Prozac Nation - Elizabeth Wurtzel

Ms Wurtzel is a stroppy, self-obsessed, hysterical and precocious author, who writes as though she’s penning Judy Blume-style teen McFiction with extra obscenities, and adult content on the side. This was her first book, written at 26, and describes her ongoing battle with depression. The narrative is reminiscent of a stamping, tantruming, screaming toddler, constantly demanding, and inherently needy. But despite the natural aversion to her, the story is somehow compelling. I read Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar some years ago, and that intense horror and despair that Plath captures so exquisitely is also present in Prozac Nation. The delivery is ...  Read the complete review

There’s something about depression, or manic-depressive illness, that immediately seems to make people think of good art or literature. There’s always been a stereotype that those who suffer from mental illness are also possessed of creative faculties beyond those of the fortunate unafflicted. Indeed, one of the leading experts on the manic depression, Kay Redfield Jamison, has written a lengthy book on the subject. Whatever the truth of this cliche, it is common to read or hear someone praising the work of suffering author because it ‘describes exactly how it feels’. The two main authors who come two mind are, of course, Sylvia Plath and ...  Read the complete review

This book was an interesting one for me - bought because it was recommended by a friend because I work in HR and she thought it might add to my job knowledge when dealing with depressive people absent from work (random i know!); i was a bit aprehensive of this book. I did have visions of it being very negative and aimed at the teenage market... however i was pleasantly suprised! The story is an autobiography written by Elizabeth Wurtzel of her battle with depression thoughtout her teenage years. It is written in the past tense with her reflecting on how she managed her illness, how it made her feel and what worked best in pulling herself out. The ...  Read the complete review

Prozac Nation is an autobiographical book by Elizabeth Wurtzel about her experiences of suffering from depression. Although I actually bought this book when I was studying depression in psychology, it also had more of a personal value in it, with people I know having killed/tried to kill themselves, and myself being a self harmer, although I refuse to say I am depressed. Having just finished reading it for the first time, there were many things in the book which I found spoke to me, and I could find myself relating to. Some of the strange feelings which Wurtzel seems to talk about, some of the hopelessness of situations, I could find myself ...  Read the complete review

Prozac nation was published in 1994, written by Elizabeth Wurtzel. The book is autobiographical, documenting Elizabeth Wurtzels experience with depression. Firstly, before I start talking about the novel itself, I want to say that this book meant more to me than any other book I have ever read in my life. In my teens, I suffered badly with depression. One of the worst things about my illness, was I felt that no one in the world could relate to me. Some could say that this is conceited, but it was more a feeling of complete and utter isolation. I was completely and utterly sure that I was broken. I had never spoken to ...  Read the complete review