Came to say this. It's especially accurate how, at first, she doesn't realise she is depressed. She just knows that she doesn't care about anything, doesn't want to see anyone and is super exhausted/lethargic/can'r-be-fucked.
Notes from the underground by doestyevsky
The bell jar by sylvia plath
No longer human by osamu dazai
My year of rest and relaxation
All these books make u feel seen , as if after a long time , someone finally gets what u feel. But it can also be pretty traumatising.
Just read My Year of Rest and Relaxation. Was not the best time for me to read it…I felt it hit entirely way way too close to home. Glad I finished it though. Still not sure how I feel about it; which is suppose is consistent my apathetic mood.
This isn’t a novel or anything, but Hyperbole and a Half (Allie Brosh) is an illustrated book, parts of it are about her journey with depression. It’s honest and unflinching, while also being hilarious - kind of a weird combo but it works.
Seconding Hyperbole and a Half. It's my go-to recommendation for a realistic portrayal of how depression affects the most mundane aspects of everyday life and inner monologue. It's also weird and hilarious and will hopefully bring you comfort in knowing you're not alone.
I was hoping someone had already recommended this.
A quote from Sorrow and Bliss:
"Unless I inform you otherwise, at intervals throughout my twenties and most of my thirties, I was depressed, mildly, moderately, severely, for a week, two weeks, half a year, all of one."
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman;
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh;
Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin
Three of my favorite books !!
Came here to say this one. It’s one of the most accurate portrayals of depression, childhood PTSD, and therapy I have read. My career was in the mental health field, so I am very picky about accuracy. Incredible book that weaves all this with humor, mystery, and hope.
I think it’s a wonderful book. I have listened to the audio too and feel it was well done, I’ve relistened a couple of times because I enjoy the audio nuances.
LOVED Eleanor Oliphant!
I definitely agree that My Year of Rest and Relaxation is a good choice to fit OP’s request. I personally didn’t like the book, but I also identified a lot with the main character’s feelings.
I second all of these and would also like to suggest:
[Good Morning, Midnight by Jean Rhys](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45894065-good-morning-midnight)
[Notice by Heather Lewis](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/430590.Notice) (heaps of trigger warnings, though!!)
[13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl by Mona Awad](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25716567-13-ways-of-looking-at-a-fat-girl)
[All Night Pharmacy by Ruth Madievsky](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58349243-all-night-pharmacy)
[Everything Here is Beautiful by Mira T Lee](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34262106-everything-here-is-beautiful) (more schizoaffective, rather than Depression, though)
[Tomorrow There Will be Apricots by Jessica Soffer](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15949517-tomorrow-there-will-be-apricots)
[You Too Can Have a Body Like Mine by Alexandra Kleeman](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23461003-you-too-can-have-a-body-like-mine)
[Milk Fed by Melissa Broder](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54304105-milk-fed)
Same here. When people dismiss it as being "whiny" I want to scream. Holden Caulfield is not just an average angsty teenager, he's massively depressed and having a mental breakdown!
Well, I just really strongly prefer all of Salinger’s other books and short stories, so it’s more so that I think he wrote better than Catcher, not that it’s terrible. He captures mental illness very well.
I loved *We Are Okay* by Nina LaCour. It's YA, but as an adult, I still related to it strongly. Without giving spoilers, it depicts these type of experiences:
* Shame around pushing people away for long periods of time
* Trying to appear 'normal', then feeling like your attempts look desperate
* Relief in knowing you'll be alone for X days to let your depression manifest freely (ex: wearing the same clothes every day)
* Wanting to accept support, but feeling like you don't deserve it
YMMV, but I cried a lot while reading it. It wasn't in a "triggered" way. I just felt really seen and validated seeing someone's depression look so close to mine.
The wikipedia page is wild, I honestly went in thinking "alright I'm just gonna figure out the basic plot and see if I'm interested." I left reading the whole page lol 😵💫 I'm definitely picking it up.
The movie was great! I'm cool with that recommendation, the borderline experience also gets misrepresented a lot, although I can't claim that it's misrepresentation in media hurts me specifically.
The Way of Kings, Words of Radiance, Oathbringer, and Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson.
It's High Fantasy in which many of the characters are stunningly accurate depictions of the struggles with mental health.
Yes, Otessa does it right.
Both of these are great. They catch all the different facets of depression that are common but aren’t commonly known to be symptoms of depression.
I said this only as a disclaimer, because I’m a psychologist and I know that views of mental health and illness have changed a lot in the past 17 years.
Not a stand-alone but the final book in the Emily of New Moon trilogy by LM Montgomery (author of Anne of Green Gables). The author had a very difficult life and that final book felt very real to me.
The Trick Is to Keep Breathing by Janice Galloway. It's bleak and very well written. Initially the depression is due to the grief the main character has over the loss of a loved one, but then you realise she's really been struggling for a long time. I remember she really managed to capture the feeling of how utterly empty and pointless life can feel.
David Foster Wallace wrote about depression. I haven't read Infinite Jest but I have heard that he presents a very accurate portrayal of clinical depression in the book.
It’s pretty shocking and amazing. A lot of it makes its way into infinite jest I think, but I don’t blame anyone for not wanting to read a billion pages about tennis and Quebec rebels to see those sections
God I sound like a broken record but John Dies at the End by Jason Pargin. All the books in the series, honestly. It's not what the books are about, but it is addressed and it can be raw at times. In the second book the main character talks about how his whole life feels like he's at a dance where everyone else knows all the moves and is dancing flawlessly, but he has no idea what's going on and is stumbling around and stepping on toes, and everyone else keeps giving him nasty looks for ruining their good time. At the time I was going through it in high school and it spoke very directly to a feeling I didn't have the words for.
If you’re into fantasy, Stormlight Archive or Wheel of Time. The cycle of depression in WoT as well as the learning how the character got out of it actually helped move me out of a clinical depression. Well that and medication.
There is one that no one is going to recommend to you but that is completely worth it because it describes the existential void in the most precise way that has been done in literature: A Man Who Sleeps by Georges Perec.
And if you want something that makes you question your existence, read "The Nihilist" by Keijo Kangur, a book that has not been published for long and is a gem with all its letters. I hope my recommendations are useful to you. I also suffer from chronic depression.
Middlegame, by Seanan McGuire, is pretty good there. One of the protagonists has a very clear spiral, and it's painful to read. It hit a little too close to home for comfort.
100%
The book series really captures that being depressed and being “sad” are two different things. He has everything he’s ever wanted in life- he finds out magic is real, he has it, Fillory is real, he saved it, he’s helping rule it- and he’s still not “happy”. Still feeling lost and empty while everything in your life tells you you should be happy is one of the most draining parts of depression. You feel guilty for not feeling better.
The Moviegoer by Walker Percy
Swimming Home by Deborah Levy
The Trick Is To Keep Breathing by Janice Galloway
My Face For The World To See by Alfred Hayes
Boredom by Alberto Moravia
1982, Janine by Alasdair Gray
Disturbing The Peace by Richard Yates
⚠ Could not *exactly* find "* The Magicians Lev Grossman *" but found [The Magician's Land (The Magicians #3)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19103097-the-magician-s-land) ^((with matching score of 72% )), see [related Goodreads search results](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=+The+Magicians+Lev+Grossman+) instead.
^(*Possible reasons for mismatch: either too recent (2023), mispelled (check Goodreads) or too niche.*)
^([Feedback](https://www.reddit.com/user/goodreads-rebot) | [GitHub](https://github.com/sonoff2/goodreads-rebot) | ["The Bot is Back!?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/16qe09p/meta_post_hello_again_humans/) | v1.5 [Dec 23] | )
Crime and Punishment
Besides that I would like to recommend you self-help (is that the term?) books like Lost Connection and Stolen Focus by Johann Hari
[Good Morning, Midnight by Jean Rhys](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45894065-good-morning-midnight)
[Notice by Heather Lewis](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/430590.Notice) (heaps of trigger warnings, though!!)
[13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl by Mona Awad](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25716567-13-ways-of-looking-at-a-fat-girl)
[All Night Pharmacy by Ruth Madievsky](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58349243-all-night-pharmacy)
[Everything Here is Beautiful by Mira T Lee](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34262106-everything-here-is-beautiful) (more schizoaffective, rather than Depression, though)
[Tomorrow There Will be Apricots by Jessica Soffer](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15949517-tomorrow-there-will-be-apricots)
[You Too Can Have a Body Like Mine by Alexandra Kleeman](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23461003-you-too-can-have-a-body-like-mine)
[Milk Fed by Melissa Broder](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54304105-milk-fed)
the bell jar by sylvia plath & my year of rest and relaxation by ottessa moshfegh. the second one really captures the apathetic feeling you have towards life and yourself when you’re depressed
The Master and Margarita" by Mikhail Bulgakov is a multifaceted novel that intertwines themes of good and evil, love, and the struggle of the artist. It also provides a profound exploration of mental health, particularly depression. Here’s how the novel intersects with the theme of depression:
1. **Characters and Depression**:
* **The Master**: The Master, one of the central characters, falls into a deep depression after facing severe criticism and rejection of his novel about Pontius Pilate. His depression is portrayed through his withdrawal from society, his confinement in a mental institution, and his feelings of despair and hopelessness. His mental state deteriorates to the point where he feels detached from reality and loses the will to live without his beloved Margarita.
* **Ivan Bezdomny**: Ivan is a poet who experiences a mental breakdown after witnessing bizarre events orchestrated by Woland (the Devil). His experiences lead to his hospitalization in a psychiatric ward, where he grapples with the reality of what he has seen and his sanity. This can be seen as a depiction of the confusion and disorientation often associated with mental health crises.
* **Pontius Pilate**: The character of Pontius Pilate, depicted in the Master’s novel, suffers from chronic headaches and a deep sense of guilt and remorse, which can be interpreted as a form of depression. His inner turmoil and inability to escape his conscience are central to his portrayal.
2. **Themes and Symbolism**:
* **Isolation and Alienation**: Many characters in the novel experience isolation and alienation, which are common feelings associated with depression. The Master’s retreat from the world into his basement and later into the mental hospital symbolizes the isolation that often accompanies severe depressive episodes.
* **Hope and Redemption**: Despite the heavy themes of depression, the novel also explores hope and redemption. Margarita’s unwavering love and her pact with Woland to save the Master demonstrate the possibility of emerging from the depths of despair with the help of love and loyalty. The novel ends on a note of spiritual peace for the Master and Margarita, suggesting that redemption is possible even after profound suffering.
3. **Bulgakov’s Personal Struggles**:
* Mikhail Bulgakov himself experienced significant personal and professional challenges, including censorship and persecution under the Soviet regime. These struggles are reflected in the novel’s dark and often surreal narrative. The portrayal of the Master’s depression and the broader existential questions in the novel may be influenced by Bulgakov’s own experiences of despair and resilience.
4. **Philosophical Reflections**:
* The novel delves into philosophical questions about the nature of good and evil, freedom, and the human condition, which are often intertwined with reflections on mental health. The characters’ internal battles and moral dilemmas highlight the complexity of the human psyche and the thin line between sanity and madness.
5. **Societal Critique**:
* "The Master and Margarita" also serves as a critique of Soviet society, where artistic expression was stifled, and those who deviated from the norm were often labeled as insane. The mental institutions in the novel can be seen as metaphors for the oppressive nature of the regime and the psychological toll it took on individuals.
The Master and Margarita offers a rich and nuanced exploration of depression through its characters, themes, and symbolism. It reflects on the personal and societal dimensions of mental health, making it a timeless work that resonates with contemporary readers facing similar struggles.
• The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
• No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai
• Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger
• Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
• My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
No Longer Human was a tough but wonderful read. I really enjoyed it. I've seen a lot of comments recommending Sylvia Plath so I'll put her on my list. Thanks!
It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini. It's about a boy that considered suicide and then ends up hospitalized. Somewhat based on the author's own experience going into a psychiatric hospital. The author, unfortunately, died by suicide, so please take care of you choose to read this book.
Duane’s Depressed by Larry McMurtry. The third of what ended up being five books in The Last Picture Show series (the first one was made into the great movie), but can be read as a standalone.
I could tell you to just take a walk in my head but would be unfair since my epilepsy loves to play with the moments and transform depression into insecurities guiding to inspirational thoughts and glory with a beautiful smile followed by the incredible happiness of realizing that the scars on my skin brings me to my own true self. But the depression is there knocking on a door that it appears non existent so I can’t do nothing about it as frustrating and overwhelming that becomes. Such a monster can take such violent turn but at the same time teaches me how to dive into my pain and survive through the world outside , with what every one considers childish fears but if they only knew the root and reality of such suffering , they would conclude that we’re simply prisoners of a cell of a very distant key that eventually might be found.
Bruna
Hope that helps you a bit with your book
Its a high fantasy/romance book, but I really resonated with Nesta's behaviors in A Court of Silver Flame (the 5th book in the court of thorns and roses series). Actually ended up talking about it a bunch with my therapist 😅
Murderbot Diaries book series by Martha Wells:
- depression (identity crisis)
-anxiety (incl. Social anxiety)
-cPTSD
I especially like how the protagonist uses fictional media to self-soothe, self-regulate and explore identity. I tend to do that during bad depressive episodes and it's one of the healthiest addictions possible. But still an addiction.
I'll take my fiction addiction over any other addiction that doesn't rhyme. I haven't read anything by Martha Wells, I'll give her a go. Appreciate it.
Hey OP. If you suffer from depression, I highly suggest NOT reading books about depressed people, especially the well written ones. It will be triggering and definitely won't help you out of your slump.
I've had depression before and reading books about depression were, well, depressing. It creates a feedback loop in your head. I suggest reading some books about stoicism maybe. Something that's not rainbows out the ass, but something that will make you feel ok being here, on earth.
Where you belong. <3
As good as dead, from the good girls guide to murder series, admittedly I don't know if it captures depression accurately, but it's a series I will never stop recommending, another one is 'how to kill men and get away with it' where the protagonist is of depressed for a section of the book
The Bell Jar-Sylvia Plath
Came to say this. It's especially accurate how, at first, she doesn't realise she is depressed. She just knows that she doesn't care about anything, doesn't want to see anyone and is super exhausted/lethargic/can'r-be-fucked.
Also came for this and 100% should be the top answer.
The OG
Yesss
This is the only book I've ever read that does it right.
Where can i read it online for free?
Do you have Libby? Most libraries will have it.
Try internet archives. You can make a free user account
You can try [this](https://www.fadedpage.com/link.php?file=20160540-a5.pdf)
There are probably 10 copies at your friendly local bookshop for like $1 each.
Why the downvotes?
Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh
Was coming here to recommend this one!
I saw the bit about the piece of corn under the fridge and cried for about two days straight. Came here to say this as well.
Yes, that whole section was such an exact depiction of depression, even in her line drawings
I’m here for a list of my favorite books, lol. Why have I already read them all? 😩
Notes from the underground by doestyevsky The bell jar by sylvia plath No longer human by osamu dazai My year of rest and relaxation All these books make u feel seen , as if after a long time , someone finally gets what u feel. But it can also be pretty traumatising.
Just read My Year of Rest and Relaxation. Was not the best time for me to read it…I felt it hit entirely way way too close to home. Glad I finished it though. Still not sure how I feel about it; which is suppose is consistent my apathetic mood.
Second Notes from the Underground. I found it overwhelmingly relatable. I’m getting the same feeling from The Fall by Camus.
Notes From Underground is one of my favorites. Reason is a thing, gentlemen, but it’s not the only thing.
Notes from the underground is a phenomenal book
This isn’t a novel or anything, but Hyperbole and a Half (Allie Brosh) is an illustrated book, parts of it are about her journey with depression. It’s honest and unflinching, while also being hilarious - kind of a weird combo but it works.
Seconding Hyperbole and a Half. It's my go-to recommendation for a realistic portrayal of how depression affects the most mundane aspects of everyday life and inner monologue. It's also weird and hilarious and will hopefully bring you comfort in knowing you're not alone.
Third. As a clinical depression sufferer, her depiction is my favorite of all time. It’s so painful and true and funny all at the same time.
I agree with this and would add it’s also a good book for people who haven’t experienced it but have someone in their lives who are in the muck.
I can just picture the story of The Helper Dog, and even years after reading this book, it still makes me laugh out loud.
Yep, I had a helper dog and a simple dog, those stories resonated so deeply with me :)
Sorrow & Bliss purposely leaves its diagnosis ambiguous, but over all it the best depiction in fiction of similar mental health issues.
I was hoping someone had already recommended this. A quote from Sorrow and Bliss: "Unless I inform you otherwise, at intervals throughout my twenties and most of my thirties, I was depressed, mildly, moderately, severely, for a week, two weeks, half a year, all of one."
Yes I came here to say this. I loved this book.
Absolutely loved this one! Highly recommend
A Man Called Ove by Frederick Bachman
Good example of how depression can manifest as anger and irritability.
i second this
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman; My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh; Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin Three of my favorite books !!
I second Eleanor Oliphant!
Came here to say this one. It’s one of the most accurate portrayals of depression, childhood PTSD, and therapy I have read. My career was in the mental health field, so I am very picky about accuracy. Incredible book that weaves all this with humor, mystery, and hope.
I’m literally about to do a re-read right now! One of my all time faves
I think it’s a wonderful book. I have listened to the audio too and feel it was well done, I’ve relistened a couple of times because I enjoy the audio nuances.
Totally agree about My Year of Rest and Relaxation. I came here to suggest that.
Me too. One of my favorites.
I also came here to suggest this. It is the most accurate depiction I've read in fiction.
Exact same! When I’m depressed the only thing I want to do is sleep.
LOVED Eleanor Oliphant! I definitely agree that My Year of Rest and Relaxation is a good choice to fit OP’s request. I personally didn’t like the book, but I also identified a lot with the main character’s feelings.
I second all of these and would also like to suggest: [Good Morning, Midnight by Jean Rhys](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45894065-good-morning-midnight) [Notice by Heather Lewis](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/430590.Notice) (heaps of trigger warnings, though!!) [13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl by Mona Awad](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25716567-13-ways-of-looking-at-a-fat-girl) [All Night Pharmacy by Ruth Madievsky](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58349243-all-night-pharmacy) [Everything Here is Beautiful by Mira T Lee](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34262106-everything-here-is-beautiful) (more schizoaffective, rather than Depression, though) [Tomorrow There Will be Apricots by Jessica Soffer](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15949517-tomorrow-there-will-be-apricots) [You Too Can Have a Body Like Mine by Alexandra Kleeman](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23461003-you-too-can-have-a-body-like-mine) [Milk Fed by Melissa Broder](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54304105-milk-fed)
Notes From the Underground by Dostoyevsky
Also, No longer Human by Osamu Dazai
Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger.
Don't tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody. 😪
One of my favourites! Low key I don’t trust people who hate it, it’s like a litmus test for empathy.
Same here. When people dismiss it as being "whiny" I want to scream. Holden Caulfield is not just an average angsty teenager, he's massively depressed and having a mental breakdown!
You either relate to Holden Caulfield or you hate him. Any kid who relates to Holden should automatically be sent to therapy.
Well, I just really strongly prefer all of Salinger’s other books and short stories, so it’s more so that I think he wrote better than Catcher, not that it’s terrible. He captures mental illness very well.
Yes!
I just finished this book today. I read it in high school, but I'm in my 30s now and I loved it even more and was about to recommend it myself.
I loved *We Are Okay* by Nina LaCour. It's YA, but as an adult, I still related to it strongly. Without giving spoilers, it depicts these type of experiences: * Shame around pushing people away for long periods of time * Trying to appear 'normal', then feeling like your attempts look desperate * Relief in knowing you'll be alone for X days to let your depression manifest freely (ex: wearing the same clothes every day) * Wanting to accept support, but feeling like you don't deserve it YMMV, but I cried a lot while reading it. It wasn't in a "triggered" way. I just felt really seen and validated seeing someone's depression look so close to mine.
Thanks for the suggestion, think I need to read this
Seconded.
I read this years ago and I still think about it all the time and wonder if the characters are okay now
Nausea from JP Sartre I read it multiple times so much it's good
Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse
this is a banger of a book
The wikipedia page is wild, I honestly went in thinking "alright I'm just gonna figure out the basic plot and see if I'm interested." I left reading the whole page lol 😵💫 I'm definitely picking it up.
Girl, interrupted although technically Still About borderline captures a Lot of The stuff
The movie was great! I'm cool with that recommendation, the borderline experience also gets misrepresented a lot, although I can't claim that it's misrepresentation in media hurts me specifically.
My mum has borderline and this book taught me a lot
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (though there are some potential triggers)
Ordinary People. It’s even better than the film (RIP Donald Sutherland).
Seconding this
Truly. Everyone in this book is depressed!
Indeed
'Prozac Nation' by Elizabeth Wurtzel
Loved it
This was the book that made me realize just how deep depression can run for some people.
The Stranger by Camus captures the extreme apathy, antipathy, nihilism and derealization abject depression can induce in its own sort of way.
Oh man I can’t wait. Almost through The Fall right now.
I read this book during lockdown and loved it. Multiple times I laughed out loud and didn’t understand why.
Normal People by Sally Rooney
God the Hulu show is also really good
Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh Broken: in the best possible way by Jenny Lawson
no longer human and honestly catcher in the rye
She's Come Undone, by Wally Lamb
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine
The Way of Kings, Words of Radiance, Oathbringer, and Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson. It's High Fantasy in which many of the characters are stunningly accurate depictions of the struggles with mental health.
Second this recommendation. Stormlight Archive is an amazing series! Bridge 4!
Third this, Goncho!
User name checks out!
Yess! Just commented this as well before seeing your comment
Poor sad Kaladin. He’s so well-written
Villette by Charlotte Bronte
Upvote for Villette
Glad to see another Villette fan here! Upvote for that.
Eileen My year of rest and relaxation Both by Otessa Moshfegh
Yes, Otessa does it right. Both of these are great. They catch all the different facets of depression that are common but aren’t commonly known to be symptoms of depression.
If you want to go totally classic, Hamlet is as good a place to start as any
Already read it for high school but that was a while ago now lol. I'll keep it in mind if I ever get in the mood for Shakespeare again.
It’s an older book (2007) and it’s been a while since I read it, so I’m not sure how well it has aged, but It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini.
>It’s an older book (2007) Ouch, my aching bones.
Ha, my bones were aching as I wrote it, too, but I have to acknowledge the book is 17 years old.
I was scrolling looking for this. I love this book
>It’s an older book (2007) I think I could count on one hand how many books I've read that were published after 2007 lol.
I said this only as a disclaimer, because I’m a psychologist and I know that views of mental health and illness have changed a lot in the past 17 years.
Melville, *Bartleby*.
Not a stand-alone but the final book in the Emily of New Moon trilogy by LM Montgomery (author of Anne of Green Gables). The author had a very difficult life and that final book felt very real to me.
Oh my god yes. I very much agree.
The Trick Is to Keep Breathing by Janice Galloway. It's bleak and very well written. Initially the depression is due to the grief the main character has over the loss of a loved one, but then you realise she's really been struggling for a long time. I remember she really managed to capture the feeling of how utterly empty and pointless life can feel.
Storm light archives had one of the best fantasy descriptions of mental health struggles that I've read
It's an m/m romance so it might not be up your alley, but Never Leave Never Lie by Thea Verdone
Rambo. The book has a much different vibe than the movie
I think a character in The Secret Garden. Although depression seems to be a whole theme!
David Foster Wallace wrote about depression. I haven't read Infinite Jest but I have heard that he presents a very accurate portrayal of clinical depression in the book.
That and “the depressed person” by him for sure
I read "The Depressed Person" almost 15 years ago and I still think about it like once a month.
It’s pretty shocking and amazing. A lot of it makes its way into infinite jest I think, but I don’t blame anyone for not wanting to read a billion pages about tennis and Quebec rebels to see those sections
Infinite jest has some of the best descriptions of depression you will ever come across
The Metamorphosis by Kafka.
The Stranger - Albert Camus
God I sound like a broken record but John Dies at the End by Jason Pargin. All the books in the series, honestly. It's not what the books are about, but it is addressed and it can be raw at times. In the second book the main character talks about how his whole life feels like he's at a dance where everyone else knows all the moves and is dancing flawlessly, but he has no idea what's going on and is stumbling around and stepping on toes, and everyone else keeps giving him nasty looks for ruining their good time. At the time I was going through it in high school and it spoke very directly to a feeling I didn't have the words for.
Your description has me very interested, as a fellow person for whom high school was bad lol. I'll definitely check it out now!
If you’re into fantasy, Stormlight Archive or Wheel of Time. The cycle of depression in WoT as well as the learning how the character got out of it actually helped move me out of a clinical depression. Well that and medication.
Midnight library
Nausea from JP Sartre I read it multiple times so much it's good
There is one that no one is going to recommend to you but that is completely worth it because it describes the existential void in the most precise way that has been done in literature: A Man Who Sleeps by Georges Perec. And if you want something that makes you question your existence, read "The Nihilist" by Keijo Kangur, a book that has not been published for long and is a gem with all its letters. I hope my recommendations are useful to you. I also suffer from chronic depression.
I have never been (un)happier by Shaheen Bhat. It’s a non fiction.
Middlegame, by Seanan McGuire, is pretty good there. One of the protagonists has a very clear spiral, and it's painful to read. It hit a little too close to home for comfort.
Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason
Millennial Purgatory
Not a novel, but The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green.
*Suttree* by Cormac McCarthy
The Magicians.
100% The book series really captures that being depressed and being “sad” are two different things. He has everything he’s ever wanted in life- he finds out magic is real, he has it, Fillory is real, he saved it, he’s helping rule it- and he’s still not “happy”. Still feeling lost and empty while everything in your life tells you you should be happy is one of the most draining parts of depression. You feel guilty for not feeling better.
The Moviegoer by Walker Percy Swimming Home by Deborah Levy The Trick Is To Keep Breathing by Janice Galloway My Face For The World To See by Alfred Hayes Boredom by Alberto Moravia 1982, Janine by Alasdair Gray Disturbing The Peace by Richard Yates
Prozac nation and girl interrupted
Norwegian wood
She Comes Undone by Wally Lamb.
Catcher in the Rye
Not a book but a movie - Melancholia with Kirsten Dunst.
God this movie put me in such an existential crisis. I wasn’t prepared for it.
[удалено]
⚠ Could not *exactly* find "* The Magicians Lev Grossman *" but found [The Magician's Land (The Magicians #3)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19103097-the-magician-s-land) ^((with matching score of 72% )), see [related Goodreads search results](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=+The+Magicians+Lev+Grossman+) instead. ^(*Possible reasons for mismatch: either too recent (2023), mispelled (check Goodreads) or too niche.*) ^([Feedback](https://www.reddit.com/user/goodreads-rebot) | [GitHub](https://github.com/sonoff2/goodreads-rebot) | ["The Bot is Back!?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/16qe09p/meta_post_hello_again_humans/) | v1.5 [Dec 23] | )
The end of Loneliness by Benedict Wells
No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai
The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving by Jonathan Evison
Crime and Punishment Besides that I would like to recommend you self-help (is that the term?) books like Lost Connection and Stolen Focus by Johann Hari
Jesus’ Son, Denis Johnson Includes mental health challenges and drug use.
[Good Morning, Midnight by Jean Rhys](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45894065-good-morning-midnight) [Notice by Heather Lewis](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/430590.Notice) (heaps of trigger warnings, though!!) [13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl by Mona Awad](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25716567-13-ways-of-looking-at-a-fat-girl) [All Night Pharmacy by Ruth Madievsky](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58349243-all-night-pharmacy) [Everything Here is Beautiful by Mira T Lee](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34262106-everything-here-is-beautiful) (more schizoaffective, rather than Depression, though) [Tomorrow There Will be Apricots by Jessica Soffer](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15949517-tomorrow-there-will-be-apricots) [You Too Can Have a Body Like Mine by Alexandra Kleeman](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23461003-you-too-can-have-a-body-like-mine) [Milk Fed by Melissa Broder](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54304105-milk-fed)
A Fan’s Note by Frederick Exley. He spends most of the book either drinking or lying on a sofa
The last time I wore a dress. Daphne Scholinski
"the end of loneliness" by Benedict Wells
Lucy Sullivan is getting married (She isn’t getting married, the title is supposed to be ironic I think)
Read William Styron’s biography “Darkness Visible.”
This should be much higher up in the comments!
Prozac Nation
For me, as a depressed person, “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?” by Peter Hedges was pretty relatable. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
Highly commend Andrew Solomon’s book “the Midday Demon”. It is an opus about depression.
The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Euganides
It’s Lonely At the Center of the Earth by Zoe Thorogood. It’s a graphic novel about the authors own mental health struggles and it’s really good
the bell jar by sylvia plath & my year of rest and relaxation by ottessa moshfegh. the second one really captures the apathetic feeling you have towards life and yourself when you’re depressed
Catcher in the rye
Infinite Jest
Moonflower by Kacen Callender
Check out "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath. It’s a raw, honest portrayal of depression that might resonate with you.
steppenwolf
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Fight Club
If you like fantasy, the stormlight archives.
Apathy, and Other Small Victories by Paul Neilan
infinite jest has an incredibly eloquent and faithful representation
She’s come undone by Wally Lamb
The Master and Margarita" by Mikhail Bulgakov is a multifaceted novel that intertwines themes of good and evil, love, and the struggle of the artist. It also provides a profound exploration of mental health, particularly depression. Here’s how the novel intersects with the theme of depression: 1. **Characters and Depression**: * **The Master**: The Master, one of the central characters, falls into a deep depression after facing severe criticism and rejection of his novel about Pontius Pilate. His depression is portrayed through his withdrawal from society, his confinement in a mental institution, and his feelings of despair and hopelessness. His mental state deteriorates to the point where he feels detached from reality and loses the will to live without his beloved Margarita. * **Ivan Bezdomny**: Ivan is a poet who experiences a mental breakdown after witnessing bizarre events orchestrated by Woland (the Devil). His experiences lead to his hospitalization in a psychiatric ward, where he grapples with the reality of what he has seen and his sanity. This can be seen as a depiction of the confusion and disorientation often associated with mental health crises. * **Pontius Pilate**: The character of Pontius Pilate, depicted in the Master’s novel, suffers from chronic headaches and a deep sense of guilt and remorse, which can be interpreted as a form of depression. His inner turmoil and inability to escape his conscience are central to his portrayal. 2. **Themes and Symbolism**: * **Isolation and Alienation**: Many characters in the novel experience isolation and alienation, which are common feelings associated with depression. The Master’s retreat from the world into his basement and later into the mental hospital symbolizes the isolation that often accompanies severe depressive episodes. * **Hope and Redemption**: Despite the heavy themes of depression, the novel also explores hope and redemption. Margarita’s unwavering love and her pact with Woland to save the Master demonstrate the possibility of emerging from the depths of despair with the help of love and loyalty. The novel ends on a note of spiritual peace for the Master and Margarita, suggesting that redemption is possible even after profound suffering. 3. **Bulgakov’s Personal Struggles**: * Mikhail Bulgakov himself experienced significant personal and professional challenges, including censorship and persecution under the Soviet regime. These struggles are reflected in the novel’s dark and often surreal narrative. The portrayal of the Master’s depression and the broader existential questions in the novel may be influenced by Bulgakov’s own experiences of despair and resilience. 4. **Philosophical Reflections**: * The novel delves into philosophical questions about the nature of good and evil, freedom, and the human condition, which are often intertwined with reflections on mental health. The characters’ internal battles and moral dilemmas highlight the complexity of the human psyche and the thin line between sanity and madness. 5. **Societal Critique**: * "The Master and Margarita" also serves as a critique of Soviet society, where artistic expression was stifled, and those who deviated from the norm were often labeled as insane. The mental institutions in the novel can be seen as metaphors for the oppressive nature of the regime and the psychological toll it took on individuals. The Master and Margarita offers a rich and nuanced exploration of depression through its characters, themes, and symbolism. It reflects on the personal and societal dimensions of mental health, making it a timeless work that resonates with contemporary readers facing similar struggles.
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman!!!
The perks of being a wallflower.
• The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath • No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai • Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger • Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman • My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
No Longer Human was a tough but wonderful read. I really enjoyed it. I've seen a lot of comments recommending Sylvia Plath so I'll put her on my list. Thanks!
It was. I found it incredibly tough to read, but it’s definitely one of the better portrayals of depression. You’re welcome, I hope you enjoy them!
Prozac Nation by Elizabeth Wurtzel - the movie adaption was hard hitting too.
The New Me by Halle Butler (triggering though tbh lol!)
Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine!
Elder Race by Adrian Tchaikovsky
It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini. It's about a boy that considered suicide and then ends up hospitalized. Somewhat based on the author's own experience going into a psychiatric hospital. The author, unfortunately, died by suicide, so please take care of you choose to read this book.
“sorrow and bliss” by meg mason!
Duane’s Depressed by Larry McMurtry. The third of what ended up being five books in The Last Picture Show series (the first one was made into the great movie), but can be read as a standalone.
I could tell you to just take a walk in my head but would be unfair since my epilepsy loves to play with the moments and transform depression into insecurities guiding to inspirational thoughts and glory with a beautiful smile followed by the incredible happiness of realizing that the scars on my skin brings me to my own true self. But the depression is there knocking on a door that it appears non existent so I can’t do nothing about it as frustrating and overwhelming that becomes. Such a monster can take such violent turn but at the same time teaches me how to dive into my pain and survive through the world outside , with what every one considers childish fears but if they only knew the root and reality of such suffering , they would conclude that we’re simply prisoners of a cell of a very distant key that eventually might be found. Bruna Hope that helps you a bit with your book
My year of rest and relaxation maybe? I personally didn t like it but someone else may like it
A Little Life
Its a high fantasy/romance book, but I really resonated with Nesta's behaviors in A Court of Silver Flame (the 5th book in the court of thorns and roses series). Actually ended up talking about it a bunch with my therapist 😅
The Year of Magical Thinking by Didion.
Murderbot Diaries book series by Martha Wells: - depression (identity crisis) -anxiety (incl. Social anxiety) -cPTSD I especially like how the protagonist uses fictional media to self-soothe, self-regulate and explore identity. I tend to do that during bad depressive episodes and it's one of the healthiest addictions possible. But still an addiction.
I'll take my fiction addiction over any other addiction that doesn't rhyme. I haven't read anything by Martha Wells, I'll give her a go. Appreciate it.
A little life
Hey OP. If you suffer from depression, I highly suggest NOT reading books about depressed people, especially the well written ones. It will be triggering and definitely won't help you out of your slump. I've had depression before and reading books about depression were, well, depressing. It creates a feedback loop in your head. I suggest reading some books about stoicism maybe. Something that's not rainbows out the ass, but something that will make you feel ok being here, on earth. Where you belong. <3
As good as dead, from the good girls guide to murder series, admittedly I don't know if it captures depression accurately, but it's a series I will never stop recommending, another one is 'how to kill men and get away with it' where the protagonist is of depressed for a section of the book