About book Bloodletting: A Memoir Of Secrets, Self-Harm, And Survival (2006)
Taking into consideration the other comments on this book (on GR), one needs to understand that unless you've been there, the book will mean little to you. If anything, here's a lesson in keeping secrets: Just don't do it. Secrets are harmful.The book must've been hell to write, because it meant going back on old details which are often better forgotten - so hats off to Leatham! Another (related) aspect, is that although one might be aware of her thoughts, she does focus on the actions: the reader knows (or maybe I was aware of it) that details have been omitted. For her to have moved and moved and moved and possibly been drunk or slept with someone, are details that are glossed over in order to focus on the self mutilation. I accept the possibility that "outsiders" to this phenomenon are horrified by the act and that Leatham really seems to have had a real go at herself (needing stitches, etc.). It's possible that this aspect had to be the focus in order for the publisher to be convinced to accept the manuscript. Self mutilation is not an act in and of itself. It's but one symptom in a web of others that make up depression (I believe anorexia is also a sub-category of depression, as is insomnia). So, Leatham might've chosen it as the "be all and end all" of her stay in mental institutions and seeing psychiatrists, but it flows from deeper things. Things that she only starts discussing in the final quarter of the book, i.e. the power of the mind and cognitive behaviour therapy. Let's face it: why did she take so many precautions during the act? We're talking clean blades, towels close at hand and she was also checking that there was a doctor, friend or other kind of help nearby. Suicide never entered her mind, nor that it was the clichéd 'cry for help'. This was an act in self protection because her thoughts were driving her up the wall. In order to end that torment and be more comfortable, she gave in. This is something that a lot of her psychiatrists seemed to have missed - she wanted to live happily and this was just a strange way of finding the answer. Once she realized that happiness is not equal to cutting, things changed. That said, depression is akin to diabetes in the sense that one needs an anti-depressant/insulin to function normally. As long as the individual is able to admit that it's self hurting self as opposed to "some force" invading the self (or as Leatham repeatedly states, "this 'thing' happening to me - no, it's you doing it actively), the road to recovery is short.
Well done in its simplicity. Doesn't try to be glamorously tragic to the point that its just pathetic. I found it interesting that the very same behavior that the protagonist used to be successful, overly-critical and having high standards for herself, was the very thing that caused her to be self-destructive. I liked how it showed that even when we think we aren't doing someone any harm we still do. There's a tendency for people when dealing with the storms of their lives to retreat and sulk in a corner. They limit or stop interacting with others thinking that this spares them some pain. But sometimes silence is a sharper blade. It shows that self-image and worth is key, for if there is a distortion in this aspect of a person's life it carries on to other aspects of their life. And the fundamental building blocks of self image and worth is derived from the interaction with ones parents. It reminded me of a quote from John Steinbeck's "East of Eden:""For when a boy suffers rejection, he will seek out rejection even when it is not there."Parents/primary caregivers should be mindful of how they express "positive criticism."
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This book tells an interesting story, a story that people rarely want to discuss. This memoir discusses a lady's journey's through mental illness and self harm and how she came out above it. It's an interesting read but for those who engage in self harm (myself included) some of the images talked about might act as a trigger. It's helpful to try to work through that while reading this, as I have. I enjoyed the story telling but towards the end, I got bored and started to lose interest in her story. It's not that the story lost flavor, I was intrigued on how she came through it, I just think the writing got a little stale. Otherwise, this book is a source of inspiration to those who have encountered self harm and suffer with mental illness. It doesn't have to be the kind of taboo that society has us think it is. If people can openly talk about drug and alcohol addiction, then there's no reason why we can't talk about our addictions to pain, bleeding or needing to feel something different.
—Suge
I thought it was an ok book. interesting book but her story was repetitive I guess I would say. It was the same story pretty much in every chapter. I got exhausted reading about how many times she moved. It was like every chapter was her can't taking her life and her geographical cures. It was just a little to boring of a read for me. Interesting look into self-harm though. I would say if you are interested in the mind of someone who self-harms and the way they look at the world and live in this world this would be a book to read.
—Nicolette
at points its difficult to read. I got a sense of not holding back with added nothing to lose...i think its written really well...it just seems like brutal honesty in parts and theres definitley no sugar-coating,its her story,its how she felt and its what she went through...you cant really ask more of a memoir really. I enjoyed the little quips and kwerky comments thrown in lightly to the book,it gives it a sense of hope and makes you realise just cos she feels like shit doesnt mean its a 24/7 thing,everyone can have there moments. It's a book you should read,if youve bothered to look this far into it!
—Lucy Werner
