Review by MaggieReads -- There and Back There Again
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MaggieReads
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- Latest Review: There and Back There Again by Andrew Alsup
Review by MaggieReads -- There and Back There Again
[Following is a volunteer review of "There and Back There Again" by Andrew Alsup.]
1 out of 4 stars
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Rating: 1/4
Summary:
A collection of essays that diarises author Andrew Alsup’s experience of living with mental illness.
Review:
Because I rated this book 1 out of 4 stars, which is quite a low score, let me begin by explaining why. Firstly, if you remove the direct quotes from the Constitution of America, the Bible, poems and prose by other authors (including a whole essay by Edgar Allen Poe) and the pictures, only about 60%, if not less, was written by the author himself. What I am reviewing then, is only this part of the book. Unfortunately, this part is a poorly written, profanity-ridden, incoherent book.
From the start, There and Back There Again was a struggle to read. The most obvious reason for this is the grammar. The author makes use of extremely long sentences and many commas that are sometimes misplaced. The grammar mistakes in itself create some confusion and frustration. Apart from that, some critical information seems to be missing. The reader is never entirely sure why the author is so angry or whom he is addressing – Real people or the voices in his head? Both the above-mentioned points contribute to creating an authentic experience of mental illness to the reader. However, the experience is lacking.
Allow me to make a comparison to demonstrate my point. Similar to Alsup’s book, the movie Shutter Island (Martin Scorcese; 2010) also tries to give us an experience of mental illness through the afflicted party’s eyes. For a large part of the film, the viewer also finds himself feeling lost and confused. The genius of the film is that the puzzle is solved at the end and the confusion is cleared. Not only does this invoke empathy for the lead character, but the viewer understands the experience.
It is hard for the reader to empathise with the author without the confusion ever being cleared. The only information that humanises him is the chapters on his dogs and the occasional mention of a wife and children. He also lures you in by repeatedly stating that the beginning is the end and vice versa. This keeps you hoping that the further you read, the more you will understand. But you don't. You constantly feel as if though you are reading the ravings of a madman with quotes from the Bible and the Constitution in between, and the point of the exercise seems to elude you.
That being said, it is not all bad. I do believe that publishing such a personal work takes tremendous courage, for which I commend the author greatly. Also, sometimes through all the chaos, a little light shines through, and the reader does get a message that he/she will relate with – be it a thought, a feeling or an experience. In the same breath, even if you question the author’s credibility, some points that he makes about the church and the government are quite valid.
Reading There and Back There Again is definitely a unique experience. If you are looking for something completely different, then give it a go. I imagine that this book would also appeal to those who have personal experiences with mental illness or even professionals interested in the workings of the mind. Other than that, there’s nothing to write home about.
Happy reading!
******
There and Back There Again
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1 out of 4 stars
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Rating: 1/4
Summary:
A collection of essays that diarises author Andrew Alsup’s experience of living with mental illness.
Review:
Because I rated this book 1 out of 4 stars, which is quite a low score, let me begin by explaining why. Firstly, if you remove the direct quotes from the Constitution of America, the Bible, poems and prose by other authors (including a whole essay by Edgar Allen Poe) and the pictures, only about 60%, if not less, was written by the author himself. What I am reviewing then, is only this part of the book. Unfortunately, this part is a poorly written, profanity-ridden, incoherent book.
From the start, There and Back There Again was a struggle to read. The most obvious reason for this is the grammar. The author makes use of extremely long sentences and many commas that are sometimes misplaced. The grammar mistakes in itself create some confusion and frustration. Apart from that, some critical information seems to be missing. The reader is never entirely sure why the author is so angry or whom he is addressing – Real people or the voices in his head? Both the above-mentioned points contribute to creating an authentic experience of mental illness to the reader. However, the experience is lacking.
Allow me to make a comparison to demonstrate my point. Similar to Alsup’s book, the movie Shutter Island (Martin Scorcese; 2010) also tries to give us an experience of mental illness through the afflicted party’s eyes. For a large part of the film, the viewer also finds himself feeling lost and confused. The genius of the film is that the puzzle is solved at the end and the confusion is cleared. Not only does this invoke empathy for the lead character, but the viewer understands the experience.
It is hard for the reader to empathise with the author without the confusion ever being cleared. The only information that humanises him is the chapters on his dogs and the occasional mention of a wife and children. He also lures you in by repeatedly stating that the beginning is the end and vice versa. This keeps you hoping that the further you read, the more you will understand. But you don't. You constantly feel as if though you are reading the ravings of a madman with quotes from the Bible and the Constitution in between, and the point of the exercise seems to elude you.
That being said, it is not all bad. I do believe that publishing such a personal work takes tremendous courage, for which I commend the author greatly. Also, sometimes through all the chaos, a little light shines through, and the reader does get a message that he/she will relate with – be it a thought, a feeling or an experience. In the same breath, even if you question the author’s credibility, some points that he makes about the church and the government are quite valid.
Reading There and Back There Again is definitely a unique experience. If you are looking for something completely different, then give it a go. I imagine that this book would also appeal to those who have personal experiences with mental illness or even professionals interested in the workings of the mind. Other than that, there’s nothing to write home about.
Happy reading!
******
There and Back There Again
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like MaggieReads's review? Post a comment saying so!
Latest Review: There and Back There Again by Andrew Alsup
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MeyburghM
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- Joined: 01 Feb 2019, 07:20
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Very good review Maggieread.
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leoholmes
- Posts: 6
- Joined: 11 Oct 2022, 03:06
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I would just like to say this is an amazing book I can't believe the similarities and concepts that are identified in this book. It has helped me in the current situation I am going threw after there was a breach in my civil rights. It has given me the will to keep my stand. Andrew Alsup is a very creative writer and I hope others read this and enjoy it as well.
