Title: Cardboard: A Woman Left For DeadAuthor: Fiona Place
Genre: Psychological fiction, adult
Published: 2010
Source: For review, from author
Summary: Lucy, a young woman in her mid-twenties, is in and out of hospitals for her Anorexia and Panic Disorders. This story chronicles her journey with a cast of different psychiatrists with whom she has very strange relationships, doctors, fellow patients, and even her parents, who seem careless about her. Lucy tries to come to grips with her problems involving her health, parents, and friendships, but continually struggles.
My Thoughts: This book is very disorienting, complex, confusing, intriguing - definitely experimental. It is written in both prose and poetry, and has random words beginning with capital letters - a very unique writing style that I've not seen too often. I'd say it's somewhat like stream of consciousness. The story is told from Lucy's perspective, and I believe the disorienting and confusing style of writing really meshes well with her personality and goes along with it. Lucy suffers from an eating disorder, and also what she refers to as Panic, which causes her own mind to be a complex and disorienting place to be in, which is absolutely reflected in the writing style.
While I was confused a lot of the time while reading, it really enabled me to get a glimpse into the mind of someone like Lucy who suffers from multiple mental health disorders - all the confusion and complexities. It was very psychological, sad, frustrating, and even hopeful at times. I'd recommend this book if you're looking for something very different, and if you're interested in both psychological and eating disorders.
My Rating: 4/5
I read this book last year and liked it also for some of the same reasons you mention. Definitely different writing style and unique perspective.
ReplyDeleteHmm, I don't know if this one is for me! With a subject matter like this and it being confusing it might stress me out!
ReplyDeleteI read this in 2009. It was everything you said. It was also an excellent portrayal of a person with anorexia and what their state of mind is like.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review. I just finished a book called Voluntary Madness about a reporter who checked herself into three different psychiatric institutions. This one sounds like a definite read for me!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds intriguing and I'm curious. I'm just a little put off by the writing style. I get confused very quickly LOL. I've added it to my Amazon wish list so at some time in the near future it'll go into my shopping cart :D Thanks for a really interesting review. I love hearing about all these books I've missed out on over the years I wasn't reading.
ReplyDeleteGreat review Steph; it made me curious to take a look at this one. The story sounds interesting to me, and I am interested to see if the unique writing style would be a plus for me, or too distracting.
ReplyDeleteThis looks really interesting and I love the cover very much! I sometimes like being a little disoriented in a story because it keeps me on my toes! Great review honey!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely sounds like a unique read! :P
ReplyDeleteThat does sound like an interesting book, although I've always been drawn toward stream of consciousness....I don't know why.
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