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A review by laurie_masson
Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan
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.