Tag: mental illness

You Ought to Do A Story About Me

~ rachelbenzine ~ Leave a comment

Plot:

Ted Jackson is a photojournalist. In 1990, he was working on a story about people experiencing homelessness. When he encountered a man sleeping under the bridge, that man said to him, “You ought to do a story about me.” Jackson had heard this statement a million times, but indulged the man by asking why he should have his story shared. The man responded by telling Jackson he had played in three Super Bowls.

You Ought to Do a Story About Me shares the story of Jackie Wallace, former star of the NFL. It explores his life, from his childhood through his football days, before going into the circumstances that led to his addictions and eventual homelessness. This would be a great book for people who are avid sports fans, as a lot of time is spent discussing Wallace’s football career. It would also be an interesting read for fans of psychology or sociology.

What I loved most:

One of my favorite things of all time is exploring why and how people become the people that they are. I’m fascinated by life circumstances, and how they impact cognitive patterns and the decisions people make. By the measures of our current society, Wallace had “made it”. He was a professional football player. He was living the dream. To go from the peak, the glory, to sleeping under a bridge, is a fascinating transition. I also appreciate that Jackson addressed some cultural/societal factors that impacted Wallace’s circumstances, in addition to discussing Wallace’s choices.

Read this book if you like:

Psychology, sociology, football/sports in general

Book details:

Bedlam

~ rachelbenzine ~ Leave a comment

Plot:

Dr. Kenneth Rosenberg is a psychiatrist who has been working in the field of mental health since the 1980s. Bedlam is his exploration of the way that mental health has been treated in the United States. This book is an in-depth journey through Serious Mental Illness (SMI). Much of the book centers around schizophrenia, but other SMIs such as depression and bipolar disorder are also addressed. Through analysis of both individual stories of SMI and the overarching framework that governs the way that America views mental health, Rosenberg talks about medications, mental institutions, and the intersection between mental health and the criminal justice system. I listened to the audiobook (narrated by the author), and really loved it in this format.

What I loved most:

My undergraduate degree is in Psychology, and I wanted to be a therapist for a long time. I’ve always been fascinated by mental health, and by the way our culture views people who struggle with mental disorders. I couldn’t help but devour this book. Rosenberg did a great job of balancing people’s stories of their own issues with SMI, and a wider view of the way our society currently deals with mental health. I am always more captivated by personal stories – I love memoirs, because I love exploring people’s cognitive patterns, and how they make the decisions they make, and how they have become who they are today. However, I also know that it’s crucial to take a step back and examine the larger systemic issues around mental health treatment. This book gave both perspectives to help develop a more full understanding of mental health in the United States.

Read this book if you like:

Psychology, sociology, memoirs, history (but not the dry, date-focused kind of history – the engaging, people-and-system-focused kind of history)

Book details:

  • Author: Kenneth Paul Rosenberg
  • Publisher: Avery
  • Date of Publication: October 1, 2019
  • Age Recommendation: Adult
  • Check out Bedlam on WorldCat to find it at library near you!

The First True Thing

~ rachelbenzine ~ Leave a comment

Review:

Marcelle’s best friend, Hannah, asked Marcelle to cover for her. The next day, Hannah is missing, and Marcelle doesn’t know what to do.

Marcelle has been sober for just a couple of weeks, after drunkenly crashing her bike, ending up in the hospital, and being mandated to attend treatment at the Center. As part of her recovery process, she promised her parents she wouldn’t lie to them anymore – so now she feels like she can’t come clean about Hannah’s text that night. But the longer she goes without hearing from Hannah, the harder it’s getting to maintain the delicately balanced statements she made.

The First True Thing is told partially as a narrative of current events, and partially in flashbacks of Marcelle’s drinking days. This is a really heavy book, dealing with serious issues like drug and alcohol addiction, sexual exploitation, and death. It’s definitely not for younger teens, but it tells an important story. People who are in recovery might find some of the scenes triggering, so read with caution. I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book from the publisher, HarperTeen. It will officially be released one week from today – look for it on April 23!

Favorite Passage:

More than anything, I wish Hannah and I both could go back in time. But I know it’s useless to think this way. I am the girl who crashed on the Death Wish path. I can’t be any other girl.
— Chapter Fifteen

What I Loved Most:

Needell’s portrayal of addiction and recovery is raw and real. She doesn’t shy away from addressing how addiction can comprise someone’s identity, and how stopping addictive behavior often means removing the major thing that you identify yourself with. I am of the opinion that getting sober is one of the bravest things you can do. We’re starting to see more books being published for teens that address mental health issues like addiction, which I feel is crucial for helping teens identify these issues in their own lives or the lives of those around them.

Read this book if you like:

Suspense, identity searching, gut-wrenching honesty

Book Details: