It's Kind of a Funny Story
By Ned Vizzini
444 Pages
Publisher: Hyperion
Sometimes a book like this comes along where I can't even begin to explain it. Reviews I can do, but plot wise it'd be best to check into that yourself. So for the full synopsis of It's Kind of a Funny Story click here. I saw the movie adaptation of this book when it came out in 2010. As far as I could tell it didn't get much attention. Something about the plot prompted me to see it. A kid living in New York at a fantastic high school, who is smart and has a good family and friends, yet he's clinically depressed? Compelling stuff. I bought the book immediately after seeing the movie and yet it sat on my bookshelf for a year. For awhile there I was so fixated on paranormal fiction that I kinda refused to give anything else a try. Having read it now I know Ned Vizzini is an incredible writer and artist, and Craig Gilner is probably one of the most interesting characters I've ever come across. Every book I've ever read has had some kind of impact on me, whether small or large, good or bad, I always take something away. Very few times have books affected me like this one.
I came away from this book with a different perspective on life. Granted I'm not clinically depressed, nor have I ever been clinically depressed, but the way Craig comes to grips with reality, and what he really wants out of life, made me really reflect on my own life. Some might call Craig boring, others might think he is making a bigger deal out of his depression than he should, but I felt like I knew this kid in high school. The ones that quietly make and impact on the people around them. That's what Craig does, he slowly but surely not only helps himself but helps the other patients too. Besides Craig himself, Vizzini created a whole host of interesting characters who make up 6 North, or the adult psychiatric wing of Argenon Hospital. I loved seeing Craig and Noelle's relationship develop over his five day stay in 6 North, and if the movie got anything right, it was casting Emma Roberts as Noelle. She was the perfect choice. I'm giving It's Kind of a Funny Story 5 out of 5 stars. I read the entire book in less than five days, with the majority of it today. When a book can keep you hooked like that, you know it will stay with you forever.
Happy reading!
-Amy
