Shelves: medicine, favorites, excellent-reads, nonfiction, i-also-saw-the-film, biographies-and-memoirs

“Was insanity just a matter of dropping the act?” Good question, isn't it? You may start asking yourself this after reading this book.

I only spent a few months taking care of patients in psychiatric hospitals, but it made me really appreciate the nuances of Kaysen's story. It is the viewpoint of someone who had to experience questioning her sanity - the one thing most of us take for granted.

"Every window in Alcatraz has a view of San Francisco."

What some don't know about personality disorders...more “Was insanity just a matter of dropping the act?” Good question, isn't it? You may start asking yourself this after reading this book.

I only spent a few months taking care of patients in psychiatric hospitals, but it made me really appreciate the nuances of Kaysen's story. It is the viewpoint of someone who had to experience questioning her sanity - the one thing most of us take for granted.

"Every window in Alcatraz has a view of San Francisco."

What some don't know about personality disorders is that they will not "just go away". You can learn how to cope with them, but you will not be "cured". The scary thing about them is that you can look at them as bits of your "regular" personality, just significantly amplified. Some of borderline personality disorder symptoms include implusivity, uncertaintly about one's identity, rapid changes in interests and values, thinking in black-or-white terms, unstable or turbulent emotions, chaotic relationships, fear of being abandoned, and feelings of emptiness and boredom. I am sure all of us have experienced some of these at one time or another. The scary question then becomes - what separates "normal" from "crazy"? Where are we on that spectrum? Is that what scares us about "going crazy"? The same question seems to be troubling Kaysen.

“Was everybody seeing this stuff and acting as though they weren't? Was insanity just a matter of dropping the act?”

Doctors and nurses alike tend to be wary of patients with personality disorders, and borderline personality disorder in particular gets a bad rap. It can be quite draining treating someone with BPD, that's true, but we don't always think about what the world must seem like through their eyes. And that's where Girl, Interrupted brings this often overlooked perspective.

This book does not have a defined plot or a linear narrative - it is just a story of an unhappy young woman trying to find her place in a world that excludes her, and it is an enlightening and interesting read. I highly recommend it for anyone who is interested in medicine or psychology. (less)

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Oct 13, 2007 E rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biographies

While Susanna Keysen composes some very poetic essays offering alternative and sometimes beautiful perspectives in her autobiography, her general tone is very, very defensive. Granted discussing whether or not one suffered from a mental illness can never be easy, but the book seems to be her manifesto for proving that she wasn't really borderline, as her therapist diagnosed.

I don't know enough about Borderline Personality Disorder to judge - I agree that it seems women are disproportionately di...more

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Feb 05, 2008 Erin rated it 4 of 5 stars

have you ever spent any time in a psychiatric hospital? yeah, well, i don't recommend it. i was a patient for a total of 2 and a half days, and it was one of the best and worst experiences of my life. i liked this book because i was able to relate to some of her feelings. when i went in, it was because i was on the verge of something, and thank god i caught myself in time. my first morning there, i remember thinking, "i have to get out of here, because i may not be crazy now, but these people wi...more

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Jan 28, 2008 Samantha rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I first heard about this via the Winona Ryder film of the same name (which I have yet to see) and when Angelina Jolie (unknown to me, at least, at that time) won an Oscar for her part. Picked the book as a Summer Reading Program (SRP) possibility because of this previous awareness, plus someone (Beth, Jennikins?) suggested it. Borrowed Beth's copy, in any case, and here's what I thought.

To those of you unfamiliar with the book (I can't very well speak for the movie or the (un)similarities becaus...more I first heard about this via the Winona Ryder film of the same name (which I have yet to see) and when Angelina Jolie (unknown to me, at least, at that time) won an Oscar for her part. Picked the book as a Summer Reading Program (SRP) possibility because of this previous awareness, plus someone (Beth, Jennikins?) suggested it. Borrowed Beth's copy, in any case, and here's what I thought.

To those of you unfamiliar with the book (I can't very well speak for the movie or the (un)similarities because I haven't seen it yet), this is the autobiographical tale of a young woman institutionalized in 1967, her official diagnosis: Borderline Personality Disorder.

Kaysen spends the next two years of her life in the McLean Hospital with fellow female 'psychos', each of which seem crazier than herself. The author's main focus throughout the memoir is Am I really crazy?, and it is difficult to really determine, not only for the author, but for her peers, her doctors, the nurses, and the reader as well.

With the vignettes she encloses, Kaysen details the inner workings of mental health in 1967-68, which is a sharp parallel of the 'inside world vs. the outside world' -- a drastically, violently changing world -- and how she could possibly fit in it. That is, if she and her fellow inmates ever fit in it. Parts of the book were rather profound and, I am hesitant to admit, made perfect sense to me personally. For a supposedly crazy person, Kaysen has a firm grip on how things really are as well as perceived. In fact there are few instances throughout the book that sway me to believe she might have been off kilter. The impression on the whole is of a misunderstood girl being shunted out of the way rather than being accepted, forcing her to doubt herself more so than those that disposed of her.

Kaysen's style is demonstrative of interruptions. Not that her thoughts are incomplete; rather it seems she barely had time to jot down her coherent thoughts in between the 10 minute 'checks' by the nurses. The other patients seemed to belong in the hospital more so than the author, but perhaps that was intentional. The only character of true interest is Lisa: a sociopath, violent and manic young woman who repeatedly attempted escape, if only to entertain herself and the others. She reminded me a great deal of a girl I knew in Junior High who was just as wild and crazy.

I really enjoyed the book for all these reasons and simply because I could relate and understand so much. Then the book changed course, deus ex machina you could say, and Kaysen the character lost my sympathy. In a word, she recovered. I wish the ending had been less anticlimactic because then I might have liked it better. As it is, I would recommend it, if only for the first 130 pages.(less)

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Oct 25, 2011 Katie Pohling rated it 4 of 5 stars

“Are you crazy? It’s a common phrase, I know. But it means something particular to me: the tunnels, the security screens, the plastic forks, the shimmering, ever-shifting borderline that like all boundaries beckons and asks to be crossed. I do not want to cross it again” (159).
Girl, Interrupted is a memoir regarding Susanna Kaysen and her overall journey as a medical patient in her late teens. In 1967, Susanna was an ordinary eighteen year old until she attempted to commit suicide by swallowi...more “Are you crazy? It’s a common phrase, I know. But it means something particular to me: the tunnels, the security screens, the plastic forks, the shimmering, ever-shifting borderline that like all boundaries beckons and asks to be crossed. I do not want to cross it again” (159).
Girl, Interrupted is a memoir regarding Susanna Kaysen and her overall journey as a medical patient in her late teens. In 1967, Susanna was an ordinary eighteen year old until she attempted to commit suicide by swallowing 50 Aspirin. Quickly transforming her life, Kaysen soon finds herself staying at McLean Hospital in Massachusetts for a little over two years. Being diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, she was put in a Ward for teenage girls in the psychiatric hospital. At first suffering to get used to her new home (aka “Looney bin”), Kaysen describes several of her fellow patients as the book progresses. Consisting of Lisa (Sociopath), Cynthia (depressive), Georgina (Schizophrenic), Polly (Schizophrenic) and more, Susanna explains their personal story, their behavior, their habits, their attitude and their overall personality as their friendship develops. At first, she felt “Emptiness and boredom: what an understatement. What I felt was complete desolation. Desolation, despair, and depression” (157), but she soon grew closer to not only her patient friends, but also her nurses.
Something that stood out to me was the authors writing style. Having several short chapters made it interesting and it showed how clear and bold her writing was. Having to describe a whole experience or story in around 3 pages or less illustrated her use of words in an understandable manner. I was able to really feel her pain and feelings as I read page by page which I often don’t get to experience. Something I enjoyed about this book was the use of emotions and how the author was capable of transitioning so quickly. Chapters were going from her being extremely angry and irritated about her “Looney bin” but also having particularly happy and uplifting chapters; either about her thoughts of the future or her patient friends caring for her. It was also interesting to find out that it was a memoir and reading it knowing all this was true and it happened to the author was very appealing.
The overall story didn’t have a very distinct plot, but I always wanted to read more and more. The events didn’t directly go in chronological order, but learning about new characters and new events were very intriguing to read about. As a whole, this novel was well written and well executed, from the language, to the characters, to the stories, etc, it was a generally great read. I’m not the best reader and I also don’t read as much an average teenage girl should, (difficult task to engage in a book), which is why I admire this book. I would definitely recommend it to anyone but especially to people who have a wide imaginations and to people who just enjoy a well written but fast read.

I’m dying to see the movie and compare! Heard it’s really good, even better than the book ;)
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Oct 24, 2012 Naomi Hyde rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

This book was a memoir of Susanna Kaysen's time in a mental institution and it was written in homodiegetic narration.
When I first started this book I thought it would be an excellent insight into the damaged mind of a young eighteen year-old girl and I was looking forward to the intriguing thoughts of a mentally ill person. However, I found that the book mostly focused on the author's time in the mental institution and I did not get a sense of how the illness affected herself. Kaysen mainly desc...more This book was a memoir of Susanna Kaysen's time in a mental institution and it was written in homodiegetic narration.
When I first started this book I thought it would be an excellent insight into the damaged mind of a young eighteen year-old girl and I was looking forward to the intriguing thoughts of a mentally ill person. However, I found that the book mostly focused on the author's time in the mental institution and I did not get a sense of how the illness affected herself. Kaysen mainly described the other people she lived with and not so much about her own progress or life. Furthermore, the chapters seemed to jump around a lot so there was no sense of chronology or order; perhaps this was meant to reflect how Kaysen's mind was chaotic and unstable but I found this quite annoying, making the book difficult to enjoy. The writing style was simplistic and uninteresting making this novel an easy read. I also found that I did not connect or feel empathetic with the author despite the personal depiction of her story, which disheartened me somewhat as I hoped that I would feel deeply moved by her tale; realistically I felt bored and disconnected.
One aspect I did like was the insertion of real documents from the doctor's notes which were intriguing and informative. Moreover, it gave me a greater understanding of the process of a mental institution, and I felt some pathos for the characters because their conditions were piteous. In addition, Kaysen wrote how people treated them as unhuman which moved me slightly as mental illness is not something to scorn or mock but a very serious disorder. The isolated situation of these people made me more aware of the prejudice surrounding mental illness and the way people instantly judge one who has dealt with a mental disorder; they tend to avoid them and feel scared or uneasy.

Overall, I did not enjoy this book very much, although at times it was quite informative and it was also interesting to see how living in a mental institution was like in the 1960s.(less)

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Sep 27, 2008 Wendy rated it 4 of 5 stars

The first book that I read this summer was a fiction book called “Girl, Interrupted” by Susanna Kaysen. This book was an autobiography written about Susanna and her experiences at McLean Hospital. Susanna Kaysen spent two years from the age of 18 at the ward for teenage girls in the psychiatric hospital. Those who could afford it stayed at the hospital and those who could not were sent off into the real world.
A major theme that appeared multiple times throughout this book was happiness.
Most of...more The first book that I read this summer was a fiction book called “Girl, Interrupted” by Susanna Kaysen. This book was an autobiography written about Susanna and her experiences at McLean Hospital. Susanna Kaysen spent two years from the age of 18 at the ward for teenage girls in the psychiatric hospital. Those who could afford it stayed at the hospital and those who could not were sent off into the real world.
A major theme that appeared multiple times throughout this book was happiness.
Most of the girls who were put into the hospital was not happy until they meet people like them and understood what they went through. Susanna Kaysen was the shy and quite kind, but got along with the girls who were more outspoken. In addition to meeting people like them, there was a time periods where they meet training to be nurses the same age as them. “For some of us, this was the closet we would come to a cure,” (91). This implies that nothing can really make an individual happier than relating to them. They would give advice to the training nurses making them feel important and for a moment that they are not the ones in need for help. There was also multiple times where they say they hated the hospital and they just want to get the hell out, but the hospital was what made them happy. ““Taking me home to die, “she said“(97). Torrey a patient like Susana stated this when we was being taken out of the hospital and back to Mexico requested by her parents. It is until they have to actually leave they realize how much the hospital impacted them. The hospital was their safe spot and where they can be them and no one will judge unlike how society does everyday. What everyone wants in life is to be normal and not be different. In order for Susana to be happy she bit down on her skin to find bones to see if she was really human because she felt like an outcast. She thought she was just made of skin and nothing else. She felt that people in society lack to understand because they never experienced desolation, despair & depression, and emptiness & boredom. The only thing Susana wanted was to be happy and loved which was the reason why she was promiscuous during her teenager years.
Susana stated after looking at an art piece to her boyfriend “Don’t you see, she’s trying to get out” (167). This relates to society. There are people that satisfy others to make others happy while they are miserable. In order to make yourself happy, you have to do what you feel is right, not what he or she feels is right.
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Mar 27, 2008 Sa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: psychology-sociology

Kaysen's memoir paints a picture of a girl whose mental health is alternately proven through vivid awareness of the world around her, and disputed by accounts of self-harm and detachment.

It's interesting to note the similar war between those who have read this book. Half of them conclude that she was a confused and directionless young woman whose stint in McLean was the result of an intolerant society and a psychological field still in its kneejerk infancy. They wonder, could that have been me?...more

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Feb 16, 2008 Ellabella rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: pa-book-club, favorites

We're told not to, but I sometimes do judge a book by its cover. At least once in my life, it has paid off. I first read this book because I saw it laying under the desk of a girl in my French class in 8th grade and was immediately attracted to it- the constrast of blue against white and the separation and duality of the girl between.

It was beautiful and strange and thought-provoking and somehow irrationally felt as close to me as some crazy friend who'd been trapped in my own brain for thirteen...more

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Nov 04, 2007 Theresa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Many of what Keyson writes resonates with my own struggles with depression and a general sense of not belonging. The book really affected me in ways that I felt it should not have, as in it forced me to face some of my own demons. However by the end of the book I was a little disappointed in the way in which it was sort of thrown out and it ended on a sarcastic and defensive note. It almost negated the struggles she faced, in my mind at least. Although perhaps the fact that she blew it off as be...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Erin rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: own-book-form, drama-gen-fiction

Such an unusual book, but I suppose it was meant to be. Really quick read due to the swift writing style, choppy chapters, and large fonts. It skips around all over the place so nothings a surprise as one chapter you learn something, and then the next chapter it's back in time again. For example, you know from the beginning how long she stays there. Nothing quite detailed in the book so you don't really get to know much about anyone either. Everything's quickly, fleetingly touched upon. When det...more

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Dec 29, 2008 Tara rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is another one I've read so many times, that I can't remember when I first bought it. In short little snippets of chapters, Kaysen takes us through her journey in a "looney bin" in the 1960s. I loved her writing- it was so bold, crisp, concise and unforgiving. She carefully uses it to give faces, names and true understanding to those who were labeled "crazy." You'll be dazzled by her talent, crushed by her truth, and just plain giggly by her details. Love it.

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Feb 20, 2011 Tricia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Originally from I Write, Therefore I am Alive

Susanna Kaysen’ memoir, Girl, Interrupted. This is written in account of the author’s experiences in a mental institution and being diagnosed of having Borderline Personality Disorder. The book don’t really follow a certain storyline with chronological events but somehow covers some of it but more focused on her reflections and realization on what happened and why she ended up being institutionalized. I liked how I get into the mind of an insane—or b...more

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Sep 07, 2009 Young Lightning in Dark Sky rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Young Lightning in Dark Sky by: Myself!

Susanna is dealing with something we can only imagine..
A prestigious mental institute in 1967.

Susanna actually manages to make friends with some of the people and even becomes an acquantance with Lisa, the sociopathic psycho who has been at McLean eight years. You learn about the various disorders other patients have- schizophrenia, depression, anorexia, the list goes on as Susanna Kaysen, a bipolar schizophrenic who somehow has to adjust to this place, a place where bars guard the windows and p...more

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Feb 14, 2009 Susan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: friendship, nonfiction, psychology, read-in-2009, coming-of-age, library-books, autobiography, young-women

In the Spring of 1967, after taking 50 aspirin in an attempt to kill off a part of herself, Susanna Kaysen arrives for a voluntary "rest" at the McLean Psychiatric Hospital. At first, she is told that she will only be staying for a couple of weeks, but the two weeks extend into a perpetual stay, as she ends up spending the better part of the next two years on the South Belknap Two ward at McLean. Her fellow patients on this voyage to sanity are: Georgina, her roommate and the most sane of the pa...more In the Spring of 1967, after taking 50 aspirin in an attempt to kill off a part of herself, Susanna Kaysen arrives for a voluntary "rest" at the McLean Psychiatric Hospital. At first, she is told that she will only be staying for a couple of weeks, but the two weeks extend into a perpetual stay, as she ends up spending the better part of the next two years on the South Belknap Two ward at McLean. Her fellow patients on this voyage to sanity are: Georgina, her roommate and the most sane of the patients surrounding her; Lisa, an enigmatic sociopath; Polly, a schizophrenic burn victim; and Daisy, a laxative junkie. During her stay at McLean, Susanna confronts the societal ideal of sanity, and finally comes to terms with herself through "recovery."

Kaysen's descriptions of her life in the hospital are sharp, witty and deeply ironic. She chronicles the details of her "breakdown" with incredible honesty and poetry. Girl, Interrupted is brief but mesmerizing - I read it quickly in one sitting. That being said, had it been any longer, I'm not sure I would have been able to finish it.

The "characters" lack any perceivable depth. Although they were written with a sort of black humor, they come across only on a very superficial level. Largely because of the cursory treatment, the story never really developed into anything relevant or consequential.

The best and most interesting parts of the book for me, were the ones in which Kaysen looked inward, trying to decide if she truly understood the difference between sanity and insanity.

"I often ask myself if I'm crazy. I ask other people too.
'Is this a crazy thing to say?' I'll ask before saying something that probably isn't crazy.
I start a lot of sentences with 'Maybe I'm totally nuts,' or 'Maybe I've gone 'round the bend.'
If I do something out of the ordinary - take two baths in one day, for example - I say to myself: Are you crazy?
It's a common phrase, I know. But it means something particular to me: the tunnels, the security screens, the plastic forks, the shimmering, ever-shifting borderline that like all boundaries beckons and asks to be crossed. I do not want to cross it again."

Her account regarding her own "borderline personality" were insightful and poignant. Read Girl, Interrupted for Susanna Kaysen's depiction of the madness eating away at her. Just don't expect the other characters to appear as any more than a thin background in the painting of her life.
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Feb 03, 2012 Anne Nikoline rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: people who dislike non fiction

Recommended to Anne Nikoline by: book club

Shelves: book-club, read-in-2012, memoir, science-or-psychology, social-issues, non-fiction, autobiography

Susanna Kaysen's Girl, Interrupted is a memoir regarding the author's overall journey as a medical patient when she was young. Once again I'm struggling on how to rate this memoir fairly, if that is even a possibility, because rating another person's life is not very right to do, am I right? It is odd to say "I give Susanna Kaysen journey in the medical hospital three stars!"

"Are you crazy? It's a common phrase, I know. But it means something particular to me: the tunnels, the security screens,...more

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Mar 07, 2011 Tara Lynn rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: booklist-for-2011

Saw the movie, loved Angelina in it. Now I'll tackle the book.

Update: Finished the novel. I'm now convinced that the publication and fantastic reception of this novel was probably a great case of timing. Kaysen's account of her stay in McLean Hospital is a captivating look into her mental state during her 2 year stay. However, I've got to say that if she had stayed elsewhere, or tried to publish her account now, it probably wouldn't have been received as favorably. For the most part, many of he...more

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Jan 29, 2011 Cory rated it 3 of 5 stars

Having just read The Bell Jar, I decided to continue my course in Psychotic Writers 101. Girl, Interrupted is fairly short; it took less than three hours to finish. It is a collection of vignettes starting from when Susanna checks herself into the asylum for a 'rest', and ending five years later when she is married. While I understand her reasoning for writing the book in this style, I find it somewhat distracting to go back and forth from her personal experiences to her dissertation on mental h...more Having just read The Bell Jar, I decided to continue my course in Psychotic Writers 101. Girl, Interrupted is fairly short; it took less than three hours to finish. It is a collection of vignettes starting from when Susanna checks herself into the asylum for a 'rest', and ending five years later when she is married. While I understand her reasoning for writing the book in this style, I find it somewhat distracting to go back and forth from her personal experiences to her dissertation on mental health.

She writes well, painting a clear picture of her life in the asylum. Her 'friends' are entertaining, especially Lisa, who could fill up an entire book on her own. Susanna's theories on mental health are also interesting, but I felt that they could have been included in an appendix. They were distracting to the flow of the novel and often I felt myself skimming so I could get back to the narrative.

The question of brain vs. mind is certainly something that I felt could have been expanded upon. At times I didn't know whether she wanted to write an analytic non-fiction take on her life, or a completely fictional novel. As a memoir, this is functional, but if it had been an educational text this would have shined. Some parts are too short, and while I know this is leading into the 'Girl, Interrupted' theme, I feel that quality was sacrificed for artistic merit.

Girl, Interrupted was written in the 60's. I wouldn't have assumed that from the prose. Only a few hints are given, such as the use of the word 'junkie'. One complaint I have is the complete self-centered attitudes these girls have. If the argument that Susanna was trying to present is that they weren't really insane, but rather victims of the machine, then we also have to take their selfishness at base value. If this is true, then they need a complete reality check.

While in the hospital, they watch Bobby Seale being dragged into court and compare themselves with him. Again we have the 'poor misunderstood white girl is a victim' attitude. I noticed this present in the The Bell Jar, but did not comment on it because of the time period it was written in. This was written in 1992.

When I read these books about suicide or insanity = feminism -- The Awakening, The Yellow Wallpaper -- there is a reversed sort of sexism present. By keeping these double standards nothing is accomplished. Notice that only three males are named in this entire book. The names of her husbands and boyfriends are not present. While there was a considerable amount of sexism back then, men were also in asylums.

This book was alright, but I still prefer The Catcher in the Rye. 2.5 stars.

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Oct 08, 2011 Gina Denny rated it 2 of 5 stars

DNF

I have been crazy busy for a couple of weeks and haven't had a lot of time to read and this book has been languishing on my nightstand, half completed, awaiting my return. However, I noticed today that I have been reading magazines, not feeling the slightest pull to finish this book. That means it's just not good enough, I guess.

This reminds me of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" for a lot of reasons. The main protagonist insists that they have been committed unjustly- they are not crazy, b...more

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Oct 28, 2008 Chloeeeee rated it 5 of 5 stars

Chloe Doto
Mrs. Ebarvia
World Cultures
October 20th

For my outside reading, I chose to read Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen. Kaysen has also written Asa, As I Knew Him and Far Afield. She currently lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Girl, Interrupted is an ingenious memoir of Kaysen's stay in McLean Mental Hospital for attempted suicide and a condition called “Personality Disorder”. Kaysen describes her life before entering the hospital, the events that occur while inside of the institution, and

...more Chloe Doto
Mrs. Ebarvia
World Cultures
October 20th

For my outside reading, I chose to read Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen. Kaysen has also written Asa, As I Knew Him and Far Afield. She currently lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Girl, Interrupted is an ingenious memoir of Kaysen's stay in McLean Mental Hospital for attempted suicide and a condition called “Personality Disorder”. Kaysen describes her life before entering the hospital, the events that occur while inside of the institution, and herself upon checking out. Rage, suicide, fear, and frustration fuel this searing novel. Kaysen sets out to answer the unanswerable questions of life and discover herself throughout her encounters.

It is very interesting to see life through the eyes of the author, especially because of her mental condition. The author creatively inserted photo copies of the notes that her doctors had taken regarding her condition during their sessions. I thoroughly enjoyed the way Kaysen describes the dynamic of the hospital. For example, the patient-nurse versus the patient-patient relationships vary greatly. Depending on one’s behavior, the patients receive more rights or vise versa. Not only does Kaysen describe life inside of the asylum, but she also colorfully describes rules, regulations, and norms among the patients. In the novel, there is one overriding, “queen bee” character named Lisa. Everyone on their floor knows not to threaten her power, or else. Kaysen wrote the novel in the form of diaries regarding events and feelings, which makes it personal and full of emotion. Kaysen became very close with her fellow patients during her stay and she passes along that same bond to her readers.

To make the novel more interesting, I think that the author could have had a more prominent ultimate plot or dying question that needed to be answered. Although that would be difficult because it is a memoir, I almost felt that I was missing a part of the novel by not being aware of an overall storyline. Throughout the novel, Kaysen also skips from chapter to chapter in her life, which can cause confusion at times.

Overall, the novel was sensational. It was one of the most provoking and dark novels I've ever read. It might not be a good choice for younger readers because of the language and adult topics it discusses. Anyone that enjoys pondering deep questions concerning life, its meaning, and relationships would love Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen.

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Sep 19, 2008 Kellie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2007-reads, non-fiction, autobiography-biography-memoir

-This is 2 books in a row I have read about mental illness. I don’t mean to be harsh here but I did not like this book at all. It was a lot like An Unquiet Mind. It seemed sporadic and cold. Maybe because it was written from the point of view from a person who has mental illness. Maybe the difficulty is with organizing thoughts and time. I am not sure but for me, it was a difficult read. I also found it odd that Susanna said very little about her family. This was a book about her but I find it h...more

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Mar 30, 2009 Andy rated it 5 of 5 stars

I had orginally seen the movie that was based on this book, before reading it. But the way that the author writes, and the thoughts she gives on psychology, and her disorder in general, throughout the book is amazing. Check it out, especially if you like 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest'.

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Mar 17, 2008 Vassilissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: memoir, mentalillness

Surprisingly light and insubstantial - it was like a series of Times articles. Good, though - very good and smart, if a bit too 'literary'.

Anyone who thinks it's 'a compelling and heartbreaking story' is, as the author herself noted, distancing themselves from the scary. Understandable, sure, but unhelpful.

I think the movie was a good adaptation, though with the usual film touches like having them all go to see Daisy in her apartment. Imposing a narrative on what's more like a collection of memo...more

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Mar 10, 2012 Amber added it

Amber Randol
Controversial/Banned

Susanna Kaysen was admitted to McLean Hospital in the 1960s for two years, when she thought she would only be there for a week or two to get some rest. She made friends in the hospital and was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. The patients were under constant supervision, and even though she complains throughout the book, you can also tell she felt safe there. Her entire experience there is recounted, from "checks" the nurses did, outings they were a...more

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Mar 27, 2013 Kristin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Girl, Interrupted is a memoir about the author's experiences in McLean Hospital where she is diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. I really enjoyed reading about her experiences at the hospital and the other patients who she was friends with. I felt like I was inside the author's mind as she tries to understand the difference between her and "normal" and "sane" people. Some of the parts were hard to follow, as she got very technical and it seemed a little "crazy" at points, but that is...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Xondra Day rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In 1967 after a brief period of hardship in her life and a quick evaluation from a psychaitrist that she had never seen before, Susanna Kaysen is admitted to a psychaitric hospital.

What follows is her account of her two year stay on a women's ward. At times I felt sad reading Susanna's story. She also details her friends lives that she met during her time as an inpatient. There are also some lighter moments that had me laughing out loud.

This is a great autobiography. It gives great insight and s...more

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Jan 07, 2013 Soham Chakraborty rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mental-illness, psychological

'Don't you see, she is trying to get out to life'. This is the prime high in this novel where everything boils down to the state of mind Susanna Kaysen was having and the gloomy society that locked down her adolescence into a psychiatric ward. She is trying to get out of the life but she can't. She can't make the society understand that with her flaws, she can stay. She can stay, not survive. That she can do anywhere, but she can stay without doubting her doubts too much.

In this epic story of me...more 'Don't you see, she is trying to get out to life'. This is the prime high in this novel where everything boils down to the state of mind Susanna Kaysen was having and the gloomy society that locked down her adolescence into a psychiatric ward. She is trying to get out of the life but she can't. She can't make the society understand that with her flaws, she can stay. She can stay, not survive. That she can do anywhere, but she can stay without doubting her doubts too much.

In this epic story of mental health and life in a mental hospital for girls, we read about 18 year old Susanne Kaysen and the other inmates of the ward. Their daily longing for freedom, for a sane life yet at the same time succumbing to the psychiatric hospital for shelter. It acts as a shade and rain in their life. A shade that they want because deep inside they know that society is not so acceptable and rain because they are treated like mental patients inside. However, none of them surrender to the theory of being a mental patient.

Susanne for example is quite good in English and Biology, she is a perfectly fine girl who can bond well with boys and get boyfriends but she also wonders whether there are any bones in her hand. And she tries to scratch off the skin and tissues in her hand trying to see whether there are any bones. This duality, this polychromatic character is being recognized as borderline personality disorder. But, isn't it really sane to question your insanity. Otherwise, how you are going to be satisfied with your inner self, a knowledge of self prudence that says yes I am sane. There are always two sides of the same character, one in which you go in flow with what expects you to and one in which you expect yourself to be and in the middle line if you find it hard to straddle a balance between yourself and society, you are a borderline personality.

With the gritty perforations of the psychiatric ward, this is a must have book for people who are interested in human psychology and its representation in literature. This book is a personal memoir of Susanne Kaysen, whose two years of youth was just snatched by a sign in a paper by a doctor who she met for twenty minutes and subsequently sent off to an address, which later became inscribed into her very essence.

Interestingly critique, darkly satirical, genuinely lively - this is a memorable account of a life in a psychiatric ward and of borderline personality depression. A story for all of us who have been opportune enough to see two images coming out from the same picture. Yes, the society will not understand us, but we understand how to live our lives and that is well, enough. Because it is your choice, to be sane or insane. It is your choice to be remain in your shell and not caring about societal affairs. That wind is too mild to even touch us, let alone change our introvert mind.

Soham Chakraborty - 8/1/2013 (less)

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Dec 25, 2012 Eva rated it 4 of 5 stars

Quotes:

Actually, it was only part of myself that I wanted to kill: the part that wanted to kill herself, that dragged me into the suicide debate and made ever window, kitchen implement, and subway station a rehearsal for tragedy. - p37

Lunatics are similar to designated hitters. Often an entire family is crazy, but since an entire family can't go into the hospital, one person is designated as crazy and goes inside. Then, depending on how the rest of the family is feeling, that person is kept insi...more Quotes:

Actually, it was only part of myself that I wanted to kill: the part that wanted to kill herself, that dragged me into the suicide debate and made ever window, kitchen implement, and subway station a rehearsal for tragedy. - p37

Lunatics are similar to designated hitters. Often an entire family is crazy, but since an entire family can't go into the hospital, one person is designated as crazy and goes inside. Then, depending on how the rest of the family is feeling, that person is kept inside or snatched out. - p95

"Lean back and count to ten," said the dentist. Before I got to four I was sitting up with a hole in my mouth.
"Where did it go?" I asked him.
He held up my tooth, huge, bloody, spiked, and wrinkled.
But I'd been asking about the time. I was ahead of myself. He's dropped me into the future, and I didn't know what had happened to the time in between. -p108

...I discovered the tunnels. We say that Columbus discovered America and Newton discovered gravity, as though America and gravity weren't there until Columbus and Newton got wind of them. This was the way I felt about the tunnels. They weren't news to anybody else, but they made such an impression on me that I felt I'd conjured them into being. - p119

Luckily, I got a marriage proposal and they let me out [despite not having a job]. In 1968, everybody could understand a marriage proposal. - p133

[The mind]'s full of claims and reasons. "You're a little depressed because of all the stress at work," it says. (It never says, "You're a little depressed because your serotonin level has dropped.") - p138

Sometimes, when you've realized that your train is not really moving, you can spend another half a minute suspended between two realms of consciousness: the one that knows you aren't moving and the one that feels you are. You can flit back and forth between these perceptions and experience a sort of mental vertigo. - p141

If the biochemists were able to demonstrate the physical workings of neuroses (phobias, or difficulties getting pleasure from life), if they could pinpoint the chemicals and impulses and interbrain conversations and information exchanges that constitute these feelings, would the psychoanalysts pack up their ids and egos and retire from the field? - p142

I went [to the consciousness-raising group] often enough to become suspicious of marriage, and of my husband in particular. I picked stupid fights with him. It was hard to find something to fight about. He did the cooking and the shopping, and he did a fair amount of cleaning too. I spent most of my time reading and painting watercolors. - p161(less)

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Dec 17, 2012 Molly rated it 3 of 5 stars

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Dec 11, 2012 Aria rated it 3 of 5 stars

Girl, Interrupted is a memoir written by Susanna Kaysen. Kaysen writes about her time spent in McLean Hospital, a psychiatric hospital, in the 1960s.
I seem to be drawn to books that center around a distressed female character that has some kind of personality defect. I had high expectations for this book since I really enjoyed the movie. Although the book had it's interesting parts and was somewhat relatable for me, it did not live up to my expectations. The book doesn't really have a distinct...more

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