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Sex, Drugs, and Psychiatric Wards
A graphic coming-of-age tale of a fragile young woman entering a notorious party college in California and encountering a world of drug-fueled parties, obsessive bar-hopping, and countless encounters with the opposite sex. After a series of events involving drugs, alcohol, and men, the young woman descends into a series of mental breakdowns.
213 pages, Paperback
First published March 7, 2010
139 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 3, 2012
I still don't really know what this book was about! It felt like I was reading about a drunken, drug induced sex party... Oh wait... I was!
There was a lot of graphic sex and drug abuse in this book. A lot of 'partying' it seemed to all blur into one and I found it all rather dreary in the end.
I didn't like Lucy at all, the main character of the story should be one that people relate to, or at least like, but she was one dimensional and shallow and rather boring unless she was on drugs or drunk.
I don't think this is a good book for young people, it glorifies the drug abuse and flagrant sex and alcohol abuse and puts it in a light that almost makes it ok. By no means is Lucy's use of these substances a good thing, but she has so much 'fun' while using, it could come across as promoting it.
The supposed mental break downs were just an excuse for Lucy to act completely mental, none of it made any sense, the emotional side was all wrong, I didn't like this at all. I thought that Lucy came across as completely out of control, and the handelling of this by her friends/parents/doctors was wrong. A number of times throughout the book I was left wondering if this person (Lucy) would even be allowed to be on her own. I know I would have stepped in and done something if she were a friend of mine.
There is also a scene in the book (towards the end) that I thought was so utterly appalling I nearly threw my kindle across the room. What sort of person does that to someone else they supposedly love? I mean really! I would have probably killed the a$$!
I don't live in the US, perhaps this is part of the reason why Sex, Drugs and Psychiatric Wards didn't work for me, but I'll give Eve this, she didn't mince words with the title. That is exactly what you'll get in this book!
I wouldn't recommend it. I don't understand the high reviews for this book, unless that's the sort of thing you like to read, it put me off completely.
Also, this book could do with a look over by an editor, there were a lot of small issues (but I was too annoyed at the book to note them down). Sorry Eve, just not my thing!
NOTE: I receieved a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review
There was a lot of graphic sex and drug abuse in this book. A lot of 'partying' it seemed to all blur into one and I found it all rather dreary in the end.
I didn't like Lucy at all, the main character of the story should be one that people relate to, or at least like, but she was one dimensional and shallow and rather boring unless she was on drugs or drunk.
I don't think this is a good book for young people, it glorifies the drug abuse and flagrant sex and alcohol abuse and puts it in a light that almost makes it ok. By no means is Lucy's use of these substances a good thing, but she has so much 'fun' while using, it could come across as promoting it.
The supposed mental break downs were just an excuse for Lucy to act completely mental, none of it made any sense, the emotional side was all wrong, I didn't like this at all. I thought that Lucy came across as completely out of control, and the handelling of this by her friends/parents/doctors was wrong. A number of times throughout the book I was left wondering if this person (Lucy) would even be allowed to be on her own. I know I would have stepped in and done something if she were a friend of mine.
There is also a scene in the book (towards the end) that I thought was so utterly appalling I nearly threw my kindle across the room. What sort of person does that to someone else they supposedly love? I mean really! I would have probably killed the a$$!
I don't live in the US, perhaps this is part of the reason why Sex, Drugs and Psychiatric Wards didn't work for me, but I'll give Eve this, she didn't mince words with the title. That is exactly what you'll get in this book!
I wouldn't recommend it. I don't understand the high reviews for this book, unless that's the sort of thing you like to read, it put me off completely.
Also, this book could do with a look over by an editor, there were a lot of small issues (but I was too annoyed at the book to note them down). Sorry Eve, just not my thing!
NOTE: I receieved a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review
March 26, 2012
"Sex, Drugs, and Psychiatric Wards" by Eve Lopez reads like a diary, and an honest one at that. I often forgot that it wasn't true. I don't have much in common with Lucy, the main character, but within a few pages I was totally connected to her.I found myself wanting better things for her and for her to find love and happiness. But Eve Lopez created this amazing young woman and never slipped an inch. She stayed completely true to this character, in every event, situation, and dialogue. Soon after, I would think,'Yeah, Lucy would definitely say that.' I became pretty close to this young, lost woman and cherished my evening time I got to read about her.
Lucy was raised in a very destructive home. Leaving for college was her true beginning to find her place in this world. Her mother was mentally ill and had abandoned her, and her father was detached and put his daughter on the back burner. I believe Lucy went away to college to run. To be free of all her pain she couldn't express verbally. She was running from her fears, and running from the truths she knew were there all along. Not fitting in at college made her run again, but the transportation she chose was alcohol and drugs. Mental health units, suicide attempts, and self-destructive behavior almost brought her to the end.
This is such a thought provoking novel. If you take your time reading this book, as did I, you'll find many different facets to Lucy, and many underlying psychological problems that were well threaded in this book. Being a nurse for as long as I was, I can tell you that Lucy's story isn't off base. Neither was her medical treatment or anything else she went through. I found myself wanting to reach out to her, even though I knew she was fictional. That just tells you something about this writer's wonderful ability.
If there was a sequel to this novel, I would love that. I would like to find out what happens to Lucy after she arrives in New York, when she grows up...all of it. This is definitely an author I will follow. She is an amazing story teller.
Lucy was raised in a very destructive home. Leaving for college was her true beginning to find her place in this world. Her mother was mentally ill and had abandoned her, and her father was detached and put his daughter on the back burner. I believe Lucy went away to college to run. To be free of all her pain she couldn't express verbally. She was running from her fears, and running from the truths she knew were there all along. Not fitting in at college made her run again, but the transportation she chose was alcohol and drugs. Mental health units, suicide attempts, and self-destructive behavior almost brought her to the end.
This is such a thought provoking novel. If you take your time reading this book, as did I, you'll find many different facets to Lucy, and many underlying psychological problems that were well threaded in this book. Being a nurse for as long as I was, I can tell you that Lucy's story isn't off base. Neither was her medical treatment or anything else she went through. I found myself wanting to reach out to her, even though I knew she was fictional. That just tells you something about this writer's wonderful ability.
If there was a sequel to this novel, I would love that. I would like to find out what happens to Lucy after she arrives in New York, when she grows up...all of it. This is definitely an author I will follow. She is an amazing story teller.
August 7, 2012
As you may have noticed from my reviews, I tend to read mostly mysteries and fantasies, so this isn't the kind of book I normally pick up. However, I vaguely know the author via her website (and the fact that she edited my book), so I decided to give it a read. It was incredibly well written and totally sucked me in (I read it in one sitting), but oh so depressing. As the blurb says, it's the coming of age tale of a young woman, focusing mostly on her time at college - and dealing mainly with her drug use and interactions with the male sex. While I couldn't at all relate to her drug use, I could definitely relate to a lot of her interactions with the men in the tale, very few of which were positive. The book ends on a positive note, although after following the main character's life up to that point, I found myself thinking that there was no way the next stage of her life would be any different. Like I said - depressing. Although, so is life, and perhaps that's the point.
August 11, 2013
Goodreads giveaway... I was thrilled to have won a copy of this. Unfortunately, I found some of the characters disappointing. Not one to suffer fools gladly, I struggled to like the main character, as she seemed to spiral constantly out of control. I'm sure this is a very realistic portrayal but not all people with a disadvantaged upbringing end up like this. The suggestion that virtually all men are downright nasty human beings I found very annoying and unrealistic - especially one character!... There did seem a singular theme of drugs and sex (which shouldn't surprise me bearing in mine the title) but it did get a bit "samey". I loved the short diary-like chapters, and it was a page-turner - which resulted in a 2-day finish!
March 1, 2013
This book is an eclectic tale that goes deep into the psyche of a troubled girl and deals with every issue in the title and more. I don't typically read a lot of books in this genre, but as a whole, this story did capture my interest. There were elements (strong language and graphic behaviors) that I don't personally agree with, but the psychological passion in Eve's novel compensates. The characters are riveting, and they will grip your heart in an instant. You may see yourself reflected in the college students, desperately searching for meaning and companionship. Or you might sympathize with the deeper issues of abuse, self-medicating and mental illness. Overall, an entertaining read!
April 9, 2012
This is a gritty and intense novel following a young woman’s battle with drugs, insecurity and mental illness. The honest and authentic style brought the heroine Lucy instantly to life, so that I often felt as though she were speaking to me directly. I experienced everything along with her, from the hurt left over from her unhappy childhood, to her attempt to lose herself in a haze of sex and drugs, and her eventual mental collapse. The author certainly doesn’t shy away from the unpleasant. This is a novel packed with emotion and graphic detail, and I won’t be able to forget it for a while.
March 23, 2012
If you love Augustin B., you will also love this writer. Very emotionally raw and sometimes difficult to read, but I wasn't able to put it down. I wish I could write as truthfully.
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March 29, 2012Read a sample...should be a cracker!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews