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lisa1711's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
4.5
leannecamillebrady's review
5.0
Fascinating and insightful. A raw account of the authors decent into madness and road to recovery. I’ve read plenty of books on mental illness but this was the most honest account of the realties of mental illnesses such as bi polar and how as I society we interact and respond. Highly recommend this read, fast paced and written in second person, present tense as “you” are thrown into the whirlwind and experience the highs and lows of the authors world.
aqilahreads's review
3.0
"recovery feels like this...im still ashamed of my behaviour while ill and would find it difficult to approach everyone i affronted and explain myself, offer apology, seek rapprochement, consequently, many relationships have been lost for good"
rounding this off to ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. reading about the author's personal journey with mental illness is no doubt, a very challenging read but its also a reminder that everyone has their own set of battles. its a difficult topic to talk about in the first place and im so thankful for the author's honest account.
however, it gets to a point where it was too much for me as it gets repetitive ((of hospitalisation & meds)). its just how it works in reality but for a book, i feel like theres so much more that could have been shared to readers as mental illness is not just all of that. its a bit rushing for a relatively short read too, i wished there was more instead of just getting over it.
overall, still quite a decent read about living with mental illness and theres a couple of great reminders here & there which i truly appreciate.
rounding this off to ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. reading about the author's personal journey with mental illness is no doubt, a very challenging read but its also a reminder that everyone has their own set of battles. its a difficult topic to talk about in the first place and im so thankful for the author's honest account.
however, it gets to a point where it was too much for me as it gets repetitive ((of hospitalisation & meds)). its just how it works in reality but for a book, i feel like theres so much more that could have been shared to readers as mental illness is not just all of that. its a bit rushing for a relatively short read too, i wished there was more instead of just getting over it.
overall, still quite a decent read about living with mental illness and theres a couple of great reminders here & there which i truly appreciate.
janika96's review
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
lonesomereader's review
3.0
The Wellcome Book Prize is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and I decided to explore this year's shortlist a bit more. One of the judges of this year's award is Elif Shafak and one of the shortlisted books is Ottessa Moshfegh's “My Year of Rest and Relaxation”. While I'm naturally drawn to reading more fiction than nonfiction, this award encompasses both kinds of writing so it's a good chance for me to read a nonfiction book I probably wouldn't have got to otherwise. The prize centres around new books that engage with some aspect of medicine, health or illness. Arnold Thomas Fanning's “Mind on Fire” recounts his lifelong struggle with mental health issues. He vividly describes the unwieldy chaos of manic episodes where extreme feelings and fantasies lead him to take drastic action as he careens through cities and airports shocking or outright terrifying people along the way. It's powerful how he conveys that to his manic mind he's following a logical course of action, but of course on the outside his actions are insensible. He also discloses the sensations of debilitating depression when he sometimes physically can't move and his thoughts revolve constantly around suicide. He eloquently expresses how all-consuming these states are and that “Within it there is no without it.” This illness not only wreaks havoc on his own health, but severely impinges upon the lives of his family and friends as well. Fanning powerfully documents his heartrending, difficult journey.
Read my full review of Mind on Fire by Arnold Thomas Fanning on LonesomeReader
Read my full review of Mind on Fire by Arnold Thomas Fanning on LonesomeReader