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laurie_masson's review against another edition
3.0
Although it is categorized as a memoir, this book does not quite read like one. Susannah Cahalan does not remember the events presented in the book and, as such, she relies on the retelling of her family and friends, as well as the physical traces left behind by doctors documenting her symptoms, to write her memoir.
While Cahalan's ability to string together a well constructed story with only facts is certainly impressive, it also makes the storytelling feel superficial and overly-analytical. I find it hard to connect with any character—including Susannah—because we are constantly told how they feel, but never shown how they feel.
If the brain fascinates you and you wish to study it theoretically or with a more scientific approach, however, I do believe you'll enjoy this book. Cahalan explains a lot of neurological and medical terms, and I simply didn't find it interesting.
While Cahalan's ability to string together a well constructed story with only facts is certainly impressive, it also makes the storytelling feel superficial and overly-analytical. I find it hard to connect with any character—including Susannah—because we are constantly told how they feel, but never shown how they feel.
If the brain fascinates you and you wish to study it theoretically or with a more scientific approach, however, I do believe you'll enjoy this book. Cahalan explains a lot of neurological and medical terms, and I simply didn't find it interesting.
elvahn's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
5.0
This book highlights the importance of empathy in the medical profession and calls attention to the grave harm of misdiagnoses that can result from lack of information or simply not taking the time to dive deeper into a parent's case. By the end, there is also some hope in that though sharing her story, others get access to real help, and medical science is furthered. Even the doctor who had decided she was simply "partying" too hard rather than take her symptoms more seriously (my rage boiled over reading about this man) eventually refers to her experience to direct patients to help. Part memoir, part call to action, part humane medical text(??), the author weaves us through her month of madness, using interviews, journals, and hospital footage to help complete the story. Engaging, well-done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Terminal illness
Moderate: Dementia, Excrement, Cancer, Death, Mental illness, and Vomit
em_doz's review
3.0
While I was absolutely amazed at the authors resilience and courage to understand exactly what she had gone through where as others would have been all too grateful to forget - I found the writing style to be more consistent with that of a medical journal rather than a memoir. I did not find it difficult to follow because I am well versed in medical jargon, but for others the writing may be a bit dry and dull. She did a good job of explaining each term simply enough, but because of that there were pages of explanation into medical terms that caused me to start losing interest. That being said, she is a journalist so this is hardly surprising. I feel her book would have appealed to a much wider audience had she written in a manor that were easier to relate to, but I digress.
Other than the writing - I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I loved that she didn't reveal her diagnosis at the beginning. I've read way too many memoirs that start out with "my name is ______ and I survived ______." Without knowing exactly what she is fighting the reader experiences some (but most definitely not all) of the fear and uncertainty that her family must have experienced.
Her story is truly amazing and awe-inspiring. It is definitely worth the read if you are looking for something informative and straightforward. It opened my eyes to diseases that I had previously been completely unaware of.
Other than the writing - I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I loved that she didn't reveal her diagnosis at the beginning. I've read way too many memoirs that start out with "my name is ______ and I survived ______." Without knowing exactly what she is fighting the reader experiences some (but most definitely not all) of the fear and uncertainty that her family must have experienced.
Her story is truly amazing and awe-inspiring. It is definitely worth the read if you are looking for something informative and straightforward. It opened my eyes to diseases that I had previously been completely unaware of.
bryr's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.0