Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan 4*

[Jennifer]

I intended to read this for the July tag, but I barely started by the end of the month, but it fits this tag. Cahalan is a young up and coming *entertainment* reporter at the NY Post. At 24 she begins exhibiting some odd behavior, seizures and other physical symptoms. The book follows the progression of her illness, the diagnosis, treatment and then the big picture. I listened to the audiobook, which I thought was well-done (I wasn't crazy about the accent they gave her main doctor but otherwise it was good).

Cahalan has no memory from the time she was "mad" and the story is told in the first person. She gives a disclaimer at the beginning of the book and tells the reader how she got the information to write the book and she even refers back to that later but this felt odd at times. It felt like she spoke about her state of mind from periods she shouldn't have remembered. She couldn't write so she didn't keep a diary during that time either.

But the book was certainly interesting and I always find it facinating how little we know about medicine and disease.

[Karin]

Another plug for this book. I once took it out, but had too many books out and didn't get to it. One of these years...

[Jennifer]

It's interesting and worth reading I think. I'm pretty sure that I heard about it here during memoir month.

[Susie]

It sounds really interesting. I have a friend who had an isolated psychotic break for about three months. It was amazing to see how many friends she had that didn't stand by her while it was happening. I suppose because I am familiar with mental health conditions from my work I found it less confronting, but it did raise questions about the conditional nature of friendship.

[Jennifer]

I used to work in schizophrenia research and it seemed so much like psychosis and she was right around the right age. She is so lucky her parents were able to be so involved in her care. I was surprised by the number of people who did visit her actually.

[Susie]

I think I need to read it!

[Book Concierge]

I read it for MEMOIR month. 3.5*** for me. I listened to the audio; Heather Henderson did a fabulous job reading this book.

[Jennifer]

Book Concierge wrote: "I read it for MEMOIR month. 3.5*** for me. I listened to the audio; Heather Henderson did a fabulous job reading this book."
I listened too and liked it, except for the accent she gave the doctor that was Indian/Middle Eastern? I'm not sure exactly what she was going for. The dialogue where Susannah is so confused was great though, I really appreciated what she was going through.

Susie wrote: "I think I need to read it!" I think you would like it.