One is reminded of other fictional works such as American Psycho, by Brett Easton Ellis. These works are valuable to read not because they are overly pleasant, but specifically because they are such transparent and horrific reflections of the inner mental state of the narrator. Such a state is then projected onto the mind of the reader so effectively that the disgust and alienation you feel while reading the book is effectively the same disgust and alienation internalised at all times by the novel's protagonist.
In this the DSM-V is another brilliant piece of fictional writing. A world where everything is classified, pathologised, and detached from its context, values, society, and causes. During the entire tome, you are completely separated from any notion of wellness, love, morality, or healthy human beings, with everything classified and filed away like a work-bench with little boxes for every possible failing.
It finally hits you as you feel so disgusted and alienated by the conclusion of the novel...that this is specifically because the narrator is so alienated and separated from such realities, and the novel has succeeded perfectly in its goal. To put you in such a tortured, flawed, and erroneous mindset that you now understand completely the flawed and erroneous mindset and worldview of the narrator.
Comments
One is reminded of other fictional works such as American Psycho, by Brett Easton Ellis. These works are valuable to read not because they are overly pleasant, but specifically because they are such transparent and horrific reflections of the inner mental state of the narrator. Such a state is then projected onto the mind of the reader so effectively that the disgust and alienation you feel while reading the book is effectively the same disgust and alienation internalised at all times by the novel's protagonist.
In this the DSM-V is another brilliant piece of fictional writing. A world where everything is classified, pathologised, and detached from its context, values, society, and causes. During the entire tome, you are completely separated from any notion of wellness, love, morality, or healthy human beings, with everything classified and filed away like a work-bench with little boxes for every possible failing.
It finally hits you as you feel so disgusted and alienated by the conclusion of the novel...that this is specifically because the narrator is so alienated and separated from such realities, and the novel has succeeded perfectly in its goal. To put you in such a tortured, flawed, and erroneous mindset that you now understand completely the flawed and erroneous mindset and worldview of the narrator.
Kudos to the author. Another masterpiece.