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saskiaac 's review for:
Under Rose-Tainted Skies
by Louise Gornall
Under Rose-Tainted Skies tells the story of Norah Dean, a 17-year-old, who suffers from OCD, agoraphobia and depression.
As a reader who knows only a small bit about agoraphobia and depression, and who suffers from OCD but not as severely as Norah, this book was, in that small regard, relatable but more, importantly, very insightful. I believe that stories such as Norah's are education in a way and Gornall does not skip over any details, there is thorough description and this is important because mental illnesses are this taboo subject, which need to be spoken about more.
A key quote:
"how can i expect people to empathise with a sickness they can't see?"
that Norah asks Dr Reeves highlights her pain and emphasises what people with invisible disabilities endure and how because it's not right-in-your-face, it can be shamefully dismissed by neurotypical people.
At first, I must admit, that I was wary of it being one of those the-boy-is-the-reason-she-steps-outside, but it wasn't, making the novel a good addition to the mental health library. Norah is faced with possibly a life-threatening situation and I don't think it is feasible to understand fully how petrified she was, except that she ventured outside, a task that went against all her instincts, but it was for her survival.
I believe it is also important to highlight how she wasn't "cured" - this horrible rhetoric that I have seen people use. Norah still has her OCD, her mental illness isn't something fickle that you can just suddenly overcome.
Norah's relationship with her mother focuses not only on the person who suffers from a mental illness, but also the loved one who has to watch someone they love endure these experiences. I loved their relationship, it was strong and full of warmth.
This own voices book shed some light on the topic and I believe that if people are willing, can be informed/or inform themselves, building knowledge on topics deemed unnecessarily "taboo" that we will take a crucial step forward. Knowledge ≠ understanding but it means awareness and that is in the forward direction.
As a reader who knows only a small bit about agoraphobia and depression, and who suffers from OCD but not as severely as Norah, this book was, in that small regard, relatable but more, importantly, very insightful. I believe that stories such as Norah's are education in a way and Gornall does not skip over any details, there is thorough description and this is important because mental illnesses are this taboo subject, which need to be spoken about more.
A key quote:
"how can i expect people to empathise with a sickness they can't see?"
that Norah asks Dr Reeves highlights her pain and emphasises what people with invisible disabilities endure and how because it's not right-in-your-face, it can be shamefully dismissed by neurotypical people.
At first, I must admit, that I was wary of it being one of those the-boy-is-the-reason-she-steps-outside, but it wasn't, making the novel a good addition to the mental health library. Norah is faced with possibly a life-threatening situation and I don't think it is feasible to understand fully how petrified she was, except that she ventured outside, a task that went against all her instincts, but it was for her survival.
I believe it is also important to highlight how she wasn't "cured" - this horrible rhetoric that I have seen people use. Norah still has her OCD, her mental illness isn't something fickle that you can just suddenly overcome.
Norah's relationship with her mother focuses not only on the person who suffers from a mental illness, but also the loved one who has to watch someone they love endure these experiences. I loved their relationship, it was strong and full of warmth.
This own voices book shed some light on the topic and I believe that if people are willing, can be informed/or inform themselves, building knowledge on topics deemed unnecessarily "taboo" that we will take a crucial step forward. Knowledge ≠ understanding but it means awareness and that is in the forward direction.