Sectioned: A Life Interrupted
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Product Description
Review
'"Sectioned: A Life Interrupted" should be required reading for mental health professionals...it is as thought-provoking as it is compelling. O'Donoghue's unsentimental honesty...avoids the melodramatic, while holding unflinchingly to what is harrowing'
(The Herald, Ron Ferguson )'Here you will find an eloquent and compelling insight into one person's battles with mental illness ... it is his literary powers and keen observations that shine through the murk ... alongside the pain there is little self-pity and plenty of humour'
(Herald )'This is a rare insight intoa hidden world' (Greenock Telegraph )
'Sectioned should be compulsory reading for anyone working in the mental health system: they'll laugh, they'll cry, they'll think twice before using ECT'
(Disability Now )'Vividly put together [and] full of indelible images'
(The Age (Australia) )'While the subject matter is undoubtedly harrowing, what is most memorable about Donoghue's vivid memoir is its inspirational quality'
(Good Book Guide )Product Description
'I'd been in Claybury for four months before I was given ECT. I was sixteen. The day I went down for it I was wearing a striped hospital dressing gown and yellow pyjamas. I'd been given the Last Rites.'
John O'Donoghue was first admitted to Claybury asylum with manic depression aged sixteen, just after his mother had been institutionalised. He spent over a decade in asylums, halfway houses, therapeutic communities, dosshouses, squats, and on the streets. Sectioned is an honest and moving account of his experiences. It is also ultimately the story of his survival against the odds, and of his coming of age in a Britain that was changing forever.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I had high expectations of this book, wanting to be fascinated and educated further on living with mental illness from the perspective of one who had experienced it, and gone on to live a life. John O'Donoghue is clearly a survivor and does not fall into the trap of sensationalising his experiences or relying on self pity to promote his story.
However, I felt the book needed more reflection about how situations affected him, how he felt- it was very factual a narrative. It jumped around from event to event. There was little focus on exploring his actual emotions relating to what he was going through. Similarly,I felt indifferent to each of the characters and his relationships with them .The factual narrative did not inspire an ounce of empathy in me. Thus, I could not empathise with the subject or really care what was going on for any of the characters. The lack of reflection and insight made me struggle to be bothered to complete the book.
Very disappointing
However, I felt the book needed more reflection about how situations affected him, how he felt- it was very factual a narrative. It jumped around from event to event. There was little focus on exploring his actual emotions relating to what he was going through. Similarly,I felt indifferent to each of the characters and his relationships with them .The factual narrative did not inspire an ounce of empathy in me. Thus, I could not empathise with the subject or really care what was going on for any of the characters. The lack of reflection and insight made me struggle to be bothered to complete the book.
Very disappointing
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I loved it. I'm normally nervous of reading anything too emotional or tragic but this book wasn't like that. Yes, the story is harrowing, heart-breaking in parts but it is written without self-pity. There is an honesty and humour which pervades and compels. I couldn't put it down. Whether you have an understanding of mental illness or not you must read it. Fantastic.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A clear and compelling insight into one of life's everlasting taboos. The author writes with openness and honesty about his early descent into mental institutions and his personal struggle to break free. Fearsome and yet funny, the slippery ascent takes him through squats, prison and even the Hare Krishnas, forever stalked by his alter ego and holding on to his love of poetry. Set against the hard backdrop of eighties London, this is an unsentimental poetic account of being completely set adrift at a young age and navigating your way to a future.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A Life Interrupted
This is an important book on a personal level, one rarely written of or described in detail. I am sure that it will help to dispel myths and fears regarding mental illness.
Published 1 month ago by S. A. V. Lewis
abook and clothing
i love amazon homeshopping they have never let me down and my stuff has been delivered on time and no matter where i am or whos address i send it to it allwas gets there thank u... Read more
Published 12 months ago by pg tips
Funny, entertaining and thought provoking read
I loved this book. It conjures up feelings sights smells and sounds of growing up in the 70s and 80s brilliantly. It is surprisingly funny considering the subject matter. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Harriet
DID NOT LIVE UP TO EXPECTATIONS
Like one of the other reviewers I was disappointed with this book.I was glad that in the end he came to some resolutions about his problems, and that he was able to lead a... Read more
Published 12 months ago by bibliophile
Interesting
What I found interesting was how the writer does not discuss exactly what happened each time he went back into hospital. He just describes it as seeing the fog again. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Soph
Wry, reflective, harrowing
Really impressed by this book. It opens with a powerful and disturbing scene of religious mania and abuse, charts the heart-breaking dissolution of a young man's family and goes on... Read more
Published 16 months ago by uisce55
Full of highs and lows and hope
I have read a number of books on homelessness and depression but this was a book quite different to the rest. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Yelsel Ecirp
Sectioned
Almost 3/4's of the way through so no conclusion to how good it is overall.
Not an easy read to start with as it jumps about somewhat but goes on to be a good read. Read more
Not an easy read to start with as it jumps about somewhat but goes on to be a good read. Read more
Published on 24 Feb 2010 by Fragile Tony
surprised
I actually have not yet read this book, though I intend to. My concern is that I received an e-mail from Amazon. Read more
Published on 1 Mar 2009 by Susan Hargreaves
Great read, not to be missed
This is a subject I usually shy away from but was drawn in by the central character. It reads like a swimmer trying to overcome waves, dodging some, swallowed up by others, the... Read more
Published on 24 Feb 2009 by Z. de Linde
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