What is it like to work inside a state hospital or to be a patient in such a hospital? What is it like to live inside the mind of such a patient? This tragi-comedic novel takes the reader inside the asylum, inside the worlds of three central characters: a narrator who has taken refuge from his fears of the world, a psychiatrist whose own life has been damaged by his father's depression, and a catatonic schizophrenic whose world is trapped inside a crack in the wall opposite her bed. This is the interwoven story of their lives, a story that includes love, sexuality, violence, deaths, celebrations, circuses, and surprising twists. As the plot unwinds, the reader learns a great deal about the nature of futility, frustration, and freedom.
Memoirs from the Asylum
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
Creatively written in the present tense and in diary/documentary format. The writing is clear and flows easily. Filled with realistic characters and events, this is a fascinating read that entertains and educates. (Irene Brodsky Faculty Brooklyn College, CUNY Adult Education Program, Author "Poetry Unplugged")
--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.
About the Author
A psychologist and pastoral counselor, Kenneth Weene has used that professional experience in this, his second novel. Ken and his wife live in Phoenix where he devotes himself to writing and enjoying life.
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More About the Author
A New Englander by birth and disposition and trained as a psychologist and minister, Ken Weene has worked as an educator and psychotherapist.
Besides writing, Ken's earlier interests included whitewater rafting, travel, and playing paintball.
Ken's poetry has appeared in numerous publications - most recently being featured in Sol. An anthology of his writings, Songs for my Father, was published by Inkwell Productions. Two of his short stories are soon appearing in Legendary. His short play, The Right Number, was recently workshopped with great laughter and success by Stage 55 in Phoenix.
Ken's novel, Widow's Walk, has just been published by All Things That Matter Press.
Now in semi-retirement, Ken and his wife live in Arizona. There Ken has been able to indulge his passion for writing and enjoying life.
Besides writing, Ken's earlier interests included whitewater rafting, travel, and playing paintball.
Ken's poetry has appeared in numerous publications - most recently being featured in Sol. An anthology of his writings, Songs for my Father, was published by Inkwell Productions. Two of his short stories are soon appearing in Legendary. His short play, The Right Number, was recently workshopped with great laughter and success by Stage 55 in Phoenix.
Ken's novel, Widow's Walk, has just been published by All Things That Matter Press.
Now in semi-retirement, Ken and his wife live in Arizona. There Ken has been able to indulge his passion for writing and enjoying life.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Engaging and Important, Heartrending and Beautiful,
By
This review is from: Memoirs From The Asylum (Paperback)
Many books take on the subject of mental illness, many more are set in psychiatric wards, but usually these are narratives that recount a single story or perspective. What distinguishes Memoirs from the Asylum is the fact that the reader is introduced not only to individuals in a mental institution but the larger community of the institutionalized lifestyle. Ken Weene introduces his reader to numerous, dynamically-drawn characters that absolutely come alive on the page, not only through their private battles but how these patients interact and perceive the institution they've been relegated to. This is a powerful portrayal of what life is in an institutionalized setting and how corruption can and does exist for some residents. He brings up real problems that are often not discussed, and humanizes his characters in a way that few authors have been able to. I hope this book gets the attention it deserves because it is truly an eye-opening tale(s) that demands a reader's attention and empathy for those who are often shunned or ignored by society. Read it.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Thought provoking and confusing,
By
This review is from: Memoirs from the Asylum (Kindle Edition)
Kenneth Weene's Memoirs from the Asylum is thought provoking, and at times confusing. Only because of the subject matter. Ken Weene takes you inside three very poignant characters. Marylin, a catatonic, Jamul a child of the state, and Dr. Ambrose a new resident trying to make a difference in a place, where the employees do not care for the patients or the treatment they receive to keep them "quiet" and under control. It is a riveting tale from the prospective of a self-proclaimed schizophrenic. It makes you question the treatment of the mentally insane. Tragic at times and enlightening at others. This book is not for the faint of heart. It can be graphic and disturbing, but necessary I believe for the subject matter. It is an enormous challenge to portray the mind and thoughts of the mentally insane, but you find yourself wondering, are we all that far from falling over the edge of sanity. Like a good novel it invokes in me the passion to try to help these characters. Mental illness is so misunderstood, but Kenneth Weene does a wonderful job at trying to inform the reader of the depth of that darkness.Review done by Angela for alchemyofscrawl
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Crazy Moments,
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This review is from: Memoirs From The Asylum (Paperback)
Kenneth Weene's Memoirs from the Asylum is a vivid account of life in a mental institution, so vivid that the reader may begin to feel it necessary to join the inmates. The stories come from the minds of those in the asylum, both the patients and the professionals. We are drawn into another world, that of the disoriented minds who have realities far from the reality of our own world. Yet we are captivated and join the perceptions of those who tell us their truths. These are not pleasant ones -- sexual images abound, in distortions of what society would name as acceptable. Yet the adventures of those whose lives have been damaged by environment or interior illnesses are unforgettable. At the end, the author explains his purpose in writing this book. He himself has been professionally involved in the institutional environment where the mentally ill exist with their fantasies and the mistreatment that is their lot in such places.This is not an easy book to read but it is one that speaks truth from the institutions of our day. It could be viewed as a metaphor for our world.
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