So, I’ve been re-reading Stella Maris—probably 5 or 6 times now—and I’m absolutely in love with it in every sense. The depth, the bleak introspection, the razor-sharp intellect of the narrator… it just hits in a way that few books ever do.
One thing I can’t stop thinking about is that unique dynamic between the patient and the physician—the stark vulnerability, the philosophical back-and-forth, the rawness of someone laying their mind bare while another tries to untangle it. It’s such an intimate and unsettling relationship, especially when it’s paired with that kind of abstract, cerebral storytelling.
So now I’m on the hunt for books that evoke a similar vibe. I’m not just looking for “therapy” settings, but ones that capture that heavy, existential dialogue and the nuanced power imbalance that comes with the patient-physician setup. Bonus points if the writing leans towards the dark, the intellectual, or the painfully self-aware.
Anything out there with this kind of dynamic? Let me know what’s wrecked you in the best way.
by Pajtima