I have schizophrenia and it's really depressing for media to include us so rarely, and when they do it's always a stereotype. I don't read much outside of medieval literature anymore so I'm pretty damn behind the times with books and stuff lol. I'd like any book recommendations that have schizophrenic / other psychotic disorder characters who are treated like people behind their disorders. I understand it's hard to portray experiences accurately especially for those who don't have the conditions because by the very nature they are so far removed from reality, so I don't mind very much, but I'd like to see characters like me who are regular people and not reduced to being violent or unstable villains. I mainly read fantasy sci fi or horror. Explicitly mentioned disorders are not a requirement, schizocoded characters just as welcome. I get magic and stuff in stories can be just the same. Any recommendations are good though, thanks in advance!
by spinefish22
6 Comments
A long time ago I read An Unquiet Mind by Kay Redfield Jamison and it has stuck with me ever since. It’s not fiction, it’s a biography, but I found it very moving and humanizing. She has bipolar and she is so open and poignant in her writing of her episodes of manic/depressive cycling. It’s an older book but as far as I know it’s still widely recognized as informative. She’s a lovely writer so everything feels very vivid.
I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb
Girl Interupted
The Locked Tomb series has a character who is canonically schizophrenic, written by an author who has similar mental health issues.
A Beautiful Mind
Again not fiction. The book is different than the movie. I think both do a respectful job in each medium.
The bell jar perhaps?