Elizabeth Wurtzel Books, Opinions?

[SavingSelf]

For those of you who have read some of Elizabeth Wurtzel books, I'm curious of your opinions.

I have read "More, Now, and Again" and am current reading "Prozac Nation." I couldn't put "More.." down, it absolutely captivated me. I'm struggling to get though "Prozac" because I just can't get past how whiny the book is coming across.

Granted Wurtzel has her share of problems (as do I), but at least in "More" even when she was strung out it always seemed like she was trying to figure out how to get herself into rehab. In "Prozac" all she wants to do is find somebody to fix her and reasons to stay away from rehab and it's really starting to get to me.

Anybody else have this impression if you've read both? I haven't finished "Prozac" quite yet, but if the book wraps up similarly to how it's read three quarters through, all I can think is that's there no wonder why she ended up addicted to drugs again.

Comments?

Karley

[dreya]

Yes. I felt the same way about Prozac Nation - I have depression too, and I know it's really hard, but reading it just made me want to say "stop whining! stop it!" It seemed like in that book and in More, Now Again she kept saying the same things over and over about how sick she was and how horrible it was, and it's like, I KNOW, I GET IT, talk about something else for two seconds please! But I know a lot of people really loved her books and related to them, so I think it's probably a personality thing - her personality comes across very very strongly in her writings, so if you are the type of person who probably wouldn't enjoy having her as a friend (like me) her books are less enjoyable.

[*Lissa*]

I first read Prozac Nation in nineteen-ninetysix, and could very much relate to it. I was then trying to come to terms with being severely depressed, trying to understand why, and EW just seemed to speak right to me. I kept feeling - although I come from a totally different background - that "those are my words", and it felt good to know I wasn't alone. I had the same experience, bu with my ED, years later, on reading Wasted, which went straight to my heart. In my opinion, EW isn't whining in Prozac Nation, but just a young woman who's really trying to beat depression, and who unfortunately tries to combat the intense hopelessness with drugs. I never did (having had an ED for way longer than depression, I'm afraid to lose control), but had I been in her situation, who knows? The book ended on a positive note, and I'm only sad to know that her addiction to drugs continued.

Have you read EW's Bitch!? It's quite different, and a cool read.

[dreya]

I'll have to look for Bitch - I haven't read that one yet. She talks about it a little in More, Now, Again - it sounds like it is about ambitious famous women - is that correct? I'm going to the bookstore later today so I'll see if they have it.

[dreya]

I looked for Bitch at Barnes & Noble but couldn't find it.

[*Lissa*]

Dreya,

You're right. Bitch - in praise of difficult women is about women, but not necessarily ambitious women. It is a strong feminist book, and well worth reading. I know they have it on Amazon, if you're interested.

I thought some more about the differences between EW's writing about her depression vs. the writing about her addiction. When trying to come to terms with an addiction, you know that there is help, treatment programs etc; but with depression... it's not that simple. Especially not in the days before the SSRI (e.g. Prozac), which is mostly those covered in PN - there is no treatment program, no effective treatment at all. Only various antidepressants that may or may not work. I know, I went through over a dozen before finding one that works (and now it seems, after two years, its effect may be wearing off), and the despair of trying one after the other - starting, increasing the dosis, waiting and hoping for weeks/months for an effect, decreasing the dosis before stopping - that doesn't work satisfactorily, and alays having to keep hoping that this time it will work; well, telling anyone about that would definitely sound whiny.

[Catherose]

Karley- Yeah, I found Prozac Nation really whiny as well! I enjoyed reading it, but it was kind of a "guilty pleasure," ya know? She's an excellent writer but pretty damn narcissistic. I have Bitch as well but haven't read it yet. It was nice for me to see that here's this girl with all these problems that still went to Harvard and accomplished a lot and touched a lot of people- I feel like maybe I'll turn out ok too some day! And Dreya, I completely understand what you mean about not wanting to hae her as a friend... I don't know if I would or not actually. I guess memoirs as a rule are self-absorbed, aren't they? But I liked Marya Hornbacher's attitude better somehow in her memoir. I found her less whiny.

Also, just the title Prozac Nation kind of bothered me, because that wasn't what the book was about! I was hoping it would be more about America's use of anti-depressants combined with a memoir... it turned out only the afterword had anything to do with the "nation" at all.


Cath

[Rayneonthemoon]

I first read Prozac Nation in **************** (or was it ****************?) and I enjoyed the book. I am currently reading "More, Now, & Again" and I find it good so far. Sad, but good. Sometimes I am having a hard time getting through it because it does hit pretty close to home.
I myself have been drug free for nearly two years, and I can relate alot to what she is writing in the book.

I love Elizabeth Wurtzel, I think she is a very good author.

Love,

[Rayneonthemoon]

That should say the year ninety-five or ninety-six

[geordiegeorgie]

I was uncomfortable with the total reliance on psychotrophics she displayed in Prozac Nation. Maybe she was merely reflecting the obsession of our society and the hope we invest in pharmaceutical fix-its. But then maybe it is no wonder she went on to become an addict.

I have been med-free for almost a year now. My depression is, if anything, better than ever. I think this might be to do with having a greater feeling of control in my life, not having to rely on doctors for prescriptions. Someone needs to write about how drugs are not the whole answer and need not even be part of the answer.

Hmmmm ... maybe I could.

But whereas I do admire Elizabeth Wurtzel, Marya Hornbacher and all their cheap imitators I lack their bravado. Once you have written a book like that, how can you ever be known as anything else but a mental case?