It's Kind of a Funny Story

It Really is a Funny Story

It's Kind of a Funny Story is about 15-yr-old New Yorker, Craig Gilner. Craig is highly ambitious, spending his entire middle school career studying to get into an elite high school. Once there, Craig realizes maybe he isn't so smart after all. He has to work twice as hard as his classmates just to get by. All this pressure causes Craig to suffer from depression, preventing him from sleeping or eating. On a particularly bad night after Craig stops taking his medication, he nearly kills himself, deciding to call the suicide hotline at the last moment. From there, Craig spends the next five days in a mental hospital, possibly the most influential five days of his life. He learns to eat and sleep again, he creates friendships, discovers a passion for drawing, and he finally confronts the reason as to why he is so unhappy.

I loved this book. For a book about depression, it was amazingly light-hearted. The tone was clever and humorous and very real. The cast of the novel was original and entertaining. Craig himself was a brilliant character. I don't have depression, yet could sympathize with Craig on so many levels. Craig is a teenage boy, and acts like one. He makes mistakes, but every now and then has a moment of insightful clarity.

The topic of depression and mental illness was treated carefully. These people were messed up, but never seemed inhuman. All of them were very real. While the plot wasn't suspenseful, it was gripping and had me flipping the pages without hesitation.

The only thing I found doubtful was Craig's miraculous recovery. Maybe with some that may be the case, but not many. It would have been difficult if they book ended any other way however, so I'm not too upset about it.

It's Kind of a Funny Story was a truthful and funny story about depression I won't soon forget.

8 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

This book is realistic and is so well written!

When i read the synopsis i was having second thoughts about reading it because usually books about depressed people are always way to depressing. But this book was not depressing at all it was really funny and real. The character development/traits is fantastic, you really feel like you know each of the characters in this book.Most books I read are always girl's points of view, but this is a guys point of view and i loved it more than some of the girls points of views. Just because this guy seems like he is not impossible to find. This book is one that i would read over and over again and still be sad that i finished it! If you are interested in a funny,relateable,realistic, and sort of romantic book than this is the book for you.

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Relatable

I loved this book, i really truly did. Some of the things that Craig goes through are so entirely relatable it makes me wonder if i should've been admitted into the psych ward also. I fell in love with this book, and it's creative approach to tackling life, school, and humans. It's a great buy, completely worth it.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

It's Kind of a Funny Story- Seriously

I am a student at Hewitt-Trussville High School in Alabama. It's Kind of a Funny Story is about this guy, Craig. Craig took a really intense test to get into an over the top school. The only problem is once he gets there, Craig realizes that all the other students are smarter than him, and the fact that he's not good enough stresses him out. As a result, he has a break down that puts him in a mental hospital. There he gets the friends that he wishes he had outside in the real world.
I read this book based on my friend recommending it to me. At first I was a bit skeptical about where it was going to go, but as I kept reading I came to realize it really is a funny story. The thing I most like about this book is that it's different. It doesn't focus on the usual topics and situations. It gives you a glimpse into something real, an actual part of the author's life. Some of the ways the main character, Craig, reacts to the situations he gets in are odd, but they make perfect sense for his character. Most of the other characters are fun to read about because they represent people you'll most likely never meet in your life. It's a chance to be Craig, meet those people and learn from them like he did.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Great book!

This book is very well written and is so relateable. My best friend recommended this book to me and im so glad i purchased it!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

It's kinda, sorta, maybe, funny.

I read this book after being interested in the movie, and then seeing all of the raving reviews about it.
After reading about 75 pages I deemed this book "alright". It has its moments, but coming from the perspective of a 15 year old boy gets old after a while. However the characters are rich and the story isn't prolonged.
Overall I would recommend this book to friends, family, and you!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Amazing

It was a great book but the first couple of pages were confusing. This is a person who hates books

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great read, good characters, engaging.

It kinda reminded me of One Flew Over the Cuckoo Nest only more modern and with a teenager as the main character. This book addresses the pressures that kids face as they try to fit in but in reality the main character Craig only had to be himself and he would have been just fine. As the story unfolds 15- yr- old Craig, studies nonstop to get into an prestigious high school. Once he is a student there, the pressures there are too much for him and his life starts to fall apart. These thoughts and events are typical of depression including food issues, friends, drugs, bad thoughts, sleeping, and drinking. As he realizes he has depression he ends up calling the Suicide Hotline number and ends up in a hospital -then in a mental ward. The juvy ward is being redone so he on the adult ward and he meets some interesting people who end up helping him realize that everyone has issues and you can work through them. His high school friends call and at first make fun of him but in the end, most of them realize they have issues too and accept Craig. A few of them feel they are depressed and need help too. While in the hospital, Craig finds his hidden talent and makes a decison about going back to the high school he tried so hard to attend. I don't want to spoil the ending but Craig finds out what true friends are and he has his first girlfriend. (Great read for 5th mature 5th graders up.)

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Very good

i loved it! i would reccomend it for ages 13+. some iffy material...

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

AWESOME BOOK :)

so i thought is book was really good.it was a great change from all the vampire/fantasy novels i read. It was very relable and i liked how it was from a guys piont of view for a change
i would read this book again and tell all my friends to read it to :)

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Not great!

I really didn't find this book very interesting. I felt that it went on for a bit too long. The crude language at times was unnecessary and forced.

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Its kind of a funny story

Great book.

Highly Recommended! Excellent Book!

If you read the back of this book, or what it is about, you might think that it is depressing, but that is not how this book goes. It is an excellent representation of how some teenagers are feeling. It shows depression in a lighter mood. Ned Vizzini checked himself into a hospital for depression earlier on in his life, and he just kind of wrote this as his experience. "It's Kind of a Funny Story" is a wonderful book for teenagers and adults alike. I definitely recommend reading this. I'm in college right now, and I read this book before I had to read books for my classes; that's how good it really is!

I could not put this book down at all

One of the best books that i have ever read and i read alot! But this book is amazing you will get so emotionally envested in the characters its a great read worth the time to read

Good book

Inspired to read this due to the movie. Don't regret it.

This is my most FAVORITE book and movie. I love it!

This is my most FAVORITE book and movie. I love it!

Wow

I loved it, you felt really close to the characters. One of my favorite books of all time. However,its a lot easier to understand if youve lived or visited new york city.

Ok

There is nothing too wrong about the flow or storytelling. It was just is too unrealistic to me as someone who works in a psychiatric hospital. I have seen it all and the one thing you will never see is kids on a psych unit with adults or if you do i would consider that a very irresponsible hospital. You are just asking for a world of trouble. But that is why it loses a star with me.

Its a hilarious amazing must read

Ive read this book so many times and it makes me laugh out loud every time. I would definately recomend this book to everbody!!!!! Ned vizzini has true talent.

This ia an intersting book

This book was very good but there were some hard words in it. I think that many people can relate to this book even if you have not gone to such extremes as the main charatr in this book. Everyone as felt that way wheter you will admi it or not.
5stars