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jackiesreadingjourney 's review for:
Sociopath: a Memoir
by Patric Gagne
I never knew much about sociopaths, only that they were perceived as 'bad' and often associated with committing crimes without guilt, empathy, or remorse. This simplistic and incorrect view of sociopathy is likely ingrained in most people's minds based on what we see on TV, whether it be sensationalized news or TV shows like "You". This memoir has completely altered the way I perceive sociopathy, and is a worthy memoir to add to everyone's TBR.
The memoir began with a bang as Patric (pronounced Patrick) recounted her earliest memories associated with her lack of feeling. The beginning honestly left me baffled because many of the events were horrifying. As someone who is highly empathetic, sensitive, and emotional, I initially struggled to comprehend the events and emotions (or lack thereof) that she described. I felt immense pain for her and her family, but above all, I felt her rage—the rage stemming from her inability to feel and function like everyone else, and the stress she endured from feeling like she had to change herself for decades. While some situations weren't fleshed out well enough, and I did wonder at times if she was lying about life events (since she consistently mentions throughout her novel her struggles with honesty), this did impact my overall perception. Many of the most shocking moments occurred during her childhood, as she grappled with the overwhelming desire to belong, which was intensified by her condition.
The chapters rapidly progress from her childhood memories to her adult experiences. The adult chapters were shocking as well, but I will admit many chapters felt somewhat repetitive. This memoir provided an out-of-body experience, immersing me in the mind of a sociopath who simply yearned to understand why she did or did not feel certain things. I found the writing to be beautiful, and her journey to self-acceptance, allowing love in, and finding healthy ways to exist as herself was remarkable. Also, her handling of her sociopathy and 'prescriptions' was simply unbelievable, and I'm grateful she never got into any real trouble. Despite engaging in actions that most would find reprehensible, her explanation of her thought process and needs was so convincing that I couldn't judge her for it. She made sure, as the reader, that I fully grasped her perspective. Trigger warning: there's lots of bad words and rude remarks - but I loved it lmao.
Overall, I found this memoir to be powerfully written, and I genuinely admired Patric. She was brilliant, funny, and incredibly strong. I'm grateful she didn't conclude the memoir as she initially planned and that she included the epilogue (her editor is the real MVP). I learned so much from this memoir, and I will undoubtedly view sociopathy in a different light for the rest of my life.
Thank you NetGalley & Simon and Schuster for providing early access to this title. It's available now, along with the exceptional audiobook narrated by the author.
The memoir began with a bang as Patric (pronounced Patrick) recounted her earliest memories associated with her lack of feeling. The beginning honestly left me baffled because many of the events were horrifying. As someone who is highly empathetic, sensitive, and emotional, I initially struggled to comprehend the events and emotions (or lack thereof) that she described. I felt immense pain for her and her family, but above all, I felt her rage—the rage stemming from her inability to feel and function like everyone else, and the stress she endured from feeling like she had to change herself for decades. While some situations weren't fleshed out well enough, and I did wonder at times if she was lying about life events (since she consistently mentions throughout her novel her struggles with honesty), this did impact my overall perception. Many of the most shocking moments occurred during her childhood, as she grappled with the overwhelming desire to belong, which was intensified by her condition.
The chapters rapidly progress from her childhood memories to her adult experiences. The adult chapters were shocking as well, but I will admit many chapters felt somewhat repetitive. This memoir provided an out-of-body experience, immersing me in the mind of a sociopath who simply yearned to understand why she did or did not feel certain things. I found the writing to be beautiful, and her journey to self-acceptance, allowing love in, and finding healthy ways to exist as herself was remarkable. Also, her handling of her sociopathy and 'prescriptions' was simply unbelievable, and I'm grateful she never got into any real trouble. Despite engaging in actions that most would find reprehensible, her explanation of her thought process and needs was so convincing that I couldn't judge her for it. She made sure, as the reader, that I fully grasped her perspective. Trigger warning: there's lots of bad words and rude remarks - but I loved it lmao.
Overall, I found this memoir to be powerfully written, and I genuinely admired Patric. She was brilliant, funny, and incredibly strong. I'm grateful she didn't conclude the memoir as she initially planned and that she included the epilogue (her editor is the real MVP). I learned so much from this memoir, and I will undoubtedly view sociopathy in a different light for the rest of my life.
Thank you NetGalley & Simon and Schuster for providing early access to this title. It's available now, along with the exceptional audiobook narrated by the author.