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Read for Mental Health

Fast Five Friday – Lightning Round Reviews

     milelongtbr      Leave a Comment

What do these five books have in common? They’ve all been sitting in my “To Be Reviewed” pile for too long! So, today I’m doing “Lightning Round Reviews” and giving my take on each title in one short paragraph.

Let’s go!

1. 📚 I’D RATHER BE READING

This book spoke to my bibliophile soul. I’m a longtime fan of @annebogel and loved her musings on life as a reader. I also appreciate that she too struggles to write reviews at times and discuss what exactly she enjoys about a book. Reading this was so comforting and felt like a chat with one of my best bookish friend who gets all the #bookwormproblems we face. 

I gave this book four stars.

2. 🏨GIRL, INTERRUPTED –

I read this for my nonfiction pick in May for Mental Health Awareness Month. It was troubling to hear Kaysen’s account of the mental healthcare system in the 1960s. Still, it was insightful and an important reminder that having these conversations and shedding light on mental healthcare will help normalize and make care more accessible to those who need it. 

I gave this book four stars.

3. 📝THE ROXY LETTERS-

I liked the idea of the book more than I actually liked it. Told entirely in letters, this follows Roxy, a bit of a hot mess as she tries to get it together. There were some funny parts, but Roxy’s immaturity and poor choices made it hard to really enjoy. 

I’d probably skip this one. I gave it three stars.

4. 📚BY THE BOOK-

Such a cute read!  This YA book is filled with quirky characters, myriad literary references, and plenty of moments that will make you laugh as Mary Porter-Malcom learns that books don’t hold the answer to everything in life- some things she’ll have to experience for herself. 

This book is a delightful read for bibliophiles. I gave it four stars.

While I didn’t review this book on Instagram, I did feature it in my June Reading Wrap Up, where you can read more about the plot and my thoughts.

5. 🎤ON THE COME UP-

I adored this book! This was my introduction to Angie Thomas and I absolutely loved her storytelling and characters. I also appreciate the very important themes getting discussed in YA novels. Looking forward to THUG, whuch I’ve heard fantastic things about as well.  I listened on audio with Libro.FM and Bhani Turpin, one of my favorite narrators did such a fantastic job bringing it to life, especially the rap scenes. 

I gave On The Come Up five stars and recommend it to teens and adults alike!

Do you struggle to keep up with reviewing what you read, or are you good about getting them written and posted? This is a great way to play catch-up on books and get that other TBR pile under control!

11 Books to Read for Mental Health Awareness Month

     milelongtbr      3 Comments

11 Reads for Mental Health Awareness

Reading provides an amazing opportunity to put ourselves in another person’s point of view and May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so it’s a great time to start a conversation about this important topic and read some books by and about people who have dealt with mental health troubles. 

I’ve compiled a list of eleven titles across many genres to appeal to readers with a range of tastes. You’re sure to find something that will be an interesting and eye-opening read, no matter what books usually fill your TBR. 

Books to Read for Mental Health Awareness

Nonfiction 

First let’s talk about some nonfiction titles. What better perspective on mental health than from someone who has struggled personally with their own? 

1. Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson

Furiously Happy is my absolute favorite nonfiction book and one of my all-time favorite titles. Jenny Lawson is a successful blogger at The Bloggess, an author, and an artist. She’s also someone who struggles with depression, anxiety, and a number of other mental disorders. In this book she gets real about the struggles she has and the things she does to better herself every day. This book changed the way I see mental illness, and I can’t recommend it enough.

It’s not for the easily offended reader, but Jenny’s humor is amazing. I’ve never laughed so hard while reading a book in my life, and still do even though I’ve read and listened to the book a handful of times. She narrates the audiobook herself and does an amazing job, so check out the audio version if you want a great listen. Check out my full review of Furiously Happy here.

2. Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gotlieb

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone was my nonfiction pick for January, and I absolutely love Gotlieb’s account of therapy… from both sides of the couch. The book not only gives us insight to the lives and struggles of her patients, but also her account of seeking therapy herself after a breakup leaves her questioning her life and identity. 

Lori’s honesty and insight is invaluable, and the memoir is heartfelt and emotional. I’d never even considered a therapist having a therapist, and love what Gotlieb has done to help normalize talking to someone, specifically a professional, about our lives.  

3. Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen (TBR) 

I’ll be reading Girl, Interrupted in the coming days for my monthly Nonfiction selection for May. Thismemoir inspired the Angelina Jolie movie of the same name and gave cutting insight into life in a mental institution in the 1970s. Eighteen-year-old Kaysen was sent to high profile McLean Hospital after twenty minute session with a new psychiatrist and stayed there for nearly two years. Her personal reflections and observations on the hospital and other insight are sure to provide insight on the history of mental healthcare and the experience of those who are struggling. 

Classic Literature

If fiction is more your style, here are some selections that have characters facing mental health issues.

4. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath 

I will not say it’s an easy or ‘fun’ read. It is, however, an important read.  Evocative and immersive , with lyrical prose rich imagery. The book follows Esther Greenwood, a character author Sylvia Plath more or less based on herself, as she struggles to find herself as a writer and as a woman in the 1950s. Esther seemingly has a fabulous life, but still finds herself dissatisfied and uninterested. Eventually, Esther finds herself trapped by her life and the bell jar that is her depression, containing and suffocating her at once. She loses hope, and after failed suicide attempts finds herself in a hospital, undergoing some of the treatments of the time.

Though the book ends on a hopeful note for Esther’s future, Plath herself lost her battle with depression and committed suicide shortly after it’s publication. Even with its difficult subject matter The Bell Jar is worth the read and its status as a modern classic.

5. Tender is the Night by F Scott Fitzgerald 

Tender is the Night is a novel heavily based on the Fitzgerald’s lives and explores the strain that his alcoholism and depression and her alleged schizophrenia put on their relationship and wellbeing. Scott Fitzgerald considered this his best work, and though the tone and themes explored are dark, the writing is luminous and it’s a very introspective and captivating exploration of what can happen when facing mental health struggles. 

6. One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey (TBR) 

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s nest is a novel set in a psychiatric hospital. It’s such a powerful read that it was instrumental in changing the mental healthcare system, which was dehumanizing, still practicing lobotomies at the time it was written in 1959.

For that reason alone it’s incredibly important, albeit not an easy read.

The book has some unique and symbolic characters in McMurphy and Nurse Ratched, who are not only iconic characters, but also symbols of the thematic struggles between good and evil; the individual and the institution.

Contemporary Fiction

If you prefer your fiction a bit more modern than the above selections, check out these books. 

7. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Eleanor Oliphant is another of my all-time favorite books, and Eleanor’s character holds a very special place in my heart. She’s damaged and has suffered a number of traumatic events in her life that have molded her into the woman she is today; awkward, reclusive, and very damaged. Eleanor works through her past and her depression and though she has very bad days, undergoes amazing character growth. The book is packed with quotes pertaining to mental health struggles, so it’s a perfect read for mental health awareness.

Check out my full review if you’re interested in hearing more about Eleanor Oliphant.

8. Tear Me Apart by J.T. Ellison

Part gripping medical thriller, part family drama, Tear Me Apart tells a captivating story that weaves an important discussion on mental health and suicide into the plot. I can’t think of another book in the genre that does this so sensitively. Elison’s acknowledgments are especially heartwarming, and I appreciate her using the book to explore deeper and meaningful themes. If you like thrillers and want to try something with a mental health angle this is the book for you. 

9. Where’d You Go, Bernadette By Maria Semple

Bernadette has some mental health struggles, but her character still made it to my list of the 8 Greatest Literary Moms I put together earlier this month. Despite her reclusivity and anxiety, Bernadette manages to break out of her comfort zone and reignite her passion for life through admittedly unorthodox methods. Bernadette’s struggles aren’t necessarily understood by those close to her, but she makes no apologies and that attitude of self-acceptance is a great force to destigmatize the types of things she’s facing. 

Poetry 

Finally, if you’re looking for poetry collections dealing with mental health themes, here’s a good place to start.

10. Anything by Amanda Lovelace 

Amanda Lovelace is a powerful wordsmith, crafting beautiful poems about often difficult topics. Her books probably contain most of the trigger warnings, so go in with that in mind and expect to be amazed by the force of her words.

Each of the books in her “women are some kind of magic” trilogy are uniquely interesting explorations of love, trauma, loss, grief, and healing. I own all three titles in the series, which all use different elements of classic fairy tales and myth to help tell the tales of women overcoming and finding strength within themselves. Find a title that speaks to you. You’ll feel understood and empowered reading her poems. 

11. Love Poems for Anxious People by John Kenney

Love Poems for Anxious People is a great collection that explores topics the anxious and socially awkward among us are sure to relate to. It muses on everything from forgetting someone’s name, fighting “monkey mind” during meditation practice, and self-diagnosing on WebMD, as well as complications of working and parenting in the modern age. 

Kenney’s words show that he intimately understands the struggles of an anxious person; the things that keep you up at night and the intricacies of who you are at your core. If you suffer from anxiety in today’s day and age, you’re sure to relate. 

We all know that we can read for mental health benefits, but what we read can be important too. Especially when it gives us the opportunity to better understand other perspectives and

This list of eleven titles perfect to read for Mental Health Awareness Month is a great starting point to consider other’s struggles and keep the conversation going so we can beat the stigma that surrounds mental health.

Review: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

     milelongtbr      5 Comments

This is one that I feel that the majority of people here have read, but it’s one of my absolute favorites and I felt it was timely to post a review of it up here since May is Mental Health Awareness Month. The book talks about a number of mental health issues and does so in a manner that is sensitive, realistic, and destigmatizing.

I first read Eleanor Oliphant in 2017 when Reese Witherspoon picked it as her inaugural book club title, and after I finished it I started rereading immediately. At the time of writing this in 2020, I believe I’ve read the book five times. 

That itself should speak volumes about how much I love this book, but check out the full review for more information about why this is one to prioritize on your own TBR. And if you have read it, tell me your take on whether Eleanor is completely fine or not and what that means to you!! 

Synopsis: 

Meet Eleanor.

She’s a 29-year-old office worker in Glasgow who loves routine and loathes small talk.

She doesn’t have many friends, but that doesn’t bother her in the least. She’s perfectly fine with her predictable schedule; weekend pizza and wine night, weekly calls with Mummy, and daily lunches doing the crossword by herself.

“But, by careful observation from the sidelines, I’d worked out that social success is often built on pretending just a little. Popular people sometimes have to laugh at things they don’t find very funny, do things they don’t particularly want to, with people whose company they don’t particularly enjoy. Not me. I had decided, years ago, that if the choice was between that or flying solo, then I’d fly solo. It was safer that way.”

— Gail Honeyman (Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine)

Eleanor is not especially interested in expanding her social circle until she sees a musician and instantly knows: This is the man she’s meant to spend her life with.

Her attempts at turning herself into the type of woman the musician would date provide good comedy, but if you’re expecting a love story don’t hold your breath.

While Eleanor struggles to get the attention of the musician, her coworker Raymond decides to insert himself into her life.

He’s the embodiment of all the qualities she can’t stand. He smokes, his appearance is always somewhat disheveled, he uses “text speak” abbreviations in email.

But, he’s a good person. He’s an optimist and he has decided that Eleanor is worth getting to know.

Her life expands as she starts to spend time with him, and the reclusive and awkward Eleanor learns that coming out of her shell a little might bring bigger, better things than she’d realized into her life.

And, when the bad days come, like they always do, Raymond is a supportive and encouraging friend, helping see her through the dark times and come out better on the other side.

Analysis:

Eleanor Oliphant instantly became one of my all-time favorite books, and largely because of the characters; quirky yet relatable Eleanor, Raymond the impossibly kind IT guy from her office, and Eleanor’s sinister Mummy.

The characters are all very well developed, but witnessing the scarred and reclusive Eleanor step outside of her comfort zone to become the kind of person who goes to weddings, visits friends in the hospital, and helps care for people who need it is inspiring.

I love that she retains her quirks even as she leaves behind the unhealthy coping mechanisms she’s used to deal with things for so long.

Also, I think Raymond is one the most ‘good’ characters in all of literature. He’s such a kind and caring person and brings so much heart to the novel.

He also brings humor. There are many laugh-out-loud moments in the book, from Eleanor’s observations to  Raymond’s goofy demeanor and the rapport between the two of them. The humor may be sardonic at times, but it works well. You’ll likely relate to Elenor’s commentary even if you’d never say those thoughts aloud and in public.

The comedy is needed to balance the difficult themes and topics that are discussed in the book. It discusses things such as isolation, depression, abuse, and suicide, but is handled in a respectful manner and does not stay too dark for too long thanks to that balance.

Two things particularly stand out to me about this book; that Gail Honeyman avoids cliche by not following the formula of Eleanor’s physical transformation from awkward and unfashionable to beautiful, and that Eleanor’s relationship with Raymond stayed a friendship.

Yes, she does go through a number of physical changes but they are without a doubt secondary to the changes that are taking place within her. Eleanor’s attempts at changing her appearance are misguided, but the deeper changes are not suggested to be a result of introspection, brutal self-honesty, and hard work.

Another thing that I appreciate is that Eleanor and Raymond are friends. He is loyal and accepting while encouraging her to be honest with herself, which are invaluable qualities in a friend. But, even when Eleanor is shiny, he doesn’t make any advances on her or take advantage of her in any way. Having him become a love interest to her would have cheapened the story and I’m so glad Honeyman didn’t take it in that direction.

Considering this is Gail Honeyman’s debut novel, it’s especially impressive. She’s set the bar high for future works, but I can’t wait to see what she puts out next.

Takeaway: 

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is a book I will never stop recommending or rereading.

This book is one that makes you think, laugh, cry, question things… It’s hard to find a book that achieves this, especially with such grace. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is a truly touching work of contemporary fiction that I see being regarded as a modern classic in the years to come. It’s one of the two books I feel should be required reading for practically everyone which is why this five-star read also earned my “all the stars” rating.

If you’ve not already read it take my word for it and give this book a chance.

Content Warning:

childhood abuse and trauma, suicide, physical abuse, death, alcoholism, mental health issues, adult language

Review: Everyday Optimism by Dani DiPirro

     milelongtbr      1 Comment

Everyday Optimism by Dani DiPirro is a fantastic guide to being, as she calls it, “positively present” and it’s exactly the book we need right now.

This is the name of her personal mission -and blog— and while I hadn’t read any of DiPirro’s writing prior to this, I do love seeing her artwork on Instagram.

Some of the amazingly vibrant and inspiring art on Positively Present. All images belong to Dani DiPirro.

Having a mindful and positive outlook is something I believe in and am always trying to do better in my everyday life, and this book is the perfect read for someone wishing to gain momentum in this area or see overall positive changes in their life.

This book is filled with practical advice on how to live “positively present” in every area of your life, from home to work, to relationships. There are so many exercises that you can start with immediately, and there are great online resources on the blog to print and work on as well. One of the main things that impede change for many seems to be not knowing where to start and not knowing how to take the first step, so it is great to see such realistic ideas.

The format is also logical and flows easily, while all circling back to the two words that started it all. This a wonderfully cheerful and insightful book that will be a great guide to anyone who could benefit from being more in the moment, and having a happier life as a byproduct of the mindset shift. I can see it being especially relevant to those dealing with heightened anxiety and decreased productivity related to COVID-19.

I can’t recommend this book highly enough, and I’m sure I’ll be referring back to it often.

Many thanks to Watkins Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Review: break your glass slippers by Amanda Lovelace

     milelongtbr      1 Comment

I love all of Amanda Lovelace’s poetry and break your glass slippers, her latest collection, really spoke to me.

The book is filled with gorgeous illustrations and lovely, poignant poems in the forms of self-realizations, notes from the fairy godmother, as well as other voices that come together in this collection to tell a story of another princess who ultimately has all she needs within her the entire time.

Modern, feminist, and empowering, the follow up to the ‘women are some kind magic’ series is perfect. It had me filled with emotion on more than one occasion, and I enjoyed reading the book in full as much as I’m sure I’ll love flipping back through it. I’m looking forward to hearing what more the ‘you are your own fairy tale’ series has in store for us.

This was a five-star poetry collection for me, and may just be my favorite from Lovelace to date.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the advance copy.

Review: Separation Anxiety

     milelongtbr      Leave a Comment

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Judy’s life is in shambles.

Her career has stalled, she’s separated from her husband, their finances are strained, her son is growing up and away from her, and her best friend has terminal cancer.

So she starts wearing the family dog to cope.

In a baby harness.

In public.

That’s the premise of Separation Anxiety, Laura Zigman’s hilarious novel that came out March 3rd, and I highly recommend it for anyone who’s in the mood for a fun and thoughtful read.

The book also feels especially timely in these uncertain times. I may not be leaving the house any time soon, but either way, keeping the family pet a little closer than usual for comfort is seeming like a better idea by the day.

She would like to go on record that she not approve of being worn in a baby harness in or out of the house.

Separation Anxiety is quirky and hilarious, while also very honest and raw. There is a lot of vulnerability here, and the path these characters take is both insightful and redeeming. This book really is about the journey, and the one the characters take is wonderfully balanced with growth and humor. It’s definitely a worthwhile and entertaining four-star read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the advance copy.

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