Posted by fi on January 25, 2002, at 7:31:14
In reply to bloody iris murdoch!, posted by ELA on January 23, 2002, at 12:29:30
Of lighter reading variety:
Someone has mentioned Captain Corelli, but I would avoid that at the moment- it starts off as a gentle story but gets very grim and grisly.Kate Atkinson, Emotionally Weird
I got this (in WH Smith '2 for £10' deal on at the moment). It looks a bit odd but its a straightforward funny tale of some Dundee students in the 70s, definitely with their minds on other things than studying. Its been making me do the commuting sin of laughing on the train (not out loud, but cant stop them shoulder shaking...)Maureen Lipman's books are also funny.
Understanding mental problems:
The ones I know about are re depression. There are 2 good descriptive books, mixing theory and personal experience:
Lewis Wolpert is an eminent scientist who has also been hospitalised with depression, and wrote a book about the condition afterwards.
Title: Malignant Sadness. The Anatomy of Depression. Lewis Wolpert
Publication details: London. Faber and Faber. 1999
Anthony Clare (yes, that one) also wrote a book with Spike Milligan (tho he has manic-depression)
Title: Depression and how to survive it. Spike Milligan and Anthony Clare
Publication details: London. Arrow. 1994
Dorothy Rowe is a very eminent psychologist who has a theory about depression described in various books. I'm not sure it fits everyone, but it can be worth a look. The books arent particularly easy to read (but easier than Iris Murdoch!)- I couldnt concentrate enough to read them till I was better. One is called 'the depression handbook'. Another depression- the way out of your prison.Claire Weekes wrote books with titles that made my hair curl- v folksy. But actually her text (actually her tapes) were the most supportive and encouraging I found when swamped in anxiety and depression.
One is :
Title: Self help for your nerves. Claire Weekes
Publication details: Sydney. Angus & Robertson. 1981
On a different tack, I used to watch the 'Jungle Book' on video when feeling dire. Sounds a bit unlikely, but its calm jolliness did help a bit.Fi
poster:fi
thread:17108
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20020125/msgs/17190.html