Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen

Synopsis: Personal experience of a young girl confined in a mental hospital.

Pacing: Mild. Rational

Writing: Crisp. Creative. Regaling. Genuine.

Personal Highlights: Although it took a minute to process, the time spent finally reading this much talked about and lauded book was worth the read. In a few short pages Kaysen does a splendid job confirming what I always believed (from my lay perspective) about mental illness. Whereas physical debilities are instantaneously recognizable to most; mental illness not so much. But Kaysen, through the year and a half interruption in her life, lays out (in a regaling manner I must add) what it was like living in a mental facility; her convo with Torrey particularly germane.

Overall, despite her observations being made decades ago, the insight distinguishing between sociopaths, schizophrenics, manias,  dropped serotonin levels and other types (and levels) of personality disorders (and how these conditions were treated…in both medical communities and communities in general) remains relevant. Just like in 1967/68/69, today in 2021 any number of factors can contribute to a mental break…and treated in as similar a fashion as the way Kaysen’s break was managed. For those dealing with a mental crisis, whether helping someone close or studying or practicing in the field, or even if you yourself are thinking things aren't quite right, this is a great book to read. Highly recommended.