Title: Loud in the House of Myself: Memoir of a Strange Girl
Author: Stacy Pershall
First published December 1, 2010
241 pages, Kindle Edition
Rating: 3.9
Overview
In Loud in the House of Myself: Memoir of a Strange Girl, Stacy Pershall takes readers on a journey through the complexities of mental illness. Growing up in a small town in Arkansas, Stacy struggled with depression and anorexia, all while being told that Jesus could heal her.
Her journey through breakdowns and suicide attempts offers a raw and mordantly funny portrayal of the mental health care system. After a live-streamed suicide attempt, Stacy discovered Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and a new mood-stabilizing medication.
Through body modification, she learned about the true nature of trust and the healing power of self-expression. This memoir is a unique and inspiring look at one woman’s fight to heal her mind and body.
About the Author
Stacy Pershall is an exceptional teacher who specializes in Memoir I and II at Gotham Writers’ Workshop. She is also passionate about creative writing and teaches teenagers online through the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth.
Additionally, she is an advocate for suicide-prevention and delivers powerful speeches as a part of the Active Minds Speakers’ Bureau. Currently, she resides in New York City.
Editoral Review
Stacy Pershall’s Loud in the House of Myself: Memoir of a Strange Girl is a compelling and honest recount of her journey through mental illness and self-discovery. Published on December 1, 2010, the book falls under the memoir genre and wrestles with themes of mental health, identity, and self-acceptance.
Through vivid descriptions of her experiences as a misfit in a small Arkansas town, Pershall introduces the reader to her struggle with borderline personality disorder and the destructive behaviors she engaged in to cope with her illness. She takes us through her journey of diagnosis, hospitalization, and treatment, while also diving into her personal relationships and the impact mental illness had on them.
The book is a powerful portrayal of the struggles faced by individuals with mental health issues in a society that doesn’t always provide the support they need. Pershall shows us how the stigma surrounding mental illness can prevent people from seeking help and how it can be challenging to navigate relationships with others who don’t understand what you’re going through.
Pershall’s writing style is raw and visceral, making it easy for the reader to empathize with her experiences. She uses metaphor and imagery to create a vivid picture of the world she inhabits, and her honest reflections on her thoughts and feelings add depth to the memoir.
One of the strengths of Loud in the House of Myself is Pershall’s character development. She is unflinchingly honest about her flaws, but at the same time, she portrays herself as a complex and multifaceted individual.
Her struggles with mental illness don’t define her completely, and her journey to self-acceptance is inspiring. While the book is primarily a memoir, it does touch on broader issues related to mental health and society’s attitudes towards it.
Pershall makes a convincing case for why we need to do more to support those struggling with mental health issues and address the stigma surrounding it. The only criticism of the book is that it is occasionally repetitive, and some readers may find certain passages too intense.
However, this is not enough to detract from the overall quality and impact of the book. Loud in the House of Myself is a must-read for anyone interested in mental health, memoirs, or simply looking for a poignant and inspiring story about self-discovery.
It is a powerful reminder that we have more in common than we think and that empathy and understanding can go a long way. It receives a highly recommended rating.
