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katsba's review against another edition
2.0
A gossipy memoir of living with mental illness and acknowledgment of how all parts of your life are influenced by it.
becsbooks6's review against another edition
3.0
Difficult but important read, offering an insight into mental health that feels untouched until now. Whilst some parts were indeed tricky to read the honesty provided by the author feels poignant and has absolutely changed the way I see mental health issues. A wonderful mix of funny and heartbreaking which will stick with me for quite some time.
annabrewer972's review against another edition
4.0
A great insight into the harsh reality of mental illnesses.
Told with humour, honesty, and unashamed openness, this book is both an entertaining read and a real eye-opener for those lucky enough to have a normally-functioning brain. It is not a self-help book, but more of a 'here's what too many of us keep hidden behind our everyday persona'. Bryony tackles heavy content with wit and sarcasm (by the end of the book, you'll have forgotten the slightly forced jokes at the start), and yet the seriousness and intensity of her experience is conveyed perfectly.
(I gave it four stars instead of five because I believe the content could definitely be upsetting for some people, and so a trigger warning is needed if you suffer from any of the issues yourself or think you might be negatively affected by the topics covered.)
Told with humour, honesty, and unashamed openness, this book is both an entertaining read and a real eye-opener for those lucky enough to have a normally-functioning brain. It is not a self-help book, but more of a 'here's what too many of us keep hidden behind our everyday persona'. Bryony tackles heavy content with wit and sarcasm (by the end of the book, you'll have forgotten the slightly forced jokes at the start), and yet the seriousness and intensity of her experience is conveyed perfectly.
(I gave it four stars instead of five because I believe the content could definitely be upsetting for some people, and so a trigger warning is needed if you suffer from any of the issues yourself or think you might be negatively affected by the topics covered.)
alannaj's review against another edition
5.0
Full review here: https://theresnoenjoymentlikereading.co.uk/mad-girl/
loadsofbooks's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to love this book, but it just didn’t hit the mark for me.
While the topics were super important, the style of writing felt too disjointed and I found myself lost in thought or often bored whilst reading.
I failed to see the funny in it that has been quoted so much.
While the topics were super important, the style of writing felt too disjointed and I found myself lost in thought or often bored whilst reading.
I failed to see the funny in it that has been quoted so much.
jojoreadsforfun's review against another edition
4.0
I picked up this book having heard a lot through social media about both the book and Bryony.
I didn't think I'd have a lot in common with the Telegraph journalist brought up in West London, but it turns out, I did.
I haven't had OCD, but I have been diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder and depression. So, not as extreme a case, but that doesn't mean I haven't experienced similar symptoms. Bryony has clearly been very open and tried to make sense of, or at least put her OCD into chronological order as she understands (painfully at times) why she may have experienced things in a certain way. It has certainly made me stop and think back, trying to understand if there are any triggers for my behaviour, why I feel certain things.
This isn't to say that this book is full of doom and gloom. Bryony has laid herself bare and has shared with us stories which are meant to make the reader laugh out loud. Bryony hasn't written a self help book, she has written a book to get us all talking about mental wellbeing (or unwellbeing), to ultimately remove the stigma of being unwell. We need more books like Bryony's and I thank her for sharing her self.
I didn't think I'd have a lot in common with the Telegraph journalist brought up in West London, but it turns out, I did.
I haven't had OCD, but I have been diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder and depression. So, not as extreme a case, but that doesn't mean I haven't experienced similar symptoms. Bryony has clearly been very open and tried to make sense of, or at least put her OCD into chronological order as she understands (painfully at times) why she may have experienced things in a certain way. It has certainly made me stop and think back, trying to understand if there are any triggers for my behaviour, why I feel certain things.
This isn't to say that this book is full of doom and gloom. Bryony has laid herself bare and has shared with us stories which are meant to make the reader laugh out loud. Bryony hasn't written a self help book, she has written a book to get us all talking about mental wellbeing (or unwellbeing), to ultimately remove the stigma of being unwell. We need more books like Bryony's and I thank her for sharing her self.
suggsygirl's review against another edition
4.0
I don’t think I’ve ever heard of Bryony before, I don’t read newspapers, but I really enjoyed this book. It’s comforting to me to know that other people who appear perfectly ‘normal’ struggle with their mental health. It must be really irritating when people say they suffer with a bit of OCD when they clearly don’t. I have been guilty of this in the past and I will definitely try and avoid doing this in future. I whizzed through this book. It’s very well written and it is funny in places despite the relatively heavy subject matter. One of the things that really stuck with me is her assessment of mental health provisions on the NHS and her acknowledgment that it’s her ability to pay for treatment that has helped her most. Mental health services in this country are appalling. 400 people kill themselves every year after trying and failing to get help on the NHS. That is a disgusting statistic and something has to be done about it.
sue_loves_to_read's review against another edition
4.0
It's the snake in her brain that has told her ever since she was a teenager that her world is about to come crashing down: that her family might die if she doesn't repeat a phrase 5 times, or that she might have murdered someone and forgotten about it. It's caused alopecia, bulimia, and drug dependency. And Bryony is sick of it. Keeping silent about her illness has given it a cachet it simply does not deserve, so here she shares her story with trademark wit and dazzling honesty.
Despite the serious and sad subject of the book I still enjoyed it and feel that I have a better understanding of mental illness because of it. Bryony still manages to inject some humour but it must have been so hard for her. I read her columns in The Telegraph and have followed her campaign to raise awareness of mental illness and to get fellow sufferers together. Well done to her!
Despite the serious and sad subject of the book I still enjoyed it and feel that I have a better understanding of mental illness because of it. Bryony still manages to inject some humour but it must have been so hard for her. I read her columns in The Telegraph and have followed her campaign to raise awareness of mental illness and to get fellow sufferers together. Well done to her!