Girl Interrupted, a Book Review

Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen

192 pages, 1994 Vintage (US)

Total Rating: 31/35

This review also appeared in the June 2012 edition of efiction Magazine.

I was fortunate when I first read this book to have not seen the film first. Certainly, I'd heard of it, but all I knew was that Winona Rider and Angelina Jolie share a kiss on camera (this, of course, is reason enough to watch the film). As such, I had no mis or preconceptions about the story, and only a vague idea of what the story actually was. It made for a very enlightening read.

I didn't know, until I got to the front matter of the book, that it was not a novel, but a memoir-- and a most unusual one.

Set in the late 1960's, our narrator, after a thirty minute evaluation by psychiatrist who had never before evaluated her, is committed to a mental institution in New York at eighteen years old. She is eventually diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.

This brooding, depressed, angry teenage girl sees the world, in all it's hilarity, sadness, and absurdity with more clarity and lucidity then those of us who are not officially insane. The story-- such as it is-- had me at times rolling on the floor laughing and at others fighting back the tears.

It's a relatively short read and follows a non-linear story line without a traditional arc. It's more of a collection of vignettes and observations then it is a traditional story, and this style fits the theme well. If the story of a mentally ill girl was told in an A B C format, it would lose it's believability and this story would be just another memoir about a troubled youth. But, this story doesn't delve into the sinister like memoirs such as Sleepers . It offers a rather fair view of the hospital and it's staff. the only vitriol really is for the night nurse and a doctor or two. For the most part, Kaysen reports facts objectively.

The truly intriguing part of the book for me, though, was the inclusion of her actual medical records and charts. I appreciate her vulnerability and willingness to disclose so much personal information about herself (after all, why craft a memoir if you're not going to be honest?).

There is some graphic sexual language and profanity, so, queasy readers beware.

It's a fast, and entertaining read though, in this author's opinion, has a rather flat ending. It's still worth a read. it is, perhaps, the most unusual memoir you will ever read.

Writing/Editing Quality: 9/10

Entertainment quality: 17/20

Originality: 5/5

Total Rating: 31/35

Thanks for Reading.

A FREELANCE WRITER, HONORS STUDENT AND GOVER PRIZE FINALIST, JUSTIN W. PRICE (AKA, PDXKARAOKEGUY) CONSIDERS HIMSELF A POET FIRST AND FOREMOST BUT IS ALSO A SKILLED SHORT STORY, BIOGRAPHER AND HUMOR WRITER. HIS POETRY COLLECTION,DIGGING TO CHINA, WILL BE RELEASED FEBRUARY 2ND, 2013 BY SWEATSHOPPE PUBLICATIONS AND IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON AMAZON AS WELL AS YOUR LOCAL BOOKSELLER.

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HE WORKS AS A FREELANCE WRITER, EDITOR, AND GHOST WRITER, AND IS WORKING TOWARDS HIS PH.D. HE LIVES IN A SUBURB OF PORTLAND, OREGON WITH HIS WIFE, ANDREA, AND THEIR LABRADOODLE, BELLA.

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Check out this, and other books by Kaysen. You should also check out the film.