I am always on the lookout for books by Scottish writers, which was why I made the decision to read this book. This is the first and only book I have read by Janice Galloway but I hope to read more. I often read a book twice if I feel I've missed something first time round, I've now read this book twice but feel that even if I read it a hundred times I'll learn something new every time.

The book doesn't really have a plot as such; its in present tense first person and charts the breakdown of the main character, ironically named Joy. Joy is a drama teacher who has suffered a major upset in her life that has triggered off a severe bout of depression which spirals deeper and deeper into a breakdown throughout the novel.

The style is unusual but suits the story. The first person present tense gives a sense of urgency and confusion and is fragmented and broken, just like Joy's mind. Some fleeting sentences appear in the margins, only part completed, which also emphasise Joy's confusion and the fact that no matter how much she tells us, the reader, she can never fully explain everything inside her head. We can only see what is on the surface.

It isn't a light read, lets make that clear. But there is some humour in it; Joy has a dry wit that shines through and her take on a lot of the things that happen to her is quite amusing. Is it that she can see the funny side despite her misery, or is she using humour as a tool to make light of it? I think its more the former than than the latter. Joy is likeable to a point but she is frustrating at times. She tells us bits about her background in flashbacks, mainly about events leading up to her depression, which helped me understand her a bit better.

I am lucky to never have suffered from mental illness and I hope I never do! Just by reading this, I could feel Joy's confusion and the feeling she was trapped inside her own head. What I loved was the fact that she would rationalize some of the odd things that she was doing, so much so that they appeared to make sense. The author really manages to get inside Joy's head and by doing so ensures we can get in it too.

Overall it demonstrates the fragility of the human mind and how we are all so close to that border. The author treats the subject matter with sensitivity yet with a humour that makes Joy's story seem all the more poignant.

This story isn't for everyone and I guarantee if you read it you will either love it or hate it! Its experimental in style and is slow moving yet gripping. If you like fast paced action packed novels then this is definitely not for you. I think it might be a useful read for anyone suffering depression or a breakdown, or for anyone who has a family member/friend with the condition.