an absolutely wonderful book. Why do we put this much pressure on ourselves?? Why do we start applying pressure so much earlier, when they are just kids? With email, cell phones, FB and other ways for people to get a hold of someone, it can also cause just more stress. I mean really, I'm an adult (and a stay at home mom!) and there are whole weeks where I just can't take my email. How can we expect a kid, going to school all day, to keep up on this stuff to AND be a normal healthy kid? ( )

A depressing retelling of our mental health facilities and the relationships that are formed. While the book was okay overall, the pacing and storytelling just wasn’t something I personally enjoyed. ( )

Most of it was well-done, but there were some major plot points that really didn't sit well with me.

1) Jennifer is a perfect example of how not to write a trans character. Trans women DO NOT want to "fool" you into having sex with them. Medical staff shouldn't out their trans patients (although God knows many of them probably do), and outing them isn't likely to produce a nonchalant laugh. It's an unbelievably shitty thing to do. Her name isn't "Jennifer/Charles," it's JENNIFER. And similarly, she's a SHE, not a "he/she/it." (Even if you don't agree with me, what kind of human being calls another human being "it"?)

2) When Craig maliciously tells Nia's boyfriend she's taking antidepressants, Vizzini treats it like you're supposed to be cheering for Craig as he alienates people who are not good for him. Er... no. That's a nasty, manipulative, and just plain shitty thing to do to a person. From then on the text treats Nia with total disdain, which is also weird and feels icky.

Other than that? Cute, ridiculously indie, with a few nicely written bits and a few cliche ones. I'm curious if the movie will be better or worse. I really hope they cut the Jennifer bit, because it's unlikely to get better in the retelling. ( )

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cto51OhLGM0/

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. ( )