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abstab's review
3.0
it is from 1946 so i should be expecting a level of complexity towards comprehension - i didn’t understand who was who bc it shifted from first to third person quite a bit. but maybe that was how it was supposed to be to show that she dissociated and was an unreliable narrator?
bebe_elise's review
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
jbrosnan90's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
As someone who works in metal health, this is a must read! A fascinating look at life in a psychiatric hospital, and a tragedy to see how some things haven’t changed since the authors time in Rockland State Hospital.
brooke_review's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Mary Jane Ward’s The Snake Pit is a semi-autobiographical novel about her/main character Virginia’s time in a mental institution in the 1940s. Touted as an important novel of the time for bringing light to the treatment women received in these facilities, The Snake Pit is celebrated 75 years later with this re-release.
The Snake Pit is a told in a disjointed fashion, and upon reading the afterword, I learned that it was meant to resemble Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, yet of the mentally health variety. Alice is one of my favorite books, and perhaps knowing upfront that I needed to read this book with a grain of speculation and absurdity would have made the reading process a bit more seamless. As it were, I read too many of the passages in the literal sense, not able to bring practicality or sanity to any of it. I honestly struggled with this book’s writing style, but I understand why Ward chose to compose her novel this way. We are not seeing the inner workings of this mental institution in a straightforward manner because our narrator cannot see it in a straightforward manner. We are viewing it through her eyes, which is why none of it makes sense. It makes for a rather frustrating experience for the reader, however, to have no solid ground upon which to stand.
The Snake Pit is a told in a disjointed fashion, and upon reading the afterword, I learned that it was meant to resemble Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, yet of the mentally health variety. Alice is one of my favorite books, and perhaps knowing upfront that I needed to read this book with a grain of speculation and absurdity would have made the reading process a bit more seamless. As it were, I read too many of the passages in the literal sense, not able to bring practicality or sanity to any of it. I honestly struggled with this book’s writing style, but I understand why Ward chose to compose her novel this way. We are not seeing the inner workings of this mental institution in a straightforward manner because our narrator cannot see it in a straightforward manner. We are viewing it through her eyes, which is why none of it makes sense. It makes for a rather frustrating experience for the reader, however, to have no solid ground upon which to stand.
madandmoonly's review
4.0
Really good, especially for a book I haven't ever heard anyone talking about before!
bookmearead's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.5
labtracks's review
5.0
This book is a wild ride! Immediately thrust into a scene understandable in one sense and which makes no sense in another, this books starts with a bang. It weaves and bobs and jumps and turns through some jumbled sections. It switches between first, second and third person. It drags you along even when you've been jumbled enough and just want a break. It's maddening and enthralling all at once. But don't stop! This book does level out and meanders through a somewhat more understandable narrative to a somewhat unexpected narrative.
Don't skip the sections after the book! The read about her life, her journey, her writing is quite interesting and helps tie some of the whole story together.
This book deserves a re-publication. It's amazing.
Now I need to go find the movie!
Don't skip the sections after the book! The read about her life, her journey, her writing is quite interesting and helps tie some of the whole story together.
This book deserves a re-publication. It's amazing.
Now I need to go find the movie!
labtracks's review against another edition
5.0
This book is a wild ride! Immediately thrust into a scene understandable in one sense and which makes no sense in another, this books starts with a bang. It weaves and bobs and jumps and turns through some jumbled sections. It switches between first, second and third person. It drags you along even when you've been jumbled enough and just want a break. It's maddening and enthralling all at once. But don't stop! This book does level out and meanders through a somewhat more understandable narrative to a somewhat unexpected narrative.
Don't skip the sections after the book! The read about her life, her journey, her writing is quite interesting and helps tie some of the whole story together.
This book deserves a re-publication. It's amazing.
Now I need to go find the movie!
Don't skip the sections after the book! The read about her life, her journey, her writing is quite interesting and helps tie some of the whole story together.
This book deserves a re-publication. It's amazing.
Now I need to go find the movie!