"For fans of autobiographies I would say that this is a hard but ultimately worthwhile read about living and managing with a complex and often misunderstood condition."
A very open diaried account of life through the lens of someone with Schizophrenia. ‘The Memoir of a Schizophrenic’ by Karl Lorenz Willett is an extensive autobiographical account spanning from November 1982 to February 2016. Taking us through his early years, first relationships, marriage and family life, the author shares his thoughts and feelings in the present tense as he struggles to find his place, conflicting ambitions and responsibilities, and phases of ill health caused by his Schizophrenia. Starting addressed to his family, this memoir shares the internal struggles of the author in an open, honest and on occasion self-critical manner. As well as sharing his lived experience with Schizophrenia, the author also addresses the topics of race and poverty, with a large section of the writing given to explain how the family struggles to make ends meet. Throughout the different entries, the author’s endless optimism, faith in God and desperation to provide for his family sees him vulnerable to prize winning scams, at times unwisely spending what little food money they have on lottery tickets, and with misguided suicidal ideation in the hope that life insurance will provide for his family, culminating in a suicide attempt in 2003. If I’m honest, I found ‘The Memoir of a Schizophrenic’ to be a difficult read at times but the book still managed to convey a sense of boundless optimism and faith in God that something good is coming, and that the next lottery ticket will be the big winner. The book is well-written and I found that the diary style worked well and I learned a lot about Schizophrenia and what living with and managing the condition is like. For fans of autobiographies I would say that this is a hard but ultimately worthwhile read about living and managing with a complex and often misunderstood condition.
Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading Ambassador
| Primary Genre | Indie Author Books |
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