Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen

Girl, Interrupted by author Susanna Kaysen is a very well written book , in my opinion. It is a 1993 memoir of Kaysen's experiences as a patient in a psychiatric hospital. In 1967, when Kaysen was 18 years old, she was admitted to McLean Hospital, in Belmont, Massachusetts. She had attempted suicide. Kaysen is diagnosed with borderline personality disorder , which is an illness which disturbs the individual's sense of self. This disorder also, includes instability of mood, relationships, identity behavior and self-image. She stays over 18 months, close to 2 years.

In the book she reflects on her personal thoughts and feelings, and why she believes she was institutionalized. She, also, describes fellow patients and their personal issues. Fellow patients include, Polly. Polly suffers from schizophrenia. She is horribly scarred, for she had set herself on fire, prior to admission at the hospital. Georgina, also a schizophrenic, is Kaysen's roomate. Daisy, who is admitted during the thanksgiving and Christmas holidays every year. She's a laxative addict. Lisa, who is a sociopath, escapes from the hospital on occasion, and is always found and brought back. She likes to start trouble with the other patients and staff. Torrey, who is a recovering drug addict and is very promiscuous, befriends all of her fellow patients. The most disturbed of all of them is Alice Calais. She has episodes where she covers herself with her own feces.

In 1999, this memoir was adapted into a film, directed by James Mangold and starring Winona Ryder and Angelina Jolie. I really enjoyed the film. Jolie won Best Supporting Actress. The film also won the Golden Globe in 1999. The producers of the film were Winona Ryder, executive producer, who called this film her labor of love, Carol Bodie, executive producer, Cathy Konrad and Douglas Wick, producers, Georgia Kacandes, co-producer and associate producer, Susanna Kaysen(II).