Mentally unbalanced characters

[Catherine]

Can anyone recommend a good book with a mentally unstable character at the core of the plot? Not mentally handicapped, not serial-killer psycho, and not suffering from recent trauma. More of a not-quite-normal character who unnerves people but they can`t quite say why. (Ticking time bomb or edge of madness kind of unstable would be great.) A Dangerous Woman by Mary McGarry Morris is one - if you know of another, but written for teens, please let me know. Thanks.

[Brenda]

Catherine wrote: "Can anyone recommend a good book with a mentally unstable character at the core of the plot? Not mentally handicapped, not serial-killer psycho, and not suffering from recent trauma. More of a not-..."

Have you read "Inexcusable" by Chris Lynch? It's about rape and the story is told from the POV of the guy who raped his best girl friend. Your inside his head and he's REALLY unstable. It's a YA novel. Very well done and a good read.

[Julie]

I'm not exactly sure what you are looking for, but here are some that may or may not fit your criteria:

[Catherine]

Brenda wrote: "Catherine wrote...

Thanks, Brenda. I will try Inexcusable, although I'm not good with stories about sexual violence and usually avoid them. But I read some reviews and, as you said, it's supposed to be well done.

[Catherine]

Julie wrote: "I'm not exactly sure what you are looking for

Thanks for the many suggestions, Julie. I will try some of those for sure. I love Gail Giles and haven't read Right Behind You, and Liar sounds up my alley, too.

[Brenda]

Catherine wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Catherine wrote...

Thanks, Brenda. I will try Inexcusable, although I'm not good with stories about sexual violence and usually avoid them. But I read some reviews and, as you sai..."

Hi Catherine, Just to let you know - - the book starts just after the rape incident takes place. The book's focus is on the perspective of the unreliable narrator and how he justifies his behavior to himself.

[Angelene]

Brenda wrote: "Catherine wrote: "Can anyone recommend a good book with a mentally unstable character at the core of the plot? Not mentally handicapped, not serial-killer psycho, and not suffering from recent trau..."

This was the first book that came to my mind as well.

[Angelene]

Another good one for this is Accomplice by Eireann Corrigan. Two teens fake a kidnapping to beef up their chances of writing a good college admissions essay. However, one of them does some things that definitely call her mental stability into question.

[Rebecca]

is a good one

and and also

[bjneary]

Yes I agree that Gail Giles books , , and . I would also recommend

[Catherine]

Thanks, BJNeary! Yes, I have read those Gail Giles books - I really like her. Shattering Glass was my favourite of those (but my favourite scene is in Cass MacBride when the brothers are talking for the last time - that has stuck with me like a knife - so poignant). I will try your other suggestion, too.

And thanks, Rebecca and Angelene. I am building up a nice list now. So glad I asked.

[[deleted user]]

Oh gosh this made me laugh out loud haha! I don't want to sound like a spammer or something, but my book that just released on Monday is about a girl who is mentally unbalanced...but that's because she's from an alternate dimension that she doesn't remember. (Thing LOTR crosses into modern day world - the book is called Zirconya)

Anyway, other than that, wasn't Bella Swan pretty unstable? (Though I doubt you haven't read that already)

Other than that, I can't really think of something that really pops to mind. But, I'm honestly curious of what else people recommend. I'll be following this thread :)

[Jennie]

Catherine wrote: "Can anyone recommend a good book with a mentally unstable character at the core of the plot? Not mentally handicapped, not serial-killer psycho, and not suffering from recent trauma. More of a not-..."

Try Wintergirls. The main character is suffering from some SERIOUS trauma. It involves eating disorders, death, mental illness, and family dysfunction.

[Catherine]

Thanks, Jennie. I've read Wintergirls - yes, it's a good one. (Speak is great, too, by the same author.)

Diana, so funny about Bella Swan being unstable - yeah, I guess she is but I don't think she's meant to be.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions - I've really enjoyed all the titles you've recommended. (Still to go: Rules of Survival and Some Girls Are, but gettng there.)

[Tripmastermonkey]

Tales of the Madman Underground: An Historical Romance 1973 has a set of characters who are all in therapy in highschool. Great book.

[Austin]

I just reponded to another post on this site. These escorts are intriguing...not what I expected. This girl Cynthia/Cynbad (alter ego) is so dysfunctional, but if this is a true story (based on her website and FB it is!!) then she should get the award for most unbalanced. Great reading....Austin

[Gabriella]

Impulse by Ellen Hopkins or really any books by her are really good. Also, Go Ask Alice by Anonymous.

[Catherine]

Thanks, Jennie, I will give Mara Dyer a try.
Tripmastermonkey, I have Tales of the Madman Underground on my end table, ready to read. Thanks for the suggestion. (It's longer than my typical choice but sounds great.)
Gabriella, I read Go Ask Alice years ago but I will look for Impulse.
And Austin, I'm not sure the escort story is my style - true-life unstable people are sadly too common (!) - but thanks anyway.

[Jenni]

Catherine, LIAR by Justine Labalestier might fit; it's a "different" one, as it really keeps the reader wondering what's what! It plays on the current trend towards the supernatural (werewolves in this case), but the unreliable narrator admits she has a problem with telling the truth.

[[deleted user]]

without a doubt
you will love it. 2.99 on amazon kindle!

[Mads]

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky is a really great one. The main character is trying to find himself and is pretty unstable while doing it, but the ending is beautiful.

[Liv]

How about Kenneth Oppel's This Dark Endeavor. It's the first in a series about the young Victor Frankenstein. The main character is not outright crazy, but he definitely has some issues. It's a great book.

[Catherine]

Thanks, guys. Jenni, I did read Liar, which Julie also suggested. Very unbalanced character indeed. Abbey, I might try Beautiful Disaster, and Madi, I will try Perks, for sure. Liv, This Dark Endeavor is already on my "to read" list. (It's on the shortlist for the Canadian Library Assocation's Young Adult Book Award, as is my own teen novel, All Good Children. Sad to say, I haven't read any of the other shortlisted titles - but I'm trying to rectify that.) I have heard great things about it. Oppel is such a good writer - and yes, Frankenstein would be unbalanced, wouldn't he? I'll move it to the top of my TBR list. Thanks!

[Bryce]

Josh Newman from The Neceomanser is kinda unstable.

[Katie]

Choker by Elizabeth Woods. Completely surprised me.

[Jennifer]

Inexcusable by M. Lynch.

[Jennifer]

Oooh, and my all-time fav: Endless Love by Scott Spencer FIVE STARS