I2: A fictional book involving a character with mental health challenges (Allison's pick)

[Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺]

I2: A fictional book involving a character with mental health challenges (Allison's pick)

[Allison]

I haven't totally decided yet, but I'm strongly considering The Outside Circle: A Graphic Novel. My Secret Sender mailed it to me this year, and I can't wait to get to it!

[Heather(Gibby)]

I was perusing peoples plans and looking for some ideas and I noticed there is a lot of Memoirs NF in people's plans, and the task specifically states fiction.

Anyone who has read Surfacing or Cat's Eye do you think either of theses fit this task?

[Allison]

This is the square I was assigned. I was meaning fiction, actually, as I am very interested to see how people interpret mental health and translate it into fiction. I also find that the fiction genre lends a great deal of creativity that non-fiction doesn’t. Bellevue Square is a great example (and the one that inspired this square) but of course there are many other examples.

Heather, I’ve read Cat’s Eye. For me it doesn’t seem like a novel about mental health — but again, it’s all interpretation, so if it speaks to you, then good!

[❀ Susan]

If I Fall, If I Die is a great one for this square.

[Mj]

Per the question for suggestions of non-memoir fictional novel that could be used for I2 fiction books dealing with mental health challenges, I would like to suggest the following possibilities. All are written by Canadian authors.

My interpretation is fiction novels that involve any challenges to the characters' best possible mental health and so are not limited to mental illnesses per se but also include social and other challenges that make strong mental health for them more difficult.

I have read the first 10 fiction novels listed and liked some more than others but feel that all would satisfy the I2 Bingo Square Requirement outlined. The rest of the fiction novels have either been on my radar for a while or are recent titles I've just become interested in and would fit the bill as well.

I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid
A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki
Trust Your Eyes by Linwood Barclay
Y by Marjorie Celona
Monoceros by Suzette Mayr
The Girl Who Grew a Galaxy by Cherie Dimaline
February by Lisa Moore
Bone & Bread by Saleema Nawaz
Martin John by Anakana Schofield
Cockroach by Rawi Hage

The Ever After of Ashwin Rao by Padma Viswanathan
Pilgrim by Timothy Findley
The Flying Troutmans by Miriam Toews
By the Time You Read This by Giles Blunt #4 in John Cardinal and Lisa Delorme Mystery Series
All Families are Psychotic by Douglas Coupland
A Secret Music by Susan Doherty Hannaford
School of Velocity by Eric Beck Rubin
The Mercy Journals by Claudia Casper

[Allison]

Thanks for this MJ! Cool list!

Agreed — the idea of this Square was to explore what authors could do with a “other than best possible” state of mental health. I definitely agree that sociological impact on mental health could influence choices here. My own choice of The Outside Circle sort of fits that bill, really.

I hope people get creative with this square and learn something while exploring options!

[Mj]

Appreciate your comment Allison. I think your square choice provides many options for participants. Mental Health is such an important topic and we can all learn more. Am looking forward to reading about the selections everyone chooses.

[Kim]

Heather(Gibby) wrote: "I was perusing peoples plans and looking for some ideas and I noticed there is a lot of Memoirs NF in people's plans, and the task specifically states fiction.

Anyone who has read [book:Surfacing..."

Maybe Cat's Eye. the character is certainly tormented and affected by another character in the book.

[Kim]

I just finished The Shoe on the Roof by Will Ferguson, it's definitely about mental health. I gave it a 3.5 stars. The story is a bit scattered, lots going on, but he's such a good writer he holds it together.

[Ann-Marie]

Swing Low by Miriam Toews would be good for this one, as would Puny Sorrows... both fiction (Swing Low slightly less fictional).

[Allison]

Interestingly, Swing Low is on the 100 true stories that make you proud to be Canadian list, so I think it’s really meant to represent a true experience, and less so fiction. In fact, I’m planning to use it for that square for 2018!

[Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺]

I am considering An Audience of Chairs for this square.

[Story]

The father in The Cure for Death by Lightning has serious mental health issues.

[Heather(Gibby)]

Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺ wrote: "I am considering An Audience of Chairs for this square."

That is an excellent novel

[Ann-Marie]

You're right @Alison, it is billed as a memoir... when you read it I'd love to discuss! I'd say it's based on truth... but lots of buts !

[Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺]

I read Swing Low recently @Ann-Marie and was surprised to see it in on CBC’s 100 True Stories list. I guess the facts are there, but Toews writes from her deceased father’s POV, which makes it fiction ultimately IMO. I rather enjoyed it. Hope you do too!

[Barbara]

I think these ones would also work (based on the blurbs, I haven't read any of them):

The Clay Girl
Bellevue Square
Martin John
Cluck

[Allison]

Bellevue Square for sure! It’s the book that inspired this square actually. I loved it. Haven’t read the others, but I think you’re right @Barbara that they’d fit.

[❀ Susan]

We read and met the author of The Clay Girl at book club. It was a fantastic book and evening!

[Mj]

If people like mystery/thrillers and haven't yet read Linwood Barclay, a Canadian author who's a favourite of Stephen King, you might want to read Trust Your Eyes for Bingo Square I20 (forgot to add it in my earlier list of suggestions.)

I'd categorize the book as more of a mystery than some of the real thrillers Barclay has written but he does a great job of character development in this book and one of the primary characters is an an obsessive, schizophrenic map collector with an amazing memory for maps and detail. Barclay really brings him to life and it would be a great choice for a work of fiction involving a character with mental health issues.

[Allison]

Cool suggestion. Thanks, MJ!

[Petra]

❀ Susan wrote: "We read and met the author of The Clay Girl at book club. It was a fantastic book and evening!"

Susan, how wonderful that you met the author! I read this book and thought it was marvelous.

I wouldn't say it had a character with a mental illness, though. I found the characters (all of them) trying to make the best of a terrible situation. I didn't see any of them suffering from a mental illness (in my opinion).
Ari was such a fantastic character.

[❀ Susan]

It was one of our best book club author events of all time. She shared all of her mixed media journal and was very open. check out a few more details and pics of her art: https://ayearofbooksblog.com/2018/05/...

[Petra]

Wow! That sounds like a great evening. She is an author I'd like to meet, if given a chance. Your book club lucked out having her there.

I'm also looking forward to her next book.

[Ann-Marie]

Was coming on to say The Woo-Woo would totally count.... but I forgot the bingo checkmark is fiction.

And realized I didn’t reply to Alison & Alison :) I loved Swing Low - actually so much that I bought it for a friend whose spouse is having a rough time right now to help her empathize. It’s a relatable tale and desperately sad since he’s just so misunderstood. Ironically, in the writing of the book I think the author finally figured her dad out, yet too late. True story or fictionalized truth... it’s a superb story.

[Allison]

I ended up reading My Sister, the Serial Killer for this square. Not a Canadian choice, and not the world's greatest read. However, when it was done, I did take a moment to reflect on the author's depiction of sociopath/psychotic behaviour. Literally, a serial killer with no remorse, no sense of responsibility or pain over her actions. I found it more impactful AFTER the book was done, reflecting on how the person with mental health was presented. Would be a good book club read.