madness

[lauralh]

I read Marya Hornbacher's first book, Wasted and enjoyed it a great deal, even though I don't "get" eating disorders at all. Her latest Madness is about being bipolar, something I can relate a little more to. Unfortunately, while her writing is as intense, vivid, and descriptive as ever, the narrative flow lacks cohesion. I know this can be a problem with memoirs, but her first book was very concise and specific leading up to a breaking point where things started to change, if not immediately improved. She makes a decision to live. There is no such similar point in this book, it's just a series of anecdotes about being manic or depressed. And not your garden-variety mania or depression, these are months-long episodes that more often than not lead to her being hospitalized. Each one separately is powerful and heartbreaking and painful - she really draws a reader in - but as a whole I felt it missed the mark. I just felt empty after reading it.

Comments

[dearnana.livejournal.com]

Ill probably read this soon. I need to visit my library

[sarahbliss.livejournal.com]

I have yet to read a memoir that doesn't feel as if it is lacking an arc. When I am done reading one I am usually left thinking, "well, thanks for the information, but really, you're all done now? That's it? When does part two come out?"

[herbaliser.livejournal.com]

you should read Wasted!

[sarahbliss.livejournal.com]

Well, I did just finish a memoir called Truth and Beauty that a friend loaned me, but I felt it had pretty good closure because you know, the chick died.