The Butterfly Ward

by Margaret Gibson, Margaret Gibson Gilboord

These six stories compel the reader to come to terms with the reality of madness. Like Sylvia Plath, Maragret Gilboord understands the essential sanity, as well as the vulnerability, of her characters. THe urgency of her style, the broken rhythms, the obsessive use of private language, at once conceal this truth and reveal it.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Mental Health

133 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1980

About the author

Margaret Gibson was a Canadian novelist and short story writer who lived in Toronto, Ontario. Gibson began writing in the early 1970s to document her struggle with mental illness. Biographical references are, however, in conflict as to whether Gibson suffered from schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. She died in 2006 of breast cancer, aged 57.

Reviews

[Zechy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stories about life in a mental institution

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Making It” made me cry thanks a lot Margaret Gibson Gilboord

[Daniel Vassallo · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredibly thought provoking and depressing collection of six short stories. They deal predominately with topics of mental health, pregnancy, women's health, gender and misplaced hope.

I can't imagine I'll ever read this collection a second time but I'm happy I was able to find a copy at a used bookstore.

[Leah Terhune · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book after watching/finding the movie Outrageous, based on Gibson’s semi-autobiographical short story Making It. Recommend the book, the movie and will seek out more books by this author. So grateful for libraries as I think this is out of print.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic work of well-told stories with a personal twist. No belittling or demeaning herein, just experiential truth.

[Goe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of the stories in here are horrifyingly beautiful. Gibson finds a unique perspective for each of the characters and envelopes the reader into their own world.

[Xondra Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection of short stories that really made me think.