When The Music's Over: My Journey Into Schizophrenia

by Ross David Burke

An autobiographical novel provides an intimate look inside the schizophrenic mind and describes the narrator's experiences in jail, mental hospitals, and attempting to function in "normal society"

Genres: Psychology, Mental Health, Nonfiction, Memoir, Writing

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Domenico Francesco]

Un mio pensiero in merito a questa piccola chicca nascosta qui: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_RuP...

Sono sempre piacevolmente sorpreso quando case editrici italiane si soffermano su questo genere di opere, libri cult ancora troppo poco noti che meritano la riscoperta. Attualmente è fuori catalogo ma rimane un libro con un suo piccolo seguito, merita una riscoperta.

Stiamo parlando dell'autobiografia di un ragazzo sofferente di schizofrenia, un libro che nonostante sia letteralmente una discesa nella follia (sia nei contenuti che nella forma) sa essere anche divertente e autoironico, trascendendo il dolore stesso raccontandolo nella maniera più vivida immaginabile, superando anche lo stesso mezzo del linguaggio e della forma.

[Kate]

This is my absolute favorite book.

[Stacey]

As I read this book I could not help but feel crazy myself. It could have simply been the weather but after reading of Sphere's schizophrenic delusions, I couldn't help but think that maybe everything in my world is made up. It became too easy to relate and believe the things that were written.
I felt as thought I had really gotten to know Ross David Burke, and actually liked him and almost would have liked to been involved in some of his adventures. Almost.
The catch is that Burke is a schizophrenic who commits suicide and spends much of his adult life seeking treatment for his illness. Most of the book is false. Many of the adventures never happened, but for the reader it is easy to forget this fact.
There are rare moments when the non-ill Burke shines through and you get to know the true story. An example is when he admits that the love of his life Elysium Dream,the center of many of the tales, were only together for three weeks.
In the beginning of the book there is a biography of Ross David Burke that outlines most of his life. This is how the reader becomes aware that most of the tales are delusions are false. I would highly recommend reading this after finishing the novel. It seems more appropriate.

[Katelynn]

I read this book for a book report that I did in Abnormal Psychology. I cannot say that this was a good book, nor can I say it was a bad book. If you want to learn more about what is going on inside the mind of someone who has schizophrenia, then this is the book for you. I will warn you it is disturbing at times and can be hard to understand. I think it is very interesting anyway.

[Jocky]

Found it occasionally in a music shelf in a second-hand bookstore in Pittsburgh, then became the first book I started among a full suitcase of books bought during the US trip. Started on the flight to New York and was so shocked by the introduction. The main text was in comparison less dramatic and slowed down my progress / my interests to read. Has a good epilogue with scientific backgrounds and introductions, as well as a further reading list

[Jennifer]

More like a 2.5. This is an older book and I enjoyed the discussions about Schizophrenia and I understand Ross's story is to show how he was functioning during his disease progression, but I did have to skim through parts of it just to be able to finish it.

[Kathie Yang]

When I was 14, I wrote that I wished I could read a book about someone else who was completely in their head. I think this is it.

An interesting insight into schizophrenia.

[Jimmy]

Wow!! A schizophrenic man's autobiography. Absolutely amazing!

[Jeanique]

Wow, this book and my mind reeling, it really does give you a perspective of Schizophrenia that many people never see, it humanizes it. Excellent.

[Dror Rosenbach]

Haunting.