"It's Kind of a Funny Story"

Original book cover

I recently found out about a novel called It's Kind of a Funny Story, by Ned Vizzini. I have heard about this novel from a couple of people: first from my brother, who read it for a novel study in grade 10, and then from Mr. J who said that it relates to the subject of my blog--change and the future.

The story centralizes around the character of Craig, a 16 year old who lives with his family in an upper-class neighbourhood in Brooklyn. He attends an incredibly prestigious high school, where he is overwhelmed with the academic pressure and eventually develops an eating disorder and bad sleeping habits, starts smoking marijuana, and begins to develop suicidal thoughts. He is eventually admitted into a psychiatric hospital to help deal with his problems, and makes friends along the way.

With the change that we are facing in our lives currently, we are all trying to deal with it in different ways. Some of us may be successful in dealing with the pressures of change in positive ways, however there are those of us--like Craig--who may be slipping, and struggling to deal with the change.

It's Kind of a Funny Story has recently been made into a movie, starring Keir Gilchrist, Zach Galifianakis, and Emma Roberts. The trailer gives you an idea of what sort of struggles the main character Craig is going through.

Personally, I haven't read the book, nor have I watched the film. However, as part of this blog I've decided that I will read the book and review it in a post later on, and discuss how it relates to us today. After reading the book, I may watch the movie as well to compare the two.