Sharp: A Memoir Blog Tour: Review

Sharp: My Story of Madness, Cutting, and How I Reclaimed My Life
Author: David Fitzpatrick
Genre: Memoir
Release Date: July 2, 2013 (paperback)
Publisher: William Morrow

Description:

"Endorphins sped through me. I spun around, growing dizzy, frantic, and silly. I wasn't drunk, but I felt a nice stoned feeling, sans paranoia, and I thought, 'I believe I've found my new pharmaceutical deep inside.' I giggled fearlessly, manically at this and looked down at myself; hands, arms, chest, and belly covered in crimson . . . "

In his early twenties, David Fitzpatrick became so consumed by mental illness it sent him into a frenzy of cutting himself with razor blades. In this shocking and often moving book, he describes the rush this act gave him, the fleeting high that seemed to fill the spaces in the rest of his life. It started a difficult battle from which he would eventually emerge with a knowledge that led to his own emotional resurrection.

With prose that is tough and gritty, profound and insightful, Sharp is a tale of hope, a soul-baring quest of a lost man who returns to himself, overcomes his demons, and reclaims his life.  

Sharp: My Story of Madness, Cutting, and How I Reclaimed My Life is a heartfelt and insightful memoir of the author's fight with mental illness and how he came to beat it. The book speaks of his family history, his personal background, and how mental illness sent him over the edge to the point where he was cutting himself and had to be institutionalized several times. 

This was a really intriguing memoir that I felt compelled to read due to the fact that I personally suffer from mental illness, as do several members of my family. It was heartbreaking to read about the horrors that the author faced while in the grips of his mental illness, as I was truly able to empathize with his irrational thoughts, his fears, and his overall state of being. I found his personal anecdotes to be fascinating and I was able to really identify with him, especially when it came to family issues and personal problems. It's really hard to explain to someone who doesn't suffer from mental illness the extreme impact it has on the people who suffer from it as well as those close to them. I really felt that the author was able to express himself and his trials with eloquence and in a way that even people without experience with mental illness can relate to and hopefully understand. Being that I have been around mental illness my entire life and suffer from several forms of it myself, I was amazed at the clarity and the insight that the author provides throughout the book. I found the part of the memoir that describes his treatment as well as how he overcame his illness truly uplifting and full of hope for those who currently suffer with similar problems. Although this memoir isn't for everyone - as it does contain drugs, sex, mental illness, self mutilation, and other difficult topics - those that do read it will find a realistic insight into mental illness and the rough road of recovery. It's truly a book that will stay with you long after you've finished the last page and I highly recommend it for fans of memoirs or those who suffer from mental illness or know someone who does.