Reviews:Hi, Anxiety, and In with the Devil

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself

Title: Hi, Anxiety: Life with a Bad Case of Nerves

Author: Kat Kinsman

Publication Date: November 15, 2016

Genre: Non-Fiction/Memoir

Recommended If You Like: honesty, understanding of mental illness, true stories

The Book:

Kat Kinsman has been dealing with anxiety and depression in their myriad forms her whole life, from her mother's retreats to her silent bedroom, to her own fearful hidings under the bed covers. Now "out" about her anxiety, Kinsman is done hiding what she has always felt, and is sharing her story.

What I Liked:

As someone who has been diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, having people be so public and honest about their own struggles with anxiety means a lot to me. Kinsman does not shy away from the frequently brutal truths about her life, and does a service to others through her truth.

I liked the way the book is structured, larger episodes interspersed with chapters about more specific fears, such as driving. 

Kinsman has a nice, flowing style of writing that lends itself well to her storytelling.

Anything I Didn't Like?

It's not that I didn't like this aspect, but this is not an easy book to read. Sometimes I could feel Kinsman's anxiety right there with her, and had to step away from the book for a bit.

So...?

I have been reading and re reading a lot of books about anxiety lately, and this is another important addition to the canon.

Read for Semi-Charmed Winter 2016 Book Challenge

In this true story, James Keene was given the chance to cut his jail sentence for drug dealing short by going undercover in prison, in an attempt to get a serial killer to confess the location of the bodies he buried. 

The book cuts between Keene's life before prison, the crimes of Larry Hall, and the interplay between them in prison. Keene and Levin are good at keeping the tension ratcheted up, and making readers care about the outcome.

Read for the Semi-Charmed Winter 2016 Book Challenge