Living With Schizophrenia
by Stuart Emmons, Craig Geiser, Kalman J.Kaplan, and Martin Harrow, 1997 Schizophrenia is disabling in two ways: it impairs the way in which schizophrenics look at the world, and it impairs the way in which the world looks at schizophrenics. Stuart Emmons and Craig Geiser are diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenics. Through hospitalization and medication, both are able to function in society. But they sometimes find that society isn't ready to function with them, hence this book. Emmons and Geiser each recount his own story, and then Emmons presents his poetry, and Geiser his artwork. Kaplan and Harrow comment on what Emmons and Geiser have to say.
The narratives are both fairly easy to follow. Emmons sometimes refers to things the reader doesn't know about. Geiser's explanations of his actions are easier to follow. Emmons' poetry is story broken into lines, and they provide a greater understanding of his story. The artwork does not seem to be similarly explanatory. Although Kaplan and Harrow note their interpretations of Geiser's artwork, it still doesn't add to the story.
Question: When does caution become paranoia?
Happy reading.
Out of the Garden : Women Writers on the Bible
edited by Celina Spiegel and Christina Buchmann, 1995 The bible has influenced the thinking of many people, including women, including feminist women, even including feminist atheist women. The authors of
Out of the Garden are all women, all feminist, and with one exeption atheist/agnostic. Some see the bible as a symbol of patriarchal oppresion, some see it as inspiring, and some find it to be good writing material. As the writers vary, so their essays vary. Some are scholary, some are autobiographical, some are fictional works based on the bible.
Although most of these works can be enjoyed by almost anyone, I took issue with two themes. The first is the angry rant. Angry rants are not fun reading, especially when they last more than a page and have no point. My second problem is more specific to me; many of the writers use God's Name in ways that make me as a religous person uncomfortable. Some of the writers are ignorant of major points usually made about the piece that they are analysing, but this allows them to come up with interpretations of pieces whose usual interpretation I had taken for granted. The pieces are only about what is included in the Hebrew Bible.
Happy reading.
