The second challenge I signed up for in 2011 was the Mental Illness Advocacy (MIA) Reading Challenge hosted by the lovely Amanda of Opinions of a Wolf. What really grabbed my attention about this challenge was the fact that not only would it be a chance for me to read something different and to learn from it, but to also be an example for others to start thinking about mental illness too.
Challenge Level: Aware – 8 Books
Amanda kindly provided a detailed reading suggestions list, and using this I have discovered which of them I could either borrow from a friend/family or the library and so created this list of possible reads for the challenge:
- The Bell Jar – Sylvia Plath
- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time – Mark Haddon
- Still Alice: A Novel – Lisa Genova
- Trainspotting – Irvine Welsh
- Mr.Monster – Dan Wells
- Darkly Dreaming Dexter – Jeff Lindsay
- I am not a Serial Killer – Dan Wells
- The Madonnas of Leningrad – Susanna Kaysen
- Set This House in Order – Matt Ruff
Now here are the eight books I actually read:
The Silver Linings Play Book – Matthew Quick (Mental Breakdown)
The Madonnas of Leningrad – Debra Dean (Alzheimers)
The Bell Jar – Sylvia Plath (Depression)
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Mark Haddon (Asperger’s Syndrome)
All the King’s Horses: An Expression of Depression Vol 3 – Edited by Nina Antonia (Depression)
Mr Monster – Dan Wells (Antisocial Personality Disorder)
I Am Not A Serial Killer – Dan Wells (Antisocial Personality Disorder)
Emotional Geology – Linda Gillard (Bipolar Disorder)
I am so glad I took part in this challenge because it got me to try books I may never have tried otherwise i.e. Mr Monster, and I Am Not A Serial Killer (I would have said too violent before), or The Bell Jar (too deep). Now to a certain extent I was right they were violent and sometimes depressing but I found that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy them in some way. I thought all of these books had their merits and would find it hard to rank them in any kind of order. I can say though that there are two authors here I have discovered which I will be reading more of, and they are Dan Wells and Linda Gillard, so it looks like I will be continuing to read more about mental health with or without the challenge.
Did you take part in this challenge too, if so what did you read? If not did you take part in any other challenges?
I think you have put your finger on the problem with writing and reading about mental health. It’s not a cheery subject and people’s experiences are often downright grim. But we need to understand mental illness in the same way we need to understand cancer or alcoholism (and these are illnesses that crop up a lot in fiction and memoirs.) As you discovered there are some gifted writers who have made this subject accessible – even a riveting read!
When I set out to write EMOTIONAL GEOLOGY, a novel about the experience of being bipolar and a creative person, I was writing just for myself, with no thought of publication. I struggled with the problem of how to write a novel about the experience of suffering from – at times – serious depression, without writing a book that would be depressing to read! I hope I succeeded.
The watchword for those of us who struggle with mental illness is “Know the enemy” and that enemy is within. Reading challenges like this one do much to dispel ignorance and fear. Understanding these illnesses improves the quality of life for sufferers and their carers – and no one can afford to think they will get through their life unscathed. When I do author talks, I ask the audience if there’s anyone in the room whose life *hasn’t* been touched in some way by depression or some other mental illness. I’m yet to see a raised hand.
Beautifully put Linda, couldn’t sum it up better myself.
What I think I love most about this challenge is that it covers a hard issue that still seems to get ignored, as Amanda said herself their are plenty of reading challenges dealing with rascism, sexism, abuse, alcohol and drugs problems, gay rights, all important and hard hitting subjects. Mental illness is not more important but as you said it is a hard topic that effects almost everyone in some way.
There are authors out there who can make understanding and finding out about mental illness a riveting read, and you are one of them!
This challenge sounds like it would be interesting. I read the Bell Jar earlier this year – I found it very realistic, and at times hard to read. Your’re right mental illness isn’t an easy subject to read about and sadly that puts a lot of people off.
This challenge was very interesting and I highly recommend giving it a go. Amanda over at Opinions of a Wolf has already announced she will be running the challenge again next year.
As you probably notice in my list I too read The Bell Jar and found it to be one of the most challenging reads but also one of the most rewarding of the whole challenge.
I’m so glad you participated in the challenge, Jessica! I saw your awareness, knowledge, and understanding grow throughout the year, plus a broadening of your reading horizons. It made me so happy!
Also, I must say, your blog reaches a different audience than mine generally does, so I’m glad you were able to spread awareness of the challenge too.
Most of all, though, I’m glad you enjoyed yourself. My point in the challenge certainly was never to torture readers, lol. Simply to raise awareness.
Also, totally swiping your blog for an announcement: the challenge will be running in 2012 too if anyone is interested.
I’m really glad I took part too! This challenge has really done what a challenge should do and that is make a reader broaden their reading material and may be also learn something a long the way. This I definitely did!
And feel no shame in using my blog to announce the 2012 challenge I will most likely me joining up for it myself again, already got some appropriate books lined up
It’s a difficult subject to read about. I just finished The Bell Jar and like it a lot. I may sign-up for the challenge next year but you will have to feed me more recommendation on mental illness Jessica (imagine me saying that, it doesn’t sound healthy!)
It is a difficult subject but that is what makes it so rewarding. The Bell Jar was probably one of the hardest reads for me, but it is the one I learned the most from, if you can read that then I’m pretty sure not much else will daunt you. I would love to see you take part in this challenge next year, I’m planning too but maybe at a lower level
As for reading recommendations you can always start with the eights I read this year or head over to Amanda’s blog and check out her extensive recommendations list she has created to go along with her challenge.
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