The Monster and the Mirror
Mental Illness, Magic, and the Stories We Tell

Loved this. I get that I’m an MFA student that has very publicly disparaged the ridiculously pretentious tendencies of MFA writers, but sometimes the creative approaches to telling a story can be fun (and good, and worthwhile). Maybe this was just a book specifically written for me because I’m obses......more

I was honoured to blurb this book, which I believe will help a lot of people. I'm happy to plunk my blurb into here and encourage anybody who lives with mental health conditions or has people in their lives who do to get this book. "Intricately researched, thoughtfully structured, generously and fear......more

Insightful and tender exploration of mental health, with a unique blend of memoir, research and cultural critique. K.J. Aiello explores their own life and the connection between well-known fantasy, fairytale and magical stories, as both a guide and a cautionary tale with regard to the depiction of th......more

Interesting book about what`s it like to live with mental illness, how society behaves and labels affected individuals, and how mental health issues are portrayed in our culture. The cultural references are quite fascinating, from literature such as Narnia and Tolkien to movies (Frankenstein, Game o......more

This is great book that defies easy categorisation. It's a memoir that delves into cultural critique and examines the stigma surrounding mental illness. Rating books that touch on such personal and sensitive topics can be challenging, but I found myself evaluating it based on the quality of the writ......more