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Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen

inquiryofwrittenmatter:

*Note: If you have seen the movie, go ahead and assume you know nothing about the book.

Girl, Interrupted is about a young girl in the late 60’s who is sent to a psychiatric hospital. She describes what it is like to be (her brand) of “crazy”. She witness other “crazy” women try to recuperate. She sees first hand the lack of true help that is offered during the time period. Once she is released, she shares the unease she feels about her diagnosis, and the blatant lack of trust she has for doctors.  She makes  very valid points.  

When I began reading, I didn’t know that this was a memoir. The fact that someone lived this, is insane. 

Susanna Kaysen has a very sparse form of writing. It jumps back and forth, between past and present, in and out of her head. Then, abruptly, (it seems), she leaves the hospital.  We are then thrown into her outside life, without any goodbyes to people we have come to love. 

It is a bizarre, and beautiful book, however it leaves you with an odd feeling. It is like a blended coffee drink that is addicting-ly good, yet when you stop drinking it, you feel a layer of fat on your tongue. 

Book Vs. Movie

The movie has a few of the same characters as the book. It starts out similarly. However, do not expect the movie to be anywhere close to the same plot as the book. The movie is deliriously good by itself, and is worth watching.  If you are going to try to compare the two, or have expectations on one, based on the other, you will be crushingly disappointed.