In the tradition of Girl, Interrupted
and I Never Promised You a Rose Garden, Lewis details her often harrowing experiences as an adolescent trapped in a psychiatric hospital and her more than 30-year recovery—and redemption—from having been diagnosed schizophrenic at age 15. Skipping school, experimenting with drugs and raging against an overbearing mother were Lewis's rather typical acts of 1960s-style rebellion, yet they earned her 28 months of institutionalization and intensive regimens of psychotropic medication. During her hospitalization, Lewis was kept in pajamas (to discourage escape attempts), which only encouraged sexual experimentation with other patients. Suicide attempts were rife, too, and several of her closest friends succeeded. Lewis broke free from this maelstrom at age 18, when she could no longer be held against her will. She attended college, tried various therapies, joined the Mental Patients Liberation Project, and developed long-dormant artistic skills. She also found herself caring for her dying father. Jobs came and went, as did her depression and anger, yet the will to survive never abandoned her. In the spirit of the work of R.D. Laing and Thomas Szasz, Lewis's story calls into question the very definition of mental illness and the system that makes such determinations. After accessing her medical records—with the diagnosis of chronic schizophrenia—she declared, "I do not believe it. I was never schizophrenic. Not then, not now." Now a visual artist and writer, Lewis provides a moving, poignant and enraging, yet redemptive, account of one woman's refusal to accept victimization, powerfully told in vivid, poetic prose. Agent, Anna M. Ghosh. (Oct.)
Forecast:If Atria markets Lewis as a fresh voice in the Elizabeth Wurtzel/Sylvia Plath/Susanna Kaysen genre, sales could be strong. She's a good candidate for feature articles in smart women's magazines.
