Reviews

Descent: A Memoir of Madness by David Guterson

jaclynday's review

4.0

This short, inexpensive ($3) Kindle Single is worth reading. Guterson sinks into severe depression after 9/11 and explores each facet of the journey: from the trigger, to the initial suspicions, to suicidal thoughts, to therapy and medication. He’s a fantastic writer. Depression is always described in the same cliches: dark cloud, withdrawal, loss of interest. Finally! Someone has found a way to really discuss depression and how it feels. It was an emotional thing for me to read. I caught myself thinking “thank you for describing that so well” pretty often.

marisahowardkarp's review

1.0

I loved Snow Falling on Cedars, and depression is a topic that interests me but oh boy... somewhere in the midst of all the unnecessary floral language there was probably a story about Guterson's deep depression in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, but damned if I could find it. This was not the writing I had expected from him. Very disappointing.

As an aside, I'm now 0 for 2 on Kindle Singles. Maybe I'm not picking them right, but so far I'm unimpressed.