zed ’s review of The Cupboard Under the Stairs > Likes and Comments

I do like the way you've interrogated this novel from the perspective of contemporary treatment of mental illness while also respecting Turner's authenticity in presenting how things were in his context.
I also like what you say about PTSD. It's not so long since I part-read (and threw across the room) a novel which purported to offer a cure for PTSD after childhood trauma with an Aboriginal smoking ceremony. It's all very well to write respectfully about traditional practices in fiction, but it made me so angry that any author could write such rubbish. If a smoking ceremony could cure the widespread trauma of our First Nations or anybody else, there would be fires burning all over Australia and then everyone would be fine.
I'm going to link your review to mine:)

A very well-thought out review zed! Living as I do in a village, I entirely agree with the author's comments about the unsuitability of a gossipy small town as the location for Harry's rehabilitation.

In terms of psychiatry as a "young science not yet grown to mastery", I think the same can be said today. Of course it's welcome to see the greater humanity that is now offered to patients, but it doesn't seem to have made much impact on the prevalence of mental health problems in society. I can't help thinking that in another 60-70 years, the theories of today will seem as outmoded as those set out in the novel.

I realised that i've read one of this guy's science fiction novels "The Sea and Summer" some years ago. It's published as part of the SF Masterworks series. It's pretty rare that an author can be great in two genres but apparently he did it.

Lisa wrote: "I do like the way you've interrogated this novel from the perspective of contemporary treatment of mental illness while also respecting Turner's authenticity in presenting how things were in his co..."

Thanks, Lisa. I don't think there is a "solution" to some mental health issues based on what I have been reading on this subject.

Ian wrote: "A very well-thought out review zed! Living as I do in a village, I entirely agree with the author's comments about the unsuitability of a gossipy small town as the location for Harry's rehabilitati..."

Agree Ian. What I am reading is that our modern understanding of neurobiology, trauma-informed care, and genetics has moved on leaps and bounds, but there are no diagnostic tools such as blood test, brain scan, or genetic markers that tell this science too much.

Lewis wrote: "I realised that i've read one of this guy's science fiction novels "The Sea and Summer" some years ago. It's published as part of the SF Masterworks series. It's pretty rare that an author can be g..."

I read "The Sea and Summer" a couple of years back. Other than a couple of ill developed characters for me, it had really stood the test of time in terms of concept. For me 2 out of 2 very good reads so far as George Turners books go. However, I do think the predominantly Sci Fi reader may not like this one.

I’ve not heard of Turner before and this sounds like a powerful and disturbing book. The 60s isn’t that long ago when you think about it, and I remember the sense of outrage when some of the mental health institutional practices came to light - Callan Park in Sydney comes to mind. I have two close friends who have suffered profound psychosis, both of whom have been helped by tailored ect. But this must always be an experimental process - you can’t measure the brain or the effects of trauma, as you say.
I admire your aim to read all Miles Franklin winners. A formidable task.

Lyn wrote: "I’ve not heard of Turner before and this sounds like a powerful and disturbing book. The 60s isn’t that long ago when you think about it, and I remember the sense of outrage when some of the mental..."

Thanks for the comment Lyn.

Gosh, "Callan Park Hospital for the Insane" is the wiki title! Thanks for letting me know of this. I have just read that wiki and a couple of other items. In my opinion Turner was writing about a theoretical ideal of humane treatment, while the Royal Commission was exposing a systemic reality that mirrors Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. I am about 100 pages into One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest the two books are chalk and cheese. Kesey got his ideas, from what I have read, from his time working in a psychiatric hospital. I have found little on Turners reason for his book other that a few comments on his bio. But as attractive as Keseys book is, counter culture etc, Turners is social realism. Kessys book can stand the test of time, and as much as I rate Turners, it will not. It took a reprint via untapped a couple of years back for me to even be able to get a copy.

And as to my aim to read all Miles Franklin winners, I am unable to find A Horse of Air by Dal Stivens for a fair price. That really makes it a formidable task!