Book about mental illnesses.

[Mitch_Carter]

Hi all!

I'm just looking for a book (preferably non-fiction for the reality factor) that is written about, by, or anything to do with mental illnesses/asylums that will give me chills! I know I have a weird request, I'm just fascinated and fancy a change in reading (from Karen Rose!) to something a little more chilling, something that's going to keep me up an night really haha!!

 

Thanks for reading,

Mitch.

[Chrissy]

The immediate (fiction) book that springs to mind is Ken Kesey's 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest'.

 

I'll ponder this some more, because I'm sure this query has come up before, but I cannot find the relevant thread.

[Books do furnish a room]

The obvious one that springs to mind is Ayslums by Goffman. A more personal account is "The Quiet Room" by Lori Schiller. There are also plenty of histories of the asylum system out there as well. It depends whether you are looking for something personal, historical or academic and theoretical.

[Coffin Nail]

All in the Mind--Alistair Campbell. Not sure about the chill factor as it's next on my list. I'll let you know if it meets your criteria.

[Lucybird]

The immediate (fiction) book that springs to mind is Ken Kesey's 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest'.

 

I'll ponder this some more, because I'm sure this query has come up before, but I cannot find the relevant thread.

 

 

That's the first that came to mind for me too.

 

Maybe The Bell Jar- Sylvia Plath. It's fiction but based on Plath's life

 

 

[poppy]

I haven't read this but by all accounts Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane sounds up your street. The recently released film was based on the book.

Here's a link to a review

 

http://www.curledup.com/shutter.htm

Edited November 4, 2010 by poppy

[Chrissy]

I found the old thread!

 

If you look here Mitch, you'll find an old thread where the query was about books on madness. There are quite a few suggestions there, so hopefully you'll fins one or two that are both relevant to your search, and that give you the chills!

[Julia]

Don't know if it's really what you are looking for, but last year I read "Still Alice" from Lisa Genova, a really fascinating book about Alzheimer's Disease.

[Wolfy]

Not sure if this is what you are looking for, but I am currently reading House of Leaves and the main character seems to have a mental disease and from what I have heard about, it is pretty scary/creepy.

 

Good luck with your search

[Yellow Wallpaper]

I would also recommend The Quiet Room and Weekends at Bellevue. I have a few more on my Amazon Wish list to read that look interesting.

 

Angelhead: My Brother's Descent into Madness

Get Me Out of Here: My Recovery from Borderline Personality Disorder

The Lives They Left Behind: Suitcases from a State Hospital Attic