Does anyone know any good fictional books on suicide and depression? And I don’t mean cheesy, superficial teenage depression like the Bell Jar.
Any fictional book with a character that explores deep depression, suicide and is purely depressed. Maybe some philosophy on death. I mean the raw, dark, somber, melancholic stuff. I’ve tried to find Edouard Levé’s “Suicide” but it’s not available to purchase in my country. So maybe something in that direction?
Very grateful for any tips!
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*No Longer Human* (also been released under the title of *A Shameful Life*) by Osamu Dazai
Catcher in the Rye
13 Reasons Why. It’s about a teenage girl who committed suicide and her explanations for it.
The Awakening
*I was here* is good
Veronika Decides to Die – great book and an easy read, highly recommend. It is light-hearted so I’m not sure if it is what you are looking for
My year of rest and relaxation
13 Reasons Why is excellent.
Ham on Rye by Charles Bukowski. Gut punch of a novel with what you want and a lot more. Absolute depression fuel
The Snake Pit by Mary Jane Ward
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kasey
Problems by Jade Sharma
Poppy Shakespeare by Clare Allen
I think My Year of Rest and Relaxation and 13 Reasons Why only exist because of the Bell jar – as does Problems- but could be worth reading all of them. Arguably Lévé’s Suicide also wouldn’t exist without the Bell Jar. I do think your critique of the Bell Jar is very superficial and maybe you should read more Plath. Or Anne Sexton or Robert Lowell.
It’s Kind of a Funny Story … told from a teens perspective but very insightful…almost too insightful was hard for me to get through when I was depressed.
Not about suicide, but for philosophy on life, death, and existence I love and have reread Becky Chambers’ a Psalm for the Wild Built and A Prayer for the Crown-shy. Both allegorical sci fi that are beautiful stories but also deep musings. They feel light and heavy at the same time.
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
The midnight library – mild but still moving/deep
Just read no longer human, Setting sun both by Osamu Dazai and after that look up about the authour on Wikipedia i was depressed for month reading all that
Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide – Kay Redfield Jamison
Non-fiction but a strong recommendation to anyone who has struggled w/ suicidal ideation, close to someone who is, or is generally interested. You probably want to be relatively emotionally stable when reading it.