Scan barcode
kegifford's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Frame tells the story, both awful and inspiring, of being misdiagnosed as schizophrenic , the havoc that diagnosis wreaked on her life, and the long road to reclaiming her life.
tsefalofor's review against another edition
5.0
loved this… so ‘elif’ in a 1950s new zealand kinda way. (re)reading the idiot and this in such close succession made it so ‘clear’! i would say ‘young women blah’ but i’m discovering it’s not so universal as i thought (everybody i’ve recommended the idiot to saying ‘you’ll relate soo much!’ just says it ‘reminds them of me’) but soul sisters ‘list’ definite add. she’s so beautifully articulate and perceptive and funny while still ‘us’, unsure, terrified, unomniscient - now to read 1&3. my fav bit was ‘chicken a gent’
lindzlovesreading's review against another edition
4.0
Wandering through my favourite book store I saw that they had reissued Frame's series of autobiography. I was suddenly very embarrassed that I had never read one of New Zealand's greatest authors, being a kiwi myself. So I bought it.
From the first line;
"From the first place of liquid darkness, within the second place of air and light, I set down the following record with its mixture of fact and truths and memories and its direction always toward the Third Place, where the starting point is myth."
I knew I was in the hands of a master, and suddenly very proud to be kiwi.
Frame is famous for being the ultimate miss understood artist. Considering she spend almost ten years of her life in and out of mental hospitals with miss diagnosed schizophrenia. And only missed out on having a lobotomy because she won a literary prize. Though don't expect great details of her asylum experience, she has already written about it in another novel, and will not go through it again.
This is a autobiography not of bitterness, maybe a little sadness but more matter of fact. From a poor childhood in Otago, with tragedy to her struggling to be herself, in a society that expected that she should toe the line. In NZ in the 1950's you were either a nurse or a teacher, or you played rugby. Females tended to have more choice, but not much :).
Though I love this auto I cannot give this 5 stars only because the last instalment 'The Envoy from the Mirror City' just did not hold up to the previous two autos. It felt like Frame was more dictating the events, there wasn't the flavour. Which is a little sad. But I would still recommend this novel to anyone, not just kiwis.
From the first line;
"From the first place of liquid darkness, within the second place of air and light, I set down the following record with its mixture of fact and truths and memories and its direction always toward the Third Place, where the starting point is myth."
I knew I was in the hands of a master, and suddenly very proud to be kiwi.
Frame is famous for being the ultimate miss understood artist. Considering she spend almost ten years of her life in and out of mental hospitals with miss diagnosed schizophrenia. And only missed out on having a lobotomy because she won a literary prize. Though don't expect great details of her asylum experience, she has already written about it in another novel, and will not go through it again.
This is a autobiography not of bitterness, maybe a little sadness but more matter of fact. From a poor childhood in Otago, with tragedy to her struggling to be herself, in a society that expected that she should toe the line. In NZ in the 1950's you were either a nurse or a teacher, or you played rugby. Females tended to have more choice, but not much :).
Though I love this auto I cannot give this 5 stars only because the last instalment 'The Envoy from the Mirror City' just did not hold up to the previous two autos. It felt like Frame was more dictating the events, there wasn't the flavour. Which is a little sad. But I would still recommend this novel to anyone, not just kiwis.
thatlitgal's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book.
It was though in parts, too long-winded and descriptive, but otherwise, I liked the writing, it was very absorbing, and Frame's voice was so sincere. I sympathized with her struggles with the shame of her feminity, her fears, her anxieties over her lack of agency, and her reliance on what we would now refer to as 'people pleasing.'
I had to read this book quickly for my uni course, but later when that is finished, I definitely want to go back and re-read all 3 of her autobiographies again.
It was though in parts, too long-winded and descriptive, but otherwise, I liked the writing, it was very absorbing, and Frame's voice was so sincere. I sympathized with her struggles with the shame of her feminity, her fears, her anxieties over her lack of agency, and her reliance on what we would now refer to as 'people pleasing.'
I had to read this book quickly for my uni course, but later when that is finished, I definitely want to go back and re-read all 3 of her autobiographies again.
meowsloudlyinyourear's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
wahhhhh. 3 books in one. Perhaps following the 3 act structure,,,, but a very good memoir/auto-biography. certainly one of the best books i'v read written by a new zealander. or perhaps about new zealand. Janet Frame the GOAT.
babsellen's review against another edition
5.0
I will miss Janet dearly - she was truly one of a kind. Now to delve into her novels and stories!
treehuggeranonymous's review against another edition
4.0
An incredible story and a window into mental illness.