Reviews

It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

broccolireads's review

3.0

“Life can't be cured, but it can be managed.”

It's a good book, but it's not great. It has some really clever quotes and there is development on the main character through the story which ,of course, is good. I think my issue with the book is that everything happens so fast and Craig is the only character that you really get to know or relate to; The rest of them are just kind of there. But overall it's enjoyable.

Spoiler

I liked that Craig didn't have one precise and devastating reason for being depressed. I mean, he had not gone through any type of traumatic experience and he had a pretty good life, what caused him to feel that way, were a combination of little things that made him worry to the point of feeling he couldn't handle it anymore, so maybe, suicide was his best option. Many people think that being a privileged person (middle class,with loving parents, cis, straight, etc) takes out the "right" or reason to be depressed and sometimes, it just happens. And it's valid for everyone to feel like crap and everyone should be listened and helped.

Also I just remembered another issue, there was a part of the book were it got really transphobic and in other parts the book it's kind of sexist and that made me uncomfortable ... was it really necessary?

starnighte's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

ahgasesarah's review

5.0

Hilarious, insightful, heartbreaking, and an excellent portrayal of mental illness.

jn309's review

dark emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Really enjoyed this novel and it’s take on mental health.

tlchand's review

3.0

Wasn't crazy about the beginning but I warmed to the book in the later half.

ahsfan04's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

baffledborealis's review

funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

gayfatherof3's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

First half was way better than second half. 

supercoolhotgirl's review

challenging dark funny sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

ld277's review

1.0

When first getting into the book, I was pretty indifferent (although having heard about it a lot) and didn't form an opinion until for like the first ... 80-ish pages? the more it progressed the more stuff I found that made me upset and uncomfortable. I'm not talking about the overall topic and how triggering it is, but more of the portrayal of Craig and how annoying and bigoted he actually sounded throughout the whole story. His physical descriptions of people (some rather racist remarks tbh) and his description of other people's issues made him look like a whole ass ignorant moron (queue sexist, homophobic and transphobic remarks). For some reason thinking that all those other people's difficulties were ridiculous, although he never flatout says it. And I know the author wanted to highlight the fact that he's only 15, but trust me, not all 15-year old boys think about that /one/ thing only. At least not that excessively geez. And the over-the-top sexualization of minors (including comments from grownups) makes this even more uncomfortable to read, to be honest.

Not long after starting to read this, I found out about what happened to the author. And disliking the story made me feel guilty, because I felt bad hating so many parts of this. But then I realized that's kinda dumb, because opinions and receptions differ and trying to censor myself bc of what happened to him is just stupid too.

All in all, I was disappointed and it really left a sour taste.