Schizo: A novel

Miles Cole will steal your heart. Unwittingly and apologetically, he’ll shatter it. With determination and pride, he’ll help to piece it together with tentative hope. This 16-year old boy is sweet, compassionate and justifiably troubled. Diagnosed with Schizophrenia, his life teeters between reality and delusions, as a cacophony of medications race through his veins and scorch the lining of his stomach. Mr. Sheff cleverly allows Miles tells his own story. In doing so, Miles’ observations identify and clarify surprising symptoms of this mental disorder providing readers with a rare glimpse of the self-loathing, ricocheting thoughts that constantly plague a riddled mind. Brilliantly, he illuminates the stigma of the psychosis with an almost casual thought, noting the incomprehensible, terrifying connection he shares with the tortured souls of the homeless people filling the streets. Futile attempts to build a relationship with a girl that is at best indifferent, too often cruel are absolutely heart-wrenching. Empathy is easily evoked. This life must be a kind of hell; but Miles bears a burden that looms even larger. Guilt. His initial episode occurred during a family visit to the beach. The loud, frightening seizure commanded the attention of not only his parents and younger siblings; but seemingly the entire beach was focused on Miles. Amid the mayhem his young brother, Teddy is abducted. Schizo begins with Miles considering suicide, as a means of relief for those he loves; but he sees another way. Everyone can be happy again. He must rescue Teddy. His fast-paced, courageous, ludicrous, quest is gripping. The kaleidoscopic range of emotions; hope, love, confidence, fury, self-doubt, wholly exhaust the young man. Symptoms are exacerbated with the mental, physical and emotional fatigue and the metaphorical roller coaster speeds up until it is hurtling out of control, with this reader clinging tightly, truly invested. Never have I wished so desperately to reach into a tome and hold a character. As this irresistible story furiously frenzies to an end; Mr. Sheff deftly, (and dare I say a bit smugly) pulls the rug out from under the reader. A tiny twist delivers a punch so powerful that this already magnificent book is catapulted to phenomenal. Sidebar: I have been a huge fan of Mr. Sheff’s writing since he bared his soul and captured my heart in Tweak, Growing up on Methamphetamines. I feel an almost kinship…..a familiar fondness for the young Mr. Sheff; which only strengthened when he wrung out my heart in We All Fall Down, Living With Addiction. Working with an amazing English teacher, I have the privilege of giving “Book Talks” to five high school classes. In addition to introducing and recommending a book; a couple copies of the book are donated to the classroom library and a couple of copies from my own tiny library are shared with the students. So, filled with confidence that the students would love this book, at least as much as I do, that when I told them that there were a few copies circulating, I also blurted out, “…if you go out and buy this book and it does NOT rock your socks; I’ll buy it back from you!”

This book, the story made me cry, made me sympathize. But I felt the climax of the story itself kinda fizzled out, just when I thought it was about to get really exciting, the excitement was kinda over. I think it is still a great book. but I just felt it was missing something. Definitely worth the read.

Superb! Schizo is an engrossing story of unforgettable, tough yet tender characters. Nic Sheff’s storytelling remains strong and descriptions vivid as he makes the transition from memoir to fiction. He’s perfectly captured the voice of his leading character ‘Miles’ - sensitive, intelligent, confused about the chaos in his own world. Mercifully, the author has managed to insert his unique brand of humor in tackling difficult subjects – growing up, relationships, betrayal, mental illness and fractured family. I loved his raw, sensitive voice in Tweak and We All Fall Down. Though heartbreaking, both books helped me understand not only addiction and mental illness but also the importance of never giving up. Through his eyes I was given insights into my own life. The same goes for Schizo. So many writers lose me as a fan when going from memoir to novel but Nic Sheff didn’t. He gets it. The book is an imaginative page-turner right up to the startling end!

I'm not the author's target audience, however, I enjoy YA fiction. I feel, Sheff is an amazing author anyway, and I am also a fan of his father. In my book, there are not enough books written well in YA about schizophrenia. There are many out there, sure, but not nearly as well thought out and researched as this one. An addicting read as well.

I went back and fourth between rating this book two or three stars. I settled on three because there was a surprising twist towards the end there. As many people know, I love books based on recovery. Either psychiatric or vice related I think the story’s are very inspiring and also elicit reactions that are very raw. With Miles’s story I felt like there was some level of disconnect. Not because of the storyline but because the way the character was written. There were questions I had that weren’t really answered and I don’t really understand why we are supposed to hate Eliza. I don’t think Eliza really did anything wrong to Miles. We are supposed to be mad she moved but she literally is a kid so she has no control on that and then we were supposed to be mad she perused a separate relationship but Miles pushed her away every time they got close. I also don’t like the lack of acknowledgment that Miles’ condition doesn’t excuse him treating his girlfriend like crap. I understand he was going through things but if he didn’t want a relationship then he shouldn’t have kept pursuing it

Great book! Got it to add to my YA collection for my high school English classroom. Several kids chose to read this book and all had great reviews, too!

I actually would give this 4.5 stars if given the option. I have read Nic's other books about his life but this is his first work of fiction. It is about a teen descending into a pit of mental illness. Nic is so thorough in the narrative that I am inclined to believe that this is based upon some of his own experiences. It is brilliantly written for the most part, though some chapters seemed a bit short or cut off. Yet, it all works. The book is quite dark in subject matter, but in the end there is hope. This is a book that I do recommend.

I read both Tweak and We All Fall Down before reading this book, and I think they really gave good insight to the writing/thought process that went in to writing this book. I could really relate parts of it to the other two books. Loved it!!!!

Storia da divorare. Fiato sospeso fino all'ultima pagina. Dopo aver letto Tweak e We all fall down non mi aspettavo assolutamente questa svolta "Shutter Island" e ne sono rimasta piacevolmente sorpresa! Con il suo solito tono colloquiale, quasi confidenziale e personalissimo, Sheff affronta problematiche importanti, attraverso l'esperienza di un ragazzo. Questa volta non è un racconto autobiografico, ma si ritrovano tanti elementi in comune con i precedenti libri: chi conosce la storia di Nic, per queste strade ci ha già camminato, conosce il vento di San Francisco e ha già assaggiato un raspberry ring al Caffe Trieste. Come sempre l'autore ci fa immergere completamente nelle situazioni, descrivendo con minuzia di particolari ogni sensazione. Il romanzo non è solo il racconto della vita di un adolescente schizofrenico. È la visione della vita di un adolescente schizofrenico. Il tutto, poi, è condito con un pizzico di giallo. Il risultato è un dipinto surreale in cui realtà e psicotica illusione si fondono in un tortuoso inseguimento di un fantasma del passato. Come in un sogno, però, il protagonista continua a correre verso un irraggiungibile soluzione. Lettura consigliata: non ho ancora inquadrato il target, ma forse va bene così...

Miles Bruder ist verschwunden. Und Miles fühlt sich Schuld daran. Wäre seine Schizophrenie nicht an jenen Tag ausgebrochen, wäre sein Bruder immer noch unter ihnen. Jemand hätte auf seinen Bruder geachtet und mitbekommen wie er entführt worden ist. Seit diesem Vorfall ist er bei einen Psychotherapeuten und erhält jede Menge Medikamente, die ihm das Leben zur Hölle machen. Er kann sich nicht konzentrieren, muss mit Übelkeitsattacken rechnen und wird von seinen Schülern ausgegrenzt. Als tickende Zeitbombe angesehen, hat er nur wenige Freunde in seinem Leben. Doch das alles ist nicht so wichtig, denn Miles will seinen Bruder finden und alles wird dadurch wieder gut machen. Von Schizophrenie kaum eine Spur Wie der Name des Romans schon sagt, dreht sich "Schizo" um einen Jugendlichen mit Schizophrenie. Doch sobald man die ersten Zeilen liest, muss man schnell feststellen, dass vom Abbild der Krankheit nur die Oberflächlichkeit bleibt. Nicht nur ist Miles ein oft eindimensionaler Mensch, der sich zwar um seine Familie sorgt und sympathisch sein könnte, aber leider kaum einen eigenen Charakter in dieser Geschichte entwickelt. Stattdessen ist er ein ziemlich klischeebeladenes Bild seiner Erkrankung. Ein schwieriger Protagonist, der sich durch seinen selten wirklich ausgeprägten schizoiden Schüben kaum unter Kontrolle zu haben scheint. Sein Körper rebelliert gegen die Medikamente und auch er selbst fällt in starke Depressionen. Aber alles wirkt flüchtig und treibt nur vor sich hin ohne wirklich in die Tiefe zu greifen. Leben mit der Krankheit Nebst diesen offensichtlichen Problem, kommt Miles eigene Identität nur schwer daher. Unter seinen Umständen, gemieden von seinen Mitschülern, ist das Leben nicht leicht, doch auch Miles selbst scheint einfach ohne Kopf durch die Gegend zu laufen, was nicht nur an seinen Psychopharmaka liegen kann. Die Beziehungen zu anderen Charakteren sind so lasch und emotionslos gehalten, dass man sich fragt, wann die Echtheit kommen soll. Der Umgang seiner Eltern mit ihm ist vor allem nach dem Ende fast schon erschreckend und man könnte meinen, es kümmert nicht mal den Autor, was Miles eigentlch will. Oftmals gestelzt und hingebogen, stolpert er mitten hinein in seine Freundschaften, die kommen und gehen wie es anscheinend passt. Szenen von Geborgenheit und Liebe sind heruntergespielt und nach kürzeren Dialogen abgehakt. Zwar kann so mancher Nebencharakter Persönlichkeit aufbringen, aber deren Auftreten sind zu kurz gegriffen, um "Schizo" aus der Patsche zu helfen und die Probleme zu begraben. Von wahrer Emotion fehlt jegliche Spur und so bleibt alles unterkühlt und steril. Weder waschechte Depression, noch Hoffnung, noch andere starke Gefühlsregungen, die in Miles sein müssten, sind wirklich vorhanden und wahrhaft spürbar. Wenn sie herausbrechen, dann unerwartet und nicht immer sehr schlüssig trotz seiner psychischen Störung, die viele logische Fehler in sich trägt. Psychologische Tiefe und Einfühlsamkeit bei einem interessanten Thema? Nic Sheff hat sie nicht. Seelenlos und leer In dieser Geschichte lässt Nic Sheff seinen Protagonisten dabei so abstrus und ohne Konzept durch die Gegend wandeln, dass man sich mehrmals an den Kopf fassen muss, was das jetzt schon wieder soll. Die Suche nach den Burder gestaltet sich viel zu simpel, dass man schon relativ schnell weiß, worauf Nic Sheff sein Ende aufbauen will. Viele Szenen wirken leer und der Zugang zur Geschichte bleibt den Leser oft verschlossen, nicht nachvollziehbar und gleitet nicht selten ins Abstruse ab. Einzig der doch recht flüssig wirkende Schreibstil lässt einen schnell durch die Geschichte gleiten. Rau und ehrlich, was diese Thematik benötigt, kommt er daher und kaschiert nicht. Hilft nur nicht, wenn der Rest nicht stimmig und dem Vorbild folgt. Denn es mündet alles in einem Ende, dass mit einer Pointe aufwartet, die nur noch ausgelutscht daherkommt. Innovation und neue Aspekte der Schizophrenie bleiben vollkommen aus und so bleibt nur eine unterdurchschnittliche Standardlektüre über einen Kerl mit Schizophrenie. Der ein oder andere Moment ist vorhanden, der aufzeigt, was aus "Schizo" hätte werden können, doch auch diese Potenzial wird schnell unter den Teppich gekehrt um Komplexität und Intensivität zu vermeiden, auch wenn man Nic Sheff gutheißen muss, dass er einen Roman mit Hoffnung bestückt hat, trotz der schwierigen Situation von Miles. Doch die einfühlsame Lektüre über einen ausgegrenzten Jungen, der unter seiner Krankheit leidet und versucht damit zu leben, wird "Schizo" nicht, egal wie stark es der Roman versucht. Fazit Nic Sheffs "Schizo" soll ein Psychogramm eines Teenagers sein, der unter Schizophrenie leidet. Stattdessen bleibt es ein Werk, welches sich mit Oberflächlichkeiten aufhält und nicht zu selten den falschen Weg einschlägt. Von einem einfühlsamen und echten Bild eines Teenagers mit einer stigmatisierenden psychischen Belastung ist viel zu selten etwas zu spüren. In Ansätzen ist Potenzial vorhanden, welches aber leider nicht ausgeschöpft worden ist und nicht zu selten ins Absurde abgleitet. Schade um das wichtige Thema.

Wasnt into it.

this one was fiction and I didn't enjoy it. It's hard to say why, I just didn't like it. TWEAK was my favorite, it moved me, if you haven't read it yet, hurry! Then also We All Fall Down.

I couldn't out this down. I've read Beautiful Boy and was interested in reading Nic's work. The story draws you in and it feels utterly believable. Write some more Nic.