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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Ned Vizzini has a distinct advantage over other authors who write about teen depression, attempted suicide, and the ins and outs of psychiatry--as a teen he was clinically depressed and even spent time in a psychiatric hospital. That experience has allowed Mr. Vizzini to bring to life the kinds of situations that were once largely absent in teen fiction; that of the fact that not all teens are happy, spontaneous, happy-go-lucky youths.
For Craig Gilner, gaining acceptance into the elite Executive Pre-Professional High School in Manhattan is not the end of his problems, but only the beginning. All the studying, the cramming, the all-nighters he pulled to get high marks in his old high school and ace his entrance exam now seem mediocre, at best, at his new school. Craig realizes quite early on that he's not brilliant, he's not at the top of his class--he is, in fact, average. For a guy who worked as hard as Craig did, with such obsessive determination, this is a blow not just to his ego, but to his very soul.
Craig soon finds himself unable to eat, unable to sleep, unable to find joy in just about everything. As he realizes he's clinically depressed, he tells his shrink--excuse me, psychiatrist--that his only joy in life comes from peeing. Yes, peeing. You go in, you get it done, you accomplish what you set out to do, and you're finished. It's pretty sad that going to the bathroom seems to be the highlight of his day (he even manages to stretch each trip out to about five minutes), but it's also the truth.
Dr. Minerva, for $120/hour, is attempting to help Craig figure out exactly why he's depressed and how to overcome it. But Craig no longer thrives on a life of complexity; for him, life is a nightmare. And as his depression leads to thoughts of suicide, he's not even surprised to find that there's an 800 number he can call. And after taking the plunge and calling 1-800-SUICIDE Craig hikes over to the local emergency room at the hospital, where he meets Dr. Mahmoud (who is not a terrorist).
From there, Craig is checked into a psychiatric hospital, and he meets a motley crew of patients who, amazingly enough, become better friends to him than the ones he had before he went in ever were. For Craig, being in the hospital might just save not only his life, but his sanity and his will to keep on keeping on.
IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY is a great read. Filled with issues that plague a large number of teens today, the author has managed to take sensitive topics and deal with them in a humorous way that never seems disrespectful. A very enjoyable, thought-provoking read.
[...]
For Craig Gilner, gaining acceptance into the elite Executive Pre-Professional High School in Manhattan is not the end of his problems, but only the beginning. All the studying, the cramming, the all-nighters he pulled to get high marks in his old high school and ace his entrance exam now seem mediocre, at best, at his new school. Craig realizes quite early on that he's not brilliant, he's not at the top of his class--he is, in fact, average. For a guy who worked as hard as Craig did, with such obsessive determination, this is a blow not just to his ego, but to his very soul.
Craig soon finds himself unable to eat, unable to sleep, unable to find joy in just about everything. As he realizes he's clinically depressed, he tells his shrink--excuse me, psychiatrist--that his only joy in life comes from peeing. Yes, peeing. You go in, you get it done, you accomplish what you set out to do, and you're finished. It's pretty sad that going to the bathroom seems to be the highlight of his day (he even manages to stretch each trip out to about five minutes), but it's also the truth.
Dr. Minerva, for $120/hour, is attempting to help Craig figure out exactly why he's depressed and how to overcome it. But Craig no longer thrives on a life of complexity; for him, life is a nightmare. And as his depression leads to thoughts of suicide, he's not even surprised to find that there's an 800 number he can call. And after taking the plunge and calling 1-800-SUICIDE Craig hikes over to the local emergency room at the hospital, where he meets Dr. Mahmoud (who is not a terrorist).
From there, Craig is checked into a psychiatric hospital, and he meets a motley crew of patients who, amazingly enough, become better friends to him than the ones he had before he went in ever were. For Craig, being in the hospital might just save not only his life, but his sanity and his will to keep on keeping on.
IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY is a great read. Filled with issues that plague a large number of teens today, the author has managed to take sensitive topics and deal with them in a humorous way that never seems disrespectful. A very enjoyable, thought-provoking read.
[...]
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The simplicity and straight-forwardness of this book is what drew me to it the most I think. I finished reading it in 3 days, and was sad it ended too soon. Such a deep and serious topic taken and conveyed in such simple thoughts and scenarios, it was absolutely wonderful to read.
Craig is real. He's real, and he exists in all of us either now or at one point in our lives. His worries compared to the other people at the hospital are silly to say the least - but it doesn't make them any less real. He worries about his email, about his principal calling the hospital, about school and homework, about friends, about very mundane everyday things that worry all of us on a daily basis. At one point I did think to myself that this is quite ridiculous, this kid has everything going for him and he's in a mental hospital? Seriously? But then I thought about my life, all the little things that get to me on a daily basis, the sleep deprivation, lack of appetite and so on, and I thought well...I get it...I really get it. And if it were up to us, if it were that easy, we would all check ourselves into a mental hospital when we face a total breakdown.
I loved the characters, and Craig's development in the book. His family is quite amazing as well, I mean, talk about support! And Craig is such a good guy, that it just amazed me how well he was raised. He's a kid that parents would be proud of.
This book reminded me so much of Veronika Decides to Die for Paulo Coelho, without the over-dramatization. It was more realistic, and more profound in its own way. It is also I believe a book that is a lot easier for people to connect with than Coelho's books. And I loved the ending and the overall "moral of the story" - go after what you love and believe in, not what is expected of you or what you think is expected of you. Such a simple thing as what you choose to study or what school you choose to go to can affect your entire outlook on life. It's pretty cool.
Ned Vizzini captured every individual's reality perfectly within a fifteen year old kid - I'm impressed. I look forward to reading his other books.
Craig is real. He's real, and he exists in all of us either now or at one point in our lives. His worries compared to the other people at the hospital are silly to say the least - but it doesn't make them any less real. He worries about his email, about his principal calling the hospital, about school and homework, about friends, about very mundane everyday things that worry all of us on a daily basis. At one point I did think to myself that this is quite ridiculous, this kid has everything going for him and he's in a mental hospital? Seriously? But then I thought about my life, all the little things that get to me on a daily basis, the sleep deprivation, lack of appetite and so on, and I thought well...I get it...I really get it. And if it were up to us, if it were that easy, we would all check ourselves into a mental hospital when we face a total breakdown.
I loved the characters, and Craig's development in the book. His family is quite amazing as well, I mean, talk about support! And Craig is such a good guy, that it just amazed me how well he was raised. He's a kid that parents would be proud of.
This book reminded me so much of Veronika Decides to Die for Paulo Coelho, without the over-dramatization. It was more realistic, and more profound in its own way. It is also I believe a book that is a lot easier for people to connect with than Coelho's books. And I loved the ending and the overall "moral of the story" - go after what you love and believe in, not what is expected of you or what you think is expected of you. Such a simple thing as what you choose to study or what school you choose to go to can affect your entire outlook on life. It's pretty cool.
Ned Vizzini captured every individual's reality perfectly within a fifteen year old kid - I'm impressed. I look forward to reading his other books.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I could not put the book down! It's not depressing in the slightest but witty and insightful. Beautifully written and absolutely familiar to your own life. I loved it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Engrossing
I saw the film first and adored it (with Keir Gilchrist, Zach galifianakis, and Emma Roberts), which prompted me to read the book. Read more
Published 1 day ago by Flo
Depression and Humour!
I first picked up this book because I was struggling with depression myself and was curious how it would be portrayed in this young adult novel. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Kirby
Joyous depression filled pages.
I cannot even begin to think of how many books I have read, claiming to deal with sensitive issues such as teenage depression and suicidal feelings. Read more
Published 3 months ago by LouBeeC
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