Girl, Interrupted
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-06-16 07:55:05
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Susanna Kaysen
- ISBN：1860497926
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Summary
In 1967， after a session with a psychiatrist she'd never seen before， eighteen-year-old Susanna Kaysen was put in a taxi and sent to Mc Lean Hospital to be treated for depression。 She spent most of the next two years on the ward for teenage girls in a psychiatric hospital renowned for its famous clientele - Sylvia Plath， Robert Lowell， James Taylor and Ray Charles。 A clear-sighted， unflinching work that provokes questions about our definitions of sane and insane， Kaysen's extraordinary memoir encompasses horror and razor-edged perception while providing vivid portraits of her fellow patients and their keepers。
Reviews
Kasidy Grant
，
Everyone told me this book was going to be depressing because of the movie。 Well I have never seen the movie， and I thought the book was great。 It's not depressing it just talks about depression and mania and borderline personality disorder。 You get a real perspective of what it's like to be in a mental hospital and what it takes to get there。 This book isn't heartbreaking unless you believe Susanna Kaysen was completely sane。 The real issue she talks about is what being "crazy" means in our wor Everyone told me this book was going to be depressing because of the movie。 Well I have never seen the movie， and I thought the book was great。 It's not depressing it just talks about depression and mania and borderline personality disorder。 You get a real perspective of what it's like to be in a mental hospital and what it takes to get there。 This book isn't heartbreaking unless you believe Susanna Kaysen was completely sane。 The real issue she talks about is what being "crazy" means in our world， and she adds a POV to the discussion that is really insightful。 。。。more
Tallulah Baird
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really good。 could be so much longer， but it’s the perfect length
Lucy Leggett
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yikes
Shea
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Oh to be a young girl diagnosed with "character disorder" in 1967。 This story is a memoir of a woman who was found to be suffering from the personality disorder called BPD that creates instability of self-image， interpersonal relationships and mood。 This book progresses in three main sections where it takes us to the psychiatric clinic， author's valuable reflections on her mental health and the life after the clinic。 I think this book will be entertaining for many people interested in mental hea Oh to be a young girl diagnosed with "character disorder" in 1967。 This story is a memoir of a woman who was found to be suffering from the personality disorder called BPD that creates instability of self-image， interpersonal relationships and mood。 This book progresses in three main sections where it takes us to the psychiatric clinic， author's valuable reflections on her mental health and the life after the clinic。 I think this book will be entertaining for many people interested in mental health since it is written in a non-victimizing， fun manner which manages not to demonize but rather humanize the conditions。In the psychiatric facility she meets many complex yet endearing women who all had their personal reasons to end up in there。 Having lived a sheltered and comfortable life， she did not follow the life path predetermined by her parents and the society she was living in。My favorite excerpt from the book is:"People ask， How did you get in there？ What they really want to know is if they are likely to end up in there as well。 I can’t answer the real question。 All I can tell them is， It’s easy。" 。。。more
Sarah
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“The world didn’t stop because we weren’t in it; far from it…for many of us， the hospital was as much a refuge as it was a prison。 Though we were cut off from the world and all the trouble we enjoyed…we were also cut off from the demands and expectations that driven us crazy。 What could be expected from us now that we were stowed away in a loony bin？ “Loved it。 Short and powerful。 A super interesting peek into the world of women deemed crazy by society in the late 1960s。 If you’ve never found yo “The world didn’t stop because we weren’t in it; far from it…for many of us， the hospital was as much a refuge as it was a prison。 Though we were cut off from the world and all the trouble we enjoyed…we were also cut off from the demands and expectations that driven us crazy。 What could be expected from us now that we were stowed away in a loony bin？ “Loved it。 Short and powerful。 A super interesting peek into the world of women deemed crazy by society in the late 1960s。 If you’ve never found yourself in a psychiatric hospital or are one of the seemingly few people not living with a mental illness， this is a great insight into that ‘parallel universe’ as Susanna Kaysen calls it。 。。。more
Erica
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I felt Kaysen had a lot to say， but most of the time it fell flat of expectation。
Emily Jackson
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Absolutely amazing book。 Easily digestible while providing real food for thought。 I personally loved that the book isn't linear in Susanna's memory recall， how it jumps around。 As someone who has experienced trauma， I've come to understand that's how many of us remember difficult times: puzzle pieces that are jumbled。 In small doses to protect us。 So for me， the format read really authentically。 Its so valuable to have non-fiction perspectives of mental illness and navigation of mental health sy Absolutely amazing book。 Easily digestible while providing real food for thought。 I personally loved that the book isn't linear in Susanna's memory recall， how it jumps around。 As someone who has experienced trauma， I've come to understand that's how many of us remember difficult times: puzzle pieces that are jumbled。 In small doses to protect us。 So for me， the format read really authentically。 Its so valuable to have non-fiction perspectives of mental illness and navigation of mental health systems from those who have been diagnosed/experienced them。 Not a 'foreign correspondent'， as the author puts it （i。e。 someone with no lived experience）， but someone who knows the terrain intimately。 Must read！ 。。。more
Macy Privet
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Started off the year with this book。 A really good example of how you think and observe if you have a mental illness。 Gave me new ways to think about my own disorderly ways of thinking。 REALLY enjoyed this。*loaned to me by a friend after we had watched the movie together。 Log of my most enjoyed quotes （all are in chronological order as well）: - People ask， How did you get in there？ What they really want to know is if they are likely to end up in there as well。 I can’t answer the real question。 A Started off the year with this book。 A really good example of how you think and observe if you have a mental illness。 Gave me new ways to think about my own disorderly ways of thinking。 REALLY enjoyed this。*loaned to me by a friend after we had watched the movie together。 Log of my most enjoyed quotes （all are in chronological order as well）: - People ask， How did you get in there？ What they really want to know is if they are likely to end up in there as well。 I can’t answer the real question。 All I can tell them is， It’s easy。 - Every window on Alcatraz has a view of San Francisco。 - I had thought often of the next ten minutes—my last ten minutes。 - Scar tissue has no character。 It’s not like skin。 It doesn’t show age of illness or pallor or tab。 It has no pores， no hair， no wrinkles。 - I was surprised that two people in a kitchen could make caramels。 I thought of them as a mass-production item， like automobiles， for which complicated machinery was needed。 - For a moment， I felt compassion for myself and all the unhappiness I contained。 - Reality was getting too dense。 - Now， I would say to myself， are you feeling alienated from people and unlike other people， therefor you are projecting your discomfort onto them。 When you look at a face， you see a blob of rubber because you are worried that your face is a blob of rubber。 - Freedom was the price of privacy。- There is thought， and then there is thinking about thoughts， and they don’t feel the same。 - As far as I could see， life demanded skills I didn’t have。- You need to be well fed， clothed， and housed to have time for this much self-pity。 。。。more
haze_books
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I decided to read this because I loved the film although they are slightly different I think both the film and the book have a huge impact on how we see mental health。 I'm also glad how far mental health treatment has come since the time of which this book is told。 I decided to read this because I loved the film although they are slightly different I think both the film and the book have a huge impact on how we see mental health。 I'm also glad how far mental health treatment has come since the time of which this book is told。 。。。more
Nettie
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It really didn’t help my understanding of BPD。 Suzanne contradicts what the”experts” say so who do you trust？ …It’s outdated and sad。
Bea
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Girl， Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen is a memoir about the 2 years Kaysen spent in a psychiatric hospital in the late 60’s。 She retells stories from other patients， friends she made in the time she spent there， and her experience as a young woman being diagnosed with BPD （borderline personality disorder）。 I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would， the writing was really good and I liked how it didn’t feel like a traditional memoir。 The fact that it was told in non-chronological order was a Girl， Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen is a memoir about the 2 years Kaysen spent in a psychiatric hospital in the late 60’s。 She retells stories from other patients， friends she made in the time she spent there， and her experience as a young woman being diagnosed with BPD （borderline personality disorder）。 I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would， the writing was really good and I liked how it didn’t feel like a traditional memoir。 The fact that it was told in non-chronological order was a little confusing， but I think it ended up adding a lot to the story。 Overall， I would recommend this book to anyone who likes memoirs and books that can be a little more on the unsettling side。 。。。more
Kris
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Interesting portrayal of mental illness but overall didn't really grab me。 Interesting portrayal of mental illness but overall didn't really grab me。 。。。more
Jonathan Cavazos
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Different from the movie。I enjoyed this book。 It was an interesting memoir of a woman trying to find meaning in life。 There were sad， humorous， and touching moments。
aaliyah :）
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very personal and touching however i found it to be hard to follow and empty in chapters，
avery lynn
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deeply disturbing but worth it
Xin Gao
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The best book about mental illness I've read in a while。 As someone who spent a lot of time in psychiatric ward， I find all the characters in her book vivid and relatable。 The book has a great balance between funny anecdotes and deep reflections。 It is hilarious and sad at the same time。 The best book about mental illness I've read in a while。 As someone who spent a lot of time in psychiatric ward， I find all the characters in her book vivid and relatable。 The book has a great balance between funny anecdotes and deep reflections。 It is hilarious and sad at the same time。 。。。more
Arwen Moore
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is it bad that I related to her so much ahahaha？
♥Reema Gupta♥
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It's alright。 I think I had really high expectations for it from the start though。 I'll try watching the movie， maybe I just needa see it in a more visual way， who knows。 It's alright。 I think I had really high expectations for it from the start though。 I'll try watching the movie， maybe I just needa see it in a more visual way， who knows。 。。。more
Donna
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Vignettes from the time in Susanna Keysen's life between 18 - 20 when she was institutionalized with Borderline Personality Disorder。 It was 1967， and although she often suggested that the line between mental illness and eccentric， or even youthful behavior is very thin， she also suggested that being institutionalized saved her from suicide and helped her to get back on track in her life。 One of her friends was not so lucky。 She was both critical of and thankful for the help she got during this Vignettes from the time in Susanna Keysen's life between 18 - 20 when she was institutionalized with Borderline Personality Disorder。 It was 1967， and although she often suggested that the line between mental illness and eccentric， or even youthful behavior is very thin， she also suggested that being institutionalized saved her from suicide and helped her to get back on track in her life。 One of her friends was not so lucky。 She was both critical of and thankful for the help she got during this time。 She provided copies of the actual documents she was later able to retrieve from her file to enhance the essays。 I kept feeling like I read the book already， but I had not and apparently the periods of recall came from having seen the film years ago。 It was interesting to hear the thought processes Susanna had during that time in her life and to see that she succeeded in life after moving on。 Unfortunately the stigma she described afterwards is still a significant problem now。 。。。more
amèlie 🍒
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if you read The Bell Jar and thought “wow！ shes just like me！” then this is the perfect book for you。 super fun to read and beautifully written。 it was very melodramatic- wallowing in self pity- girlbossesque ！
Laila
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finished this in one sitting。 now it’s only right for me to watch the movie
Talia A
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 maybe i am alone in my understanding of this book， but i don’t believe it portrayed bpd effectively and almost played it down。 i also didn’t find many of the traits being exposed to be true to bpd or relatable。 it’s one o read due to hype from people， including those with bpd， however i found it lacked what i needed。
wiola harwas
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good diary reading but i thought it would be more emotional or smth lol。 at least i can watch the movie now
lena
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3。8
Jillie Lynch
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Quick， but influential read。 Deals with mental illness and even the science and experiences of mental illness not only in the 60s but into the 90s as well。 Also has such a great narrator and deals with other tough topics， like eating disorders， conformity， and social pressure to be fine and get married。 Definitely a favorite of mine。
Fiona Claire
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Read this for my gender studies class and I really enjoyed the book and discussions！ I highly recommend to everyone because it’s so interesting to look at from of course a mental health point of view but also a feminist point of view。
Natalie M
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Really interesting perspective and a pretty fast read， love this book。
J Chad
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This is really two works in a single publication。 The first and longer part is the narrative history of the author’s incarceration in a psychiatric facility for about 18 months due to a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder。 This part is， honestly， often brilliant and completely recognizable to anyone who has worked in such a place。 The second part is the， to use the author’s own description， an annotation of the diagnosis she was given。 In short， though her analysis is not technical， it This is really two works in a single publication。 The first and longer part is the narrative history of the author’s incarceration in a psychiatric facility for about 18 months due to a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder。 This part is， honestly， often brilliant and completely recognizable to anyone who has worked in such a place。 The second part is the， to use the author’s own description， an annotation of the diagnosis she was given。 In short， though her analysis is not technical， it is incisive and accurate and clearly reveals the profound difficulties and consequences of labeling continua of behaviors with categorical stamps of “normal” or “abnormal”。 I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in so-called mental health treatment。 。。。more
Kinsey
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This book has really beautiful writing， but I didn't feel like there was any tension。 It was hard to get through at the end。 This book has really beautiful writing， but I didn't feel like there was any tension。 It was hard to get through at the end。 。。。more
baby raja
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i too have spent some time at the laughing academy at the age of 18。 the first time it was voluntary and i was too numb to register the fact that i was going to be in a hospital because i was sick。 even if it was for my own good， being told what to do， when to sleep， having a schedule， eating with other people， and all those checks really make you value your freedom。 being young is awful。 we are expected to navigate the world on our own and not fuck up despite the fact that our brains aren't eve i too have spent some time at the laughing academy at the age of 18。 the first time it was voluntary and i was too numb to register the fact that i was going to be in a hospital because i was sick。 even if it was for my own good， being told what to do， when to sleep， having a schedule， eating with other people， and all those checks really make you value your freedom。 being young is awful。 we are expected to navigate the world on our own and not fuck up despite the fact that our brains aren't even fully developed。 。。。more
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Girl, Interrupted
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Girl, Interrupted&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Girl, Interrupted&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0