chandle5's review
dark
emotional
slow-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Forced institutionalization
brandie185's review
4.0
In Nervous System, Jan Lars Jensen recounts about the time he had a nervous breakdown that was set off by the publication of his up-coming book.
Beating the odds, Jensen gets a contract on the book he wants to write. After putting all the time and effort in, and as it nears it's publication, suddenly Jensen feels like his book will usher in the end of the world.
He wrote a book set in India about Shiva. He suddenly worries that it will be found offensive and somehow start a world war that will only end with countries lobbing nuclear bombs at each other. I can read that and go, um, I don't think one fiction book goes that way, but in throes of his illness he couldn't see that.
While this is a serious topic, Jensen takes a humorous approach to the book. Not to negate what has happened to him, but I would assume (because I would do the same thing) to make the topic more approachable and to make writing about it easier.
Overall, I enjoyed reading the book. While I've never been suicidal or delusional, I have experience depression that has affected my family and I related to several parts of the book.
Beating the odds, Jensen gets a contract on the book he wants to write. After putting all the time and effort in, and as it nears it's publication, suddenly Jensen feels like his book will usher in the end of the world.
He wrote a book set in India about Shiva. He suddenly worries that it will be found offensive and somehow start a world war that will only end with countries lobbing nuclear bombs at each other. I can read that and go, um, I don't think one fiction book goes that way, but in throes of his illness he couldn't see that.
While this is a serious topic, Jensen takes a humorous approach to the book. Not to negate what has happened to him, but I would assume (because I would do the same thing) to make the topic more approachable and to make writing about it easier.
Overall, I enjoyed reading the book. While I've never been suicidal or delusional, I have experience depression that has affected my family and I related to several parts of the book.
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