Nell Casey

A few excellent essays, a couple of horrible ones, and most residing somewhere in between. Some of the essays were first-hand accounts of depression, some second-hand accounts, and some by people with seemingly no relationship to depression whatsoever.

I almost abandoned the book halfway through Suzanna Kaysen's essay, which was abysmal. She actually says: "I don't think [depression]'s so bad. I think depression and despair are reasonable reactions to the nature of life." And she decries show more people who take antidepressants. I don't understand why such a damaging essay was included in this collection. Attitudes like these don't serve the depressed, in fact, they make it more difficult for depressed individuals to take their conditions seriously. show less

Interesting, if harrowing companion to his famous monologues. By the time I got to the sad ending I didn’t wonder why he had taken his life but instead how he held on as long as he did.

Of course, not a very pleasant read but an interesting experience of going deep under the psychic skin of a very brilliant narcissist. I think what surprised me was the extent to which Gray was compulsive and fairly thoughtless about his constant need to find sex and have affairs. I wonder how much his fame played a role in his behavior.

Gray's becoming a father helped him for once to care about other people. I found this part of his life very touching.

I really loved Spalding Gray's monologues and looked forward to his journals but was disappointed. They were dull, repetitious and depressing. Not enough humor to leaven the gloom and not a sign of his wit. It was a hard slog to get through.

First read March 14, 2015 I should have read my own first review before rereading but I didn't so reread and actually got more out of the book the second time around. A sad life but his journal was unique and very honest.