Robert Goulet (2) (1924–)

When I picked up this book, it was mostly as a "eh, I'm bored, let's see what this is." But within the first few pages I was intrigued, and drawn in in such a way as I'm not sure was really appropriate. It was like an accident on the side of the road that you just have to slow down to see. Robert Goulet's account of his experience in the Manicomio, a Spanish insane asylum, reads like a fiction story, and you kind of hope it is. What amazed me the most about the book is the way that Goulet show more exposed himself as an unstable alcoholic, coping in a world where they crazy are almost sane, and the sane seem more crazy. As a non fiction book I was most impressed by his use of dialogue throughout the book. Many non fiction writers avoid this because they can rarely account conversations word for word. In this case it does not seem unlikely that this singular encounter left such an impression that it was not difficult for him to recall his experience. I had to remind my self continuously that this was a true story. Fascinating, slightly horrifying and intoxicating, it is an easy read that leaves you in awe. show less