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A review by kayu99
The Lost Language of Crazy by Pamela L. Laskin
3.0
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The first third of this book felt like it was missing substance. It felt empty, like it was missing something. At first, none of the characters (except for Penny, slightly) were likable, but this changed as the story continued and the characters became more developed. There is a definite turning point in the story, and the writing style improved from there. Overall, this is a compelling story about mental illness and its effects on multiple lives. The title is extremely apt. I enjoyed the parallels between some of the characters' families and how Penny's friendships with Zeina, Johnny, and Ava evolved. However, the overly exuberant writing style detracts from the overall effect--there were tons of exclamation points sprinkled throughout, and it was sometimes jarring.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about schizophrenia, selective mutism, depression, and mental illness and its effects on family dynamics. Definitely thought-provoking.
The first third of this book felt like it was missing substance. It felt empty, like it was missing something. At first, none of the characters (except for Penny, slightly) were likable, but this changed as the story continued and the characters became more developed. There is a definite turning point in the story, and the writing style improved from there. Overall, this is a compelling story about mental illness and its effects on multiple lives. The title is extremely apt. I enjoyed the parallels between some of the characters' families and how Penny's friendships with Zeina, Johnny, and Ava evolved. However, the overly exuberant writing style detracts from the overall effect--there were tons of exclamation points sprinkled throughout, and it was sometimes jarring.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about schizophrenia, selective mutism, depression, and mental illness and its effects on family dynamics. Definitely thought-provoking.