Mental Health Bookclub discussion

In May we had two nonfiction poll winners - both got 10 votes (results here). This post is about The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness by Elyn R. Saks.

Description:
Elyn Saks is a success by any measure: she's an endowed professor at the prestigious University of Southern California Gould School of Law. She has managed to achieve this in spite of being diagnosed as schizophrenic and given a "grave" prognosis—and suffering the effects of her illness throughout her life.

In The Center Cannot Hold, Elyn Saks discusses frankly and movingly the paranoia, the inability to tell imaginary fears from real ones, and the voices in her head insisting she do terrible things, as well as the many obstacles she overcame to become the woman she is today.

Please use this thread to post questions and comments at any time.

Aloha Everyone,

How are folks doing with this book?


Mahalo,
RM
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I just started it, will let you guys know my opinion once I have finished it.

Finished this book as an audiobook. Absolutely loved it!
Loved her writing, her structure, her focus on her illness progression and life milestones in spite of it. No irrelevant tangents, like in No One Cares About Crazy People: The Chaos and Heartbreak of Mental Health in America, everything belonged. She is a ray of hope in the gloomy schizophrenia landscape.

Di wrote: "Finished this book as an audiobook. Absolutely loved it!
Loved her writing, her structure, her focus on her illness progression and life milestones in spite of it. No irrelevant tangents, like in [..."

Very interesting to know! Mahalo for the feedback! I will add this as book to read. You have change my mind. I hope you and your family are well. Hugsie💐



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I loved this book! I was totally riveted and felt it was such an interesting portrayal of this disorder. One thing she did possess that many with schizophrenia do not is the insight and awareness of her disorder and it’s symptoms.

JaimeInWonderland wrote: "I loved this book! I was totally riveted and felt it was such an interesting portrayal of this disorder. One thing she did possess that many with schizophrenia do not is the insight and awareness o..."

you are right! Then again it did take her many years to realize she actually needed medicine. and she did find some combination of pills that work for her, not all are that lucky.

JaimeInWonderland wrote: "I loved this book! I was totally riveted and felt it was such an interesting portrayal of this disorder. One thing she did possess that many with schizophrenia do not is the insight and awareness o..."

Ah, okay. The more feedback, the better. Mahalo!

Be well,
RM

Aloha All,

How is this book going, please


Mahalo,
RM
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This is not available through my library, so won’t be reading :(

Brittany wrote: "This is not available through my library, so won’t be reading :("

I am sorry. It has been hard borrowing books from the library with all this going on. Mahalo for trying! We hope all is well.


If I may, hugsie🤗

Ma'an I wish I hadn't missed this one. I just got on Goodreads this week. The Center Cannot Hold is on my to-read list.

Jessica wrote: "Ma'an I wish I hadn't missed this one. I just got on Goodreads this week. The Center Cannot Hold is on my to-read list."

we are still interested in what a licensed counselor would think of this book. please read it :D

;)

Jessica wrote: ";)"

Agree. Please share any views regardless if they are negative. Mahalo for commenting!


Be safe
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