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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Both harrowing and inspiring! This woman is a medical marvel and Dr Najjar deserves all the plaudits and accolades!
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
really well written and enjoyed it. not perfect but close to it.
I read this book in a matter of hours and only put it down when I absolutely needed to do so. Cahalan writes beautifully and straightforward, which makes the book that much easier to engulf. The story is the initial hook, and while some may find her explanation of research regarding her diagnosis a bit dry, I found it fascinating and well-worded for those who aren’t used to reading scientific jargon.
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
A New York Post writer in her twenties begins to experience odd gaps in her capacities. First, it’s just an ache in her left hand. Then, the symptoms blitzkrieg— neurological problems, seizures, personality changes, voices, paranoia, loss of muscle tone. By consulting family, doctors, friends, hospital videos and her own fragmented writing, Cahalan is able to reconstruct a month of madness where doctors are baffled by her puzzling condition.
This book is an AP summer reading choice that works on many levels—as a nonfiction work with a compelling plot, as a medical mystery. Along the way, Cahalan defines terms so readers understand what has happened.
This book is an AP summer reading choice that works on many levels—as a nonfiction work with a compelling plot, as a medical mystery. Along the way, Cahalan defines terms so readers understand what has happened.
dark
informative
sad
slow-paced
Accents didn’t work for me. Was bothered by some repeated offhand comments that I think probably reflect but also reinforce stigma about mental illness. Other than that, was very interesting!
It's hard to review this book in part because it's difficult not to admire Cahalan for doing the investigation (not to mention physical and mental recovery) to be able to write the book at all. The syndrome and the story are fascinating, and that is interesting in and of itself. The character felt flat and a little forced, but I'm not sure how much of that is fair to critique as the writing and how much is Cahalan's limited ability to tell this story, because she can't remember it -- though it's still worth telling.
On a "reading as a writer" note, I think it would be better as a long-form article than a book; it became a little redundant for my taste, and it's not very well edited. Listening to the audiobook has done more than anything I've ever read/heard to persuade my that writers should eliminate adverbs from their writing.
On a "reading as a writer" note, I think it would be better as a long-form article than a book; it became a little redundant for my taste, and it's not very well edited. Listening to the audiobook has done more than anything I've ever read/heard to persuade my that writers should eliminate adverbs from their writing.
informative
medium-paced
This book was fascinating. I'm so glad I read it and so glad Susannah got the help she needed. Man, it was a page turner and scary at the same time.