I could go on and on. These are very real and very painful illnesses, and yet they are one of the most neglected, misunderstood, ignored and stigmatized ones as well. These are demons that destroy lives, break human spirits and annihilate happiness. Millions of people struggle with them, fight daily battles. Some are lost and some are won. I hope that one day none will be lost and that's why I decided to host this reading challenge. The purpose of it is to increase awareness and understanding of a mental illness. In my small way I wish to help people see through the stereotypes and the fog of ignorance surrounding the serious medical conditions under an umbrella of mental illness. These conditions are deadly when untreated and more often than not still pose a risk of death after a person receives proper medical treatment. The statistics are frightening and below I am providing you with a couple of links so you can read for yourselves.
Anyway, the rules for the challenge are pretty easy.
It starts today but I would like to make it an ongoing process, therefore there will not be a deadline in the nearest future. If I decide that the no deadline rule somehow doesn't work, I will let you know at least six months in advance. The only requirement is that you read a minimum of one book on the subjects provided below.
- Depression
- Schizophrenia
- Bipolar Disorder
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
So, you have to read a minimum of four (4) books, one on each subject, either fiction or non-fiction (any format is fine: graphic novel, e-book, audio, etc.).
I am including a button on the side on my blog that you can grab just for this challenge and put it on your blog.
Also, when you write an introductory post about this challenge, please come back and sign up under McLinky.
Optimally, I would love for this to spark discussion. I'd like to talk with all and any of you. If you read a book or two, or more and they evoke strong emotions withing you, I'd love to invite you to write a guest post sharing them with me and other readers. If you have a story to tell, that's even better. I would be happy to read your story and invite others to do it as well. It doesn't matter if it's on my blog as a guest post or your own blog, as long as it's under the Understand My Sorrow banner.
Another important thing: you do not have to be a blogger to join in. If you don't have a blog, you can leave me a comment letting me know that you're joining and when you decide which books to read, when you read any of them and want to talk about them, email me and I will, with your permission spotlight your thoughts, stories, even book reviews on my blog.
List of some books you might find interesting:
1. Depression:
a) Noonday Demon
by Andrew Solomonb) Unholy Ghost: Writers on Depression
by Nell Caseyc) Prozac Nation
by Elizabeth Wurtzeld) Jesus Wept:When Faith and Depression Meet
by Barbara C. Crafton2. Schizophrenia:
a) The Day the Voices Stopped
by Ken Steele and Claire Bermanb) The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness
by Elyn R. Saksc) I Never Promised You a Rose Garden
by Joanne Greenbergd) The Quiet Room
by Lori Schiller and Amanda Bennette) Welcome Silence
by Carol North, M.D.Bipolar Disorder:
a) An Unquiet Mind
by Kay Redfield Jamisonb) Madness: A Bipolar Life
by Marya Hornbacherc) Manic
by Terri CheneyObsessive Compulsive Disorder:
a) Tormenting Thoughts and Secret Rituals
by Ian Osbornb) The Imp of the Mind
by Lee Baer, Ph.D.c) Rewind, Replay, Repeat
by Jeff BellOnce again, the above titles are just some suggestions in case you feel a little lost, not a required reading at all. If you know of books that you'd like to recommend to others, please include them in your post. Thank you all for joining.
I'm not going to lie, it is very, very important to me that as many people join me as possible.
Statistics' Sources:
National Institute of Mental Health
Suicide.org
Schizophrenia.com
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
BUTTON:
Lilly,
ReplyDeleteDo the books need to be non-fiction then? Or can we read a respectful "fictional" portrayal if it's not something stereotypical or insulting?
I like this idea...you really are sweet. And thoughtful!
Amy
Hi Amy. no it doesn't have to be non-fiction only. You can read fiction as well, I just don't know of any good ones myself. In fact it would be great if you could actually recommend some.
ReplyDeleteThank you Amy.
I may have to think about this challenge. Your post brings to mind a book I just finished with my book club though...Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons. We found out some interesting facts about this author in that within the last ten years she was diagnosed as bipolar (I think that's what it was) and she figures that she wrote Ellen Foster during one of her episodes.
ReplyDeleteDear Amy,
ReplyDeletethank you for putting this challenge forward. as a friend and daughter of people suffering from mental illness, i know first hand how much shame there still is associated with these diseases.
i have alot to say and am excited to participate, though I will be reading probably four books on schizophrenia as it is the one that touches my life.
will post soon, K
ps. bump Eye of the World up higher on your to-be-read list! ;)
Hi Lilly: Here is my book list for the challenge:
ReplyDeletehttp://missysbooknook.blogspot.com/2010/07/book-list-for-understand-my-sorrow.html
I feel your pain Lilly, unfortunately no new challenges for me. good luck
ReplyDeletecan't join you as i am too involved with other stuff but if anyone asks I Never Promised You a Rose Garden by Joanne Greenberg is a great book...i still remember from reading puppies years ago!
ReplyDeleteoh man, I'm losing it Lily. i called you Amy! sorry. ;)
ReplyDeletemy post is up on my blog: http://butterflyconfidential.com/blog/2010/understand-my-sorrow/
Stormchasers by Jenna Blum deals with a man who suffers from bi-polar disorder. It was a pretty good book and would fit quite well in this challenge.
ReplyDeleteI love the sound of this challenge, will take a look at some books and make a decision.
ReplyDeleteI saw this over on Missy's blog.
I think it's a great idea to raise awareness of these conditions. I will give this challenge some thought, and I like how there isn't a deadline.
ReplyDeleteExcellent challenge Lilly!
ReplyDeleteI may join ?? not sure but I will link it in post :) and I will definitely lurk.
Thanks.
I would like to join. Thank you for having this challenge.
ReplyDeleteI have a review of a novel which includes a couple of people who have depression, one which may be bipolar and another who has OCD.
ReplyDeleteIts title is Our Tragic Universe. I gave it 4 stars.
http://www.layersofthought.net/2010/10/review-by-shellie-our-tragic-universe.html
Sorry I didn't see this sooner but I'll join up now anyway. I'm always looking for novels with these themes in them-if they're well done. I'll take the button and post when I get a chance. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI simply can't take on any challenges next year as I have too much on my plate already.
ReplyDeleteBut as someone with depression, I think this challenge is a wonderful idea. Is there some way to keep up with other people's reading and reviews without actually joining the challenge, because I'd love to follow along, even if I'm not reading.
Do you have a place to post links to reviews for this challenge or do you want us to post them in the comments on this page?
ReplyDeleteYou can post the links to reviews here for now and when I do put a post together for reviews only, I will transfer the links from here to the separate place.
ReplyDeleteLilly-
ReplyDeleteI just saw this on Layers of Thought's blog and had to join. I have bipolar disorder and talk about it on and off on my blog. I try not to be embarrassed as I didn't ask for this disorder. I try to educate. I also have a writing blog which is for my more grim days that expresses how it feels to have my disorder. I have read some fiction books that treat mental illness or portray it so incredibly inaccurate that I want to reach into the book and choke the author. I'm getting ready to have a battle with the author of a book I'm ready right now, mainly for her answer to a Q&A in the back of the book. She was asked if she had to choose between sanity and creativity which would she choose-she chose creativity. However in the beginning she thanked her family. She doesn't even get how far she would drive her family away and how she wouldn't even be able to finishe her creative project without medications!
Heather
I just saw this on BURIEDINBOOKS blog and I too have bipolar and had to join. Great idea. Shah. X
ReplyDeleteYou're on my blog roll! And you inspired me to do this....
ReplyDelete- I have some news to share with you (and your readers) - hope you want to get involved and can spread the word.
I have decided to do a linky – it’s called Monday Madness and it’s for those of us who blog and have some connection to mental illness. ;D I'd love a community of us to find out about one another and support each other’s blogs. These things notoriously take time to get going but I'm starting it now. Of course please come and link up too if you participate in such things.
wordsinsync.blogspot.com
Shah .X
You're on my blog roll! And you inspired me to do this........
ReplyDeleteI have some news to share with you (and your readers) - hope you want to get involved and can spread the word.
I have decided to do a linky – it’s called Monday Madness and it’s for those of us who blog and have some connection to mental illness. ;D I'd love a community of us to find out about one another and support each other’s blogs. These things notoriously take time to get going but I'm starting it now. Of course please come and link up too if you participate in such things.
wordsinsync.blogspot.com
Shah .X
Hi, Lilly. I came across your perpetual challenge. I thought it was a great idea! I've signed up.
ReplyDeleteHi, Lilly! I nominated you for a Blog Award. Please visit the post on my blog here: http://darlenesbooknook.blogspot.com/2011/06/my-first-blog-award.html.
ReplyDelete