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Ned Vizzini - It’s Kind of a Funny Story: Immensely talented writer, and his death leaves me feeling rather conflicted about this book. #cursorybookreviews #cursoryreviews ( )

I picked up this book because it was a monthly selection at our library, and I just grabbed it off a table in the front. It wasn't until I was halfway through that I realized I had already seen the movie (yeah, I know... that's kind of pathetic!). The story was really not funny at all (I didn't necessarily expect it to be). The beginning of the story left me with such angst, though it did end on a hopeful note. It probably didn't help that I learned 3/4 of the way through that the author of this "semi-autobiographical" book had just killed himself. Some of the scenes in the hospital were enlightening/eye-opening to read. In some ways, I was reminded of _A Million Little Pieces_ as I read these parts. Maybe 2.5 stars. ( )

This book helped me put a lot of things in perspective for me during a rather difficult time personally. I read it on a whim and was not despointed in the slightness. I will always recommend reading it to anyone who wants to understand how it feels to struggle with deep chronic depression. ( )

This author really nailed the idea of mental illness and depression and how it can happen to people who - on the surface - have such easy lives. I loved his descriptions of Tentacles and Anchors. It all felt very real. I wish I had read this in high school, it might have helped me out of my own darkness. Great read. ( )

This book was too long. That really was my main problem with it. What the author wrote in the first 200 pages could have easily been condensed into about 50, 70 pages tops. I almost gave up. I actually did stop twice, but my friend who recommended it to me kept asking how I liked it and I got bored so I picked it up again. I'm glad I did because it did in fact get better once Craig actually gets into the mental hospital.

Don't be fooled, while its a relatively good novel this is a sort of typical teen angst novel. It first i just thought Craig was a pussy. There really was nothing wrong with the kid, he was just depressed and stressed out because of his fancy school. I get it, depression just happens, I am not trying to belittle it, but in Craig's specific case I kinda just wanted to say "fucking be a man, tell your parents the school is too much and switch to a normal one. You're fine, chill the fuck out."

At other times I liked him, I felt his depression, and it felt valid. And I understood him and what he was going through.

I liked the characters, I liked that it was not a happy little well I'm all better now! kind of thing. It ended realistically. Craig, while at times annoying, was a good character, so were the others in the hospital. I also really liked the parents, which in teen novels is pretty rare.

All in all, I am glad I read it, and I saw the movie and enjoyed that too, but its not one I will read again. And I doubt I'll pick up any of the other books by the author. ( )