16. Girl, Interrupted - Susanna Kaysen

I saw the movie of this book last year in one of my psychology classes, but was not aware it was a book, or true. However, when Kat received some her new books and I saw this was one of them, I kidnapped it and started reading straight away – that was Monday. I finished it last night.

Written in a slightly different way to the movie, more intermittent and jumpy, with medical notes slotted in at appropriate times. It’s a very easy read, and is only short – reminding me of ‘Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption’ being made from a short-story into a full-length movie. But the details it includes and insight into psychiatric hospitals is amazing, it’s an engrossing book. The book does not differ from the movie too much, and I’d highly recommend both to anyone. However, having seen the movie first, as I read I cannot help but see characters in the book as their actress counterparts (in particular, Angelina Jolie as Lisa), and as it’s been a while since I saw the movie, I cannot remember whether the specific details are correct in the movie from the book. Now that I’ve read it, I will definitely have to see the movie again!

One chapter of the book is taken direct from the diagnostic book used by psychologists and psychiatrists, the section describing borderline personality disorder. Having studied psychology, I know of the book, and how influential it was, and is, for doctors through America. The description, and Kaysen’s analysis of it, is bitterly amusing.