It's Kind of a Funny Story

If anyone compares Ned Vizzini to Ken Kesey, don't listen to them. He's different because I said so. And because he is. In so many good ways.His third book, IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY, takes its readers on an honest (and, in the end, refreshing) plunge into Craig Gilner's teenage depression and resurfaces in world that, five days later, feels real for the first time. He looks like your everyday modern kid until he sneaks out in the middle of the night and admits himself into a mental hospital. Why would he do that? If you asked him, he'd tell you it's because of all the Tentacles. Too many Tentacles and not enough Anchors. The stresses of life are wrapping him so tightly that he's not sure he can handle it. Even if he wants to.The thing about Tentacles (Yes, it's spelled correctly) is he'd cut them off if he could, but if he did, he'd end up a failure. That's how life is right? He studies his brains out to ace the entrance exam and get into Executive Pre-Professional High School, so he's obligated or something to the best student he can, right? It seems so simple. Study hard. Read 3 newspapers a day. Respond to email. Answer phone calls. Sound normal. Look normal. Basically, do what everyone wants, when they want, and he'll make it in life. They'll see him as a success.The problem is that Craig wants to end it all. As much as he loves that beating heart of his and his family and his friends and chilling with Aaron and hoping for something more with Nia, he wants to die. It's the only way he can think to stop the Cycling in his brain. He keeps waiting for The Shift to happen, but it feels eight continents away--In other words, Impossible. Vizzini captivates his readers with wild parties, Argenon (mental) Hospital, crazy roommates, Egyptian music, Brain Maps, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the third best sex scene of the year according to the Henry Miller Award panel, in a way that's as witty as it is wistful, and as humorous as it is human. Readers will love to follow Craig as he learns that cutting off the right Tentacles may be the only way to go from Broken, to Healing, to Normal, to Real, and finally, to Alive.Reviewed by Jonathan Stephens

This book helped me put words to my feelings when I was a teenager trying to understand my depression. I reread it because to this day it gave me a vocabulary for understanding which for some reason can make a huge difference. It also helped me understand what feeling better looked like and I’m forever grateful to this book.

If you’re looking for an insightful, objective review of this book I would encourage you to look elsewhere. I can’t review this book like a normal one because it’s too personal. But let’s rewind a bit.Here are the basics: Craig is depressed. He’s a hardworking high school student in New York who has increasing trouble coping with daily life. He’s surrounded by friends who are focused on getting high and hooking up and finds himself increasingly marginalized by his internal struggles. This culminates in a suicidal crisis which lands him in a psychiatric hospital for five days. Over the course of his stay, he makes connections with his fellow patients and learns to accept his situation while moving ahead toward a meaningful life.The story is pretty straightforward and the writing is casual yet sensitive. Vizzini writes in the voice of his 15 year old protagonist, though this can be a bit inconsistent at times. Occasionally, aspects of the story seem a bit idealized and simplified. Additionally, the conclusion is rapid and feels tentative as we don’t learn anything of life after the hospital for Craig. This could feel a bit irresponsible or unrealistic as it’s very rare for any sort of mental illness to be corrected and sorted out fully over the course of one week. Depression typically doesn’t work like that.Despite its shortcomings, this book was incredibly meaningful and helpful to me. Like Ned Vizzini and his fictional Craig, I too have had a short stay in a psychiatric hospital. It happened out of the blue. A manic episode with a sprinkling of psychosis (in my right mind I generally don’t think I can communicate telepathically with people--or dogs). After ranting and raving for hours, my parents finally took me to the hospital where I proceeded to shout about how out of control I was and how I might hurt myself if I didn’t get help immediately. I was sedated and transferred to a psychiatric facility. I am so grateful for the support of my family and the genuine, expert care I received. This was another aspect of the book that felt a little unrealistic. Craig received a few individual counseling sessions and one group arts and crafts class. In my experience there were near constant, varied groups and repeated meetings with mental health professionals. Surely care varies from facility to facility. This book highlighted the relationships Craig formed with the other patients--some of them extremely ill-advised. While this has emotional appeal, it may not be the best message for those suffering with serious mental illness. Many people who are unwell enough to end up in a psychiatric hospital can’t quite pull themselves up by the bootstraps like Craig does.It has been a few months since I was released back into the wild. I’m better medicated now. Better therapized. Stable. But I’m still processing my experience. It’s pretty disorienting to go from normal life to institutionalization. It’s more disorienting to go back to “normal” life with a lot of uncertainty and questions and fears. I’ve had tons of ongoing support but processing the trauma is an ongoing experience and can be quite isolating. This book helped in its own way and paved the way for extremely helpful conversations with family, friends, and mental health professionals. At the end of the day, I feel this book has a net positive effect in the movement to destigmatize mental illness. I’d encourage anyone who might be suffering to learn from Craigs example. He struggled alone for a long time seeking help from medication and therapy while not allowing his family and friends to know about the true depths of his internal struggles. The message of the book, while perhaps over-simplified, is clear. There is power in vulnerability and redemption in honesty. It’s so difficult to reach out when in the throes of depression, anxiety, or other mental illness, but it’s so important. Help is available and support can truly help even if life feels hopeless.B+

This story was well written. I thought it captured the life of a ward quite well! It's a good read for anyone who has interest in mental health

it's a very good book, i'm sorry for the family loss.

The thing I love most about this book is the way Ned Vizzini lets us see inside the head of a mentally ill person. I was extremely sad when I found out the author actually committed suicide. There wasn't one thing that I woulf change about this book, I absolutely loved it.

Top Buch. Einfach, verständlich und eine schöne Geschichte.

Libro de lectura fácil y entretenida. A mi hija le ha agradado mucho.