Talk:Girl, Interrupted

Help requested
i need some help in the summary of this book. i read it over a year ago and now i have to do a report on it. can anyone help me to inform me on what disorder susanna had and etc. --65.3.200.137 20:43, 26 Nov 2004 (UTC)

Article changes
I am editing this page to be strictly referencing to the memoir Girl, Interrupted. I will also be creating a new page referencing to the film. If anyone objects, please see how I also did this with both The Cider House Rules and The Cider House Rules (film). Thanks. Poisonouslizzie 03:47, 11 December 2005 (UTC)


 * Looks good. - Hbdragon88 23:07, 19 December 2005 (UTC)

Controversy?
What is with that controversy section? That is very us-centric, highly non-notable and un-encyclopedic. compared to the controversy around some other books (*cough*the satanic verses*cough*), a hissy fit by some mother seems totally benign. I think the controversy sections seriously needs to address why that event is encyclopedic, or it should be taken out.
 * dr.alf 12:26, 9 March 2006 (UTC)

I agree. Lisa Lovechild 02:37, 18 April 2006 (UTC)

Characters section
Why are only four characters listed in the characters section? It seems selective and odd, when much more are listed in the section above it. I have to admit, though, that I've only seen the film version, or else I'd make the edits myself. -Elizabennet 22:59, 5 December 2006 (UTC)

What about the Martian's girlfriend? I noticed that she was not listed. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.15.163.171 (talk) 23:09, 31 December 2010 (UTC)

Too much information from the film
A great deal of the information on the article comes from the movie - like the character's (apart from Kaysen herself) full names, which are NOT mentioned in the book. Also, Georgina in the book has schizophrenia. It is only in the FILM that she is a pathological liar. I edited this but it has been edited back, so I edited it again. The article refers to the book not the movie, therefore all the information reguarding plot and characters should come PURELY from the book, not from the film which Kaysen herself did not even like.

I quote, from the book: "Cynthia was depressive. Polly and Georgina were schizophrenic; i had a character disorder. Sometimes they called it a personality disorder." Sarahwb 02:08, 27 January 2007 (UTC)

Georgina
This line bothers me: Georgina is now an emotionally healthy woman.

From the description in the book I'd say that's a matter of interpretation. First of all she's said to be schizophrenic which sort of rules out the "emotionally healthy" diagnosis. Second, her behaviour as described by Kaysen does not seem to be that of a fully healthy young woman. I'd prefer something like Georgina is now discharged and is living a normal life outside the hospital. Less speculative in my opinion. EconomicsGuy (talk) 14:06, 9 January 2008 (UTC)

Brain vs. mind
Reminds me of some books by John Eccles (neurophysiologist) and/or Karl Popper:


 * 1977, The Self and Its Brain, with Karl Popper
 * 1985, Mind and Brain: The Many-Faceted Problems, (Editor), New York : Paragon House.
 * 1994, How the Self Controls Its Brain.

Not sure they're related enough to describe in the article, but maybe worth a link or two. --Uncle Ed (talk) 19:34, 3 September 2009 (UTC)

Patient list etc
I have a problem with the line "Hospitalized because of a common "insane" syndrome schizophrenia" referring to Georgina. First of all, Schizophrenia is hardly common. It affects around 1 in every 100 people, compared to disorders like Depression, which affects as many as 1 in 5. Secondly, "insane syndrome" is a completely incorrect description of schizophrenia. The word 'insane' is derogatory to people with mental illnesses, which is what Schizophrenia actually is. It is also not medically classified as a 'syndrome'. It is a psychiatric disorder, or a mental illness, not an "insane syndrome".

Also, Cynthia is not included in the list of patients despite being present in the book. Sarahwb (talk) 08:06, 27 January 2010 (UTC)

Polly
Removed the bit about Polly burning herself in response to an allergic rash. Kaysen explicitly states in the book that she and the other patients chose not to ask why Polly did it, partly out of respect and partly as a way of dealing with their own suicide attempts and thoughts. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 173.30.103.97 (talk) 04:41, 25 September 2012 (UTC)

Wiki Education assignment: 22S-DIS STD-M114- Variable Topics in Performance and Disability Studies
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