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REVIEW: Will You Read This, Please? Edited by Joanna Cannon

 


Genre: Non-Fiction | Essays | Memoir

Release Date: Expected 11th May 2023

Publisher: Harper Collins UK | Borough Press


This collection of essays and memoirs is an open and honest discussion about the serious impacts that mental health, and the subsequent lack of understanding can have on people. Each story is dictated by someone who has lived through a mental health crisis and then written by a UK author. 

Each essay merits a discussion and raises timely, critical points about modern health; whether it's the expectation to 'bounce back' while fighting post-partum depression the pressure of unspoken assumptions of emotional labour, societal guilt about sexuality and identity, or the terrifying truth that there is not always a reason for a mental health issue - mental health does not need reasons or explanation to infect someone's life and it does so without apology.

As someone with OCD amongst other issues, I felt this book was immensely valuable as it shows the world of mental health outside of depression and anxiety - both of which are serious and dangerous, but also seem to be the only focus of most discourse on mental health. These essay show us the many different ways we can be affected, and that a mental health disorder is far more serious than 'being sad.'

In In the belly of the flask, they discuss not only sexuality and gender, but the overlooked link between our physical health and it's relationship to our mental safety - it's a difficult read, but it's a blinding statement that shows we need to treat the whole person, not just one symptom. 

Another highlight for me was You Can Just Fuck Off, it was almost cathartic despite the horrifying content, because they were angry and allowed me to feel that same anger at people who have overlooked or mistreated people who are suffering, at people who have hurt me and caused trauma. It packs a punch, dealing with religious trauma, conversion therapy, family pressures and other ignorance and hatred that we haven't left in the past as much as we'd like to think.

The essays all have different, distinct voices; but they're personal, conversational and easily laid out in accessible sections. Some of them felt linear and structured, some strings of thoughts - but all of them invoked a deep sense of companionship and a shared understanding.

Now, whether you're looking for a deeper understanding of the effects of mental health for yourself, or to understand someone else better - will you read this, please? 


⭐⭐⭐⭐


I was gifted an advanced readers copy of this title - this review is only based on a partial manuscript.

cws: This book contains topics such as mental illness, psychosis, PPD, eating disorders, substance abuse, self harm and suicide. There are also mentions of sexism, homophobia, transphobia and conversion therapy. 

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