Mary Jane WardReviews

Its a bit hard to follow, as it is told from the perspective of the patient. Regardless, it is extremely harrowing and disturbing to see how patients diagnosed with mental illness were treated at this time. Its especially disturbing to realize that a lot of these conditions are still prevalent today.

I first read The Snake Pit from Mary Jane Ward a long time ago, maybe early '70s, mainly because the person who owned the book heard that I had watched the film a couple of times. While I enjoyed the book, I didn't so much remember the details of the novel as I remembered the feelings I had while reading it: anxiety, confusion (both for the character I was inhabiting as well as getting used to the style of the prose itself), claustrophobic sensations, and a feeling of helplessness. Rereading this new edition brought back many of those same feelings and also, like any book, made me consider the story from a different perspective. The usual difference between reading a book in your late teens and then again in your early 60s. But both experiences were well worth my time and energy. Plus I still really like the movie.

If you're only familiar with the film, I think this book will make many of the things in the film clearer, but don't expect too many more answers or definitive closure. If you're not familiar with either the film or the book, I think you will find this to be a harrowing trip into what asylums used to be like and into the mind of someone suffering from mental illness. The essay at the end of the book is very informative and a reader may want to read it first, though it will contain some spoilers, to the extent that this book can have spoilers.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

Wow! I don't know if I can do a review of this book justice. I saw a rerun of this movie many years ago, and it left an impact, but not like reading this book did. This was a powerful, deep, unforgettable, and unforgivable read that kept me up half the night tossing, turning, and thinking.

Oh, please don't get me wrong-it did have some tiny comedic moments. But if you know of anyone in a mental health unit or behavioral health unit (Psychiatric hospital), this may not be the perfect book for you. I did have a relative in one, and I can only say that it was not much like this book portrayed them.

If you do read this book, make sure that you read the afterword by Larry Lockridge, and the personal writings of Mary Jane Ward-it's a real eye-opener.

It would be best if you remembered that this book was first published in 1946, and things have gotten better. As to how much better, not a whole heck of a lot if you ask me.

This book starts very confusing, and you may be tempted to end it at the first chapter, but I urge you to read on. Please! Actually, most of the book can be somewhat confusing because (and you must remember this) it was a book seen through the eyes of an "insane" woman. I know that is not politically correct to say, but this IS 1946.

ARC provided by the publisher, the Library of America, and ATTL/Edelweiss. Thank you.

Autopathography: vividly depicts one woman's plunge into the nightmare world of the mentally ill and her agonizing climb back to health and freedom; writing style shifts between first-, second-, and third-person giving us a sense of schizophrenic perception.

the story was well-written and seemingly realistic. some medical help awful, some sincere, some useless. it was not made clear what her illness was but it was so severe that i can't believe she was cured. her husband was a little too saintly.½

A fictionalized autopathography based on the author's own experiences with the "healing" process in early 20th century mental health facilities.

The Snake Pit was startlingly realistic in its narrative. Virginia's struggle to remember - where she's at, why she's there, and how to "get better" - was harrowing. Right from the opening pages, thrust inside Virgina's mind, I could see AND feel the fear and frustration caused by the confusion that Virginia battled. That disorientation transcended the page, pulled me into her journey, and showed me how terrifying mental illness must be. And, like most tales of insanity that I've read to date, I was pretty sure the "normals" were just as (or maybe even more) screwed up than some of the "sick" people.

4 stars

Read as part of my 2015 research into insanity. The biggest takeaways: 1) Is there a difference between the mind and the brain? 2) Is it accurate to call a patient's narrative unreliable simply because they're "sick"? Isn't all perspective biased, from the inside out?

(As of 1/6/2015 I have not watched the film adaptation, but I plan to.)