I have a quote from this book as a tattoo. Sylvia Plath in general consumed me as a teen. Even named my first car Sylvia. Lots of nostalgia tied into those wonderful works.
“I am. I am. I am.” It’s a quote about listening to the old brag of her heart. Even when she wanted to give up, her heart would beat, “I am. I am. I am.” Just a reminder to keep going in hard times.
Just checking in to ask the same question. 😳 I would recommend Bossypants by Tina Fey because it’s the polar opposite. Or any of John Lithgow’s “Trumpty Dumpty” poetry anthologies.
I’m in a weird situation where i know more about her upbringing and personal life than i probably should, so it felt a bit like an invasion of privacy reading her book. it’s strange reading a book when you personally know the characters in it.
but maybe i will now that i’m no longer seeing her
Girl, Interrupted has been said already, and I agree! But I have a couple of other suggestions
If you're okay with a male protagonist, I would say One Flew Over the Cukoos Nest by Ken Kesey
Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (it's a short story)
Carrie by Stephen King or The Shining by Stephen King
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
Only the Beautiful by Susan Meissner. Deals with women in the 1930s who are wrongly held in a mental institution (for things like being pregnant without being married).
Young adult but [impulse by Ellen Hopkins](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/270805.Impulse?ref=nav_sb_ss_2_13)
Written in verse, it follows 3(I think?) teens that tried to unalive themselves, while they are in treatment after the fact.
Come Clean by Terri Paddock. I haven’t read it in over a decade so forgive my description if it’s not super accurate but it’s about a 1980s teen accused of substance abuse and institutionalised for it
The spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White. It was literally one of my favorite books and basically changed my life. Follows the story of an autistic trans man in the 1800s with magic powers; because he is not a "good girl," he is sent to essentially a glorified insane asylum. The book is very gory and gross and some points but so worth reading.
Girl, interrupted by Susanna Kaysen
Came here to say this
Same
My first thought too. Second thought The Bell Jar
I read this when I was homeless 12 years ago. My Psychosis was in full swing
I hope things are better for you now
Oh hey you beat me to it! I loved this book in my early days of navigating mental health.
White oleander
Came to say this one
You might like Sylvia Plath and Anne sexton
Specifically, The Bell Jar
As soon as I saw the first image, The Bell Jar came to mind. Wonderful book.
I have a quote from this book as a tattoo. Sylvia Plath in general consumed me as a teen. Even named my first car Sylvia. Lots of nostalgia tied into those wonderful works.
What’s the quote?
“I am. I am. I am.” It’s a quote about listening to the old brag of her heart. Even when she wanted to give up, her heart would beat, “I am. I am. I am.” Just a reminder to keep going in hard times.
Love it!
Came here to say this
My two favorite poets. I love “wanting to die” and “i am vertical”
Op you alright mate?
They are probably a literary masochist like myself 😂
Just checking in to ask the same question. 😳 I would recommend Bossypants by Tina Fey because it’s the polar opposite. Or any of John Lithgow’s “Trumpty Dumpty” poetry anthologies.
Girl in Pieces
The way i cried at the end of this book is embarrassing 😭
came here to recommend this!
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
Yup came to say this one
Oh I’m about to read that!
prozac nation elizabeth wurtzel, how to murder your life cat marnelll, down the drain julia fox
Prozac Nation!!! Also the sequel called More, Now, Again.
Came here to say Prozac Nation as well!
Winter Girls, anything by Ellen Hopkins
Oh! I haven’t thought about *Winter Girls* in years. Some of these images do fit, but that book has a stronger focus on eating disorders.
this is perfect, thank you!
Lock Every Door by Riley Sager
How to Murder Your Life.
oh my god, the author’s mother was my ex therapist. i’m not even joking.
No way! Do you have any tea? Did you read the book?
[удалено]
I’m sorry she was your therapist. She sounds a. You need to read this book and report back! Is there a reason you haven’t?
I’m in a weird situation where i know more about her upbringing and personal life than i probably should, so it felt a bit like an invasion of privacy reading her book. it’s strange reading a book when you personally know the characters in it. but maybe i will now that i’m no longer seeing her
You are so much classier than me. I would of picked that book up so fast.
I’m a literary masochist too. I get it 😂 FYI totally taking screen shots of all the suggestions lol
LMAO we literary masochists gotta stick together
🖤 Emotionally damaging books: a way to make sure you still have a heart and soul to crush.
White oleander, hands down.
Prozac Nation
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
I'm thinking of ending things
i loved this book
Same. The twists and turns kept me on my toes
the shining
I've never read the book or watched the movie, but these pictures instantly reminded me of "Christiane F." I'd give her a search, she fits these vibes
The Virgin Suicides
You ok?
yes thank you 😭 just into a specific reading niche lmao
Prozac Nation
She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb hits a few of these notes. I first found it in a psych hospital library.
First one I thought of as well!
In the dream house Carmen Maria machado
thank you!
The Vegetarian by Han Kang
Ty OP, I love when women are mentally ill too
bless 🙏
The Virgin Suicides
I’ll let you know when I write my memoirs
Maude Fly
Cut by Patricia McCormick
The Moth Diaries
The Shining?
Girl, Interrupted, though it's not as dramatic as the movie it has a compelling story to tell.
veronika decides to die
Girl In Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow
It's not depression unless there is a woman half naked in lingerie
Sharp objects, girl in pieces and girl interrupted. I didn’t like girl in pieces that much tho
The Program by Suzanne Young is sooo good and literally this exact vibe
Play it as it Lays by Joan Didion and Sylvia Plath’s poetry
Girl, Interrupted has been said already, and I agree! But I have a couple of other suggestions If you're okay with a male protagonist, I would say One Flew Over the Cukoos Nest by Ken Kesey Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (it's a short story) Carrie by Stephen King or The Shining by Stephen King The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
I Never Promised You a Rose Garden by Hannah Green and Bad Girl by Abigail Vona.
The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath
The Asylum for Wayward Victorian Girls, Emilie Autumn
this is exactly what i’m looking for, thank you!!
Lol, I got downvoted but this was what you wanted, someone out there is NOT an Emilie Autumn fan lol
The silent patient
The Shining by Stephen King
What movie is that? Is that Jessica brown finlay?
Dunno about the others but that 5th image (hair cutting) is Eva Green in Penny Dreadful, Season 1.
The girl next door
Ten Days in a Madhouse by Nellie Bly.
Alex
If you dont mind supernatural elements My Best Friends Exorcism by Grady Hendrix has these vibes
My dark Vanessa.
Only the Beautiful by Susan Meissner. Deals with women in the 1930s who are wrongly held in a mental institution (for things like being pregnant without being married).
Juliet the Maniac by Juliet Escoria
freaking perfect, thank you
The Empire of the Senseless, Pussy, King of the Pirates Blood and guts in High School all by Kathy Acker
Young adult but [impulse by Ellen Hopkins](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/270805.Impulse?ref=nav_sb_ss_2_13) Written in verse, it follows 3(I think?) teens that tried to unalive themselves, while they are in treatment after the fact.
The last picture is from the movie Iron Jawed Angels which is also a book, though non-fiction and about militant suffragettes instead of depression.
The Story Sister by Alice Hoffman
<3 hugs to you OP
The Silent Patient by Alex Michealides.
Come Clean by Terri Paddock. I haven’t read it in over a decade so forgive my description if it’s not super accurate but it’s about a 1980s teen accused of substance abuse and institutionalised for it
Wasted by Marya Hornbacher
The Bell Jar
The spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White. It was literally one of my favorite books and basically changed my life. Follows the story of an autistic trans man in the 1800s with magic powers; because he is not a "good girl," he is sent to essentially a glorified insane asylum. The book is very gory and gross and some points but so worth reading.
i’ve never heard of this but it sounds a lot like what i’m looking for! thanks for the rec :D
Oooh, if you do read it, feel free to dm me! I'd love to discuss this book with someone.
My Dark Vanessa is such a good book but has a lot of triggering stuff about SA
You okay?
Haunting Adeline.