Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen

Susanna Kaysen was admitted to a psychiatric hospital when she was 18 years old.  She had attempted suicide twice, and describes herself as lacking animation and interest in life during that time.  In fact, the first chapter of the book - which describes the meeting with the psychiatrist who sent her to McLean Hospital - is one of the most upsetting chapters in the book.  Within a half hour the doctor had decided to commit her and she was too apathetic to care much about it.  At that point, she describes herself as happy she didn't need to bother with a bus ride home and could simply get into a taxi - even if that taxi is taking her to McLean Hospital.  Meanwhile, she will spend most of the next two years as a patient who is cut off from the outside world. 

Susanna continues to observe from a distance the other patients at McLean. She witnesses suicides, the maximum security ward, and the bizarre actions of the other patients.  Susanna also offers some of the thoughts she had while living at McLean, and later her experiences in the world as someone who was once committed to a psychiatric hospital.

Much of the philosophizing in this book is confusing.  She speaks of the "topography" of this alternate universe of a mental institution, which is affecting but not necessarily a helpful point of view for a reader.  Her descriptions of events in the hospital are the highlight of the book.  One chapter, called "Bare Bones" was particularly poignant.