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Solacium
Being an edgy, party-loving 90s teenager is all fun and games, until someone gets diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and commits a brutal murder. 'Solacium' is also a story about love, loyalty and a friendship spanning over 20 years. Together and apart without ever truly letting go, even in the darkest depths of schizophrenia, the bond between Sophie and Jay may stretch but it will never break. Or will it? What makes someone lose their mind? Could you forgive your best friend if he had committed a crime so brutal it destroyed an entire family? Can you still love a man who has killed? These are the questions Sophie Liebtreu faces the day she discovers her childhood best friend, the handsome and talented Jay Adler, has been sentenced to 20 years in 'Solacium', a psychiatric institution on the outskirts of Berlin. Devastated by the news, and struggling to understand what drove the man she thought she knew to commit a murder so savage her family tried to hide the truth from her, she embarks on a journey into their shared past in a desperate quest for answers. Answers she so urgently needs to fight her own demons and to move on with her life. Set against the backdrop of 90s street culture - skateboarding, BMXing, DJing and graffiti art - the protagonists travel across Europe enjoying a hedonistic lifestyle spiked with drugs and alcohol. We follow their escapades at raucous parties in Ibiza, Amsterdam and Berlin, until the day Jay starts going off the rails. Solacium is based on a true story. While providing a glimpse into the tortured mind of a paranoid schizophrenic, we see behind the psychologists' label, with the story offering a different portrayal than the one chosen by the media. The character we get to know is not just a crazed blood-thirsty monster, but a sensitive boy who was dealt the wrong cards. A man who has battled his whole life to find a place in a society where mental illness is still stigmatised.
376 pages, Paperback
Published August 9, 2016
3 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
S.J. de Lagarde
2 books6 followersSJ de Lagarde is half Dutch, half German, was born in France and has been living in London for the past 10 years.
She speaks 4 languages fluently and holds a masters in European cultural studies and translation as well as a baccalaureate in literature and philosophy. She works in international communications and is a guest lecturer at ESCP Europe and London School of Economics.
She has been a passionate reader and storyteller since childhood and has now published her first novel: Solacium, a riveting contemporary coming-of-age novel about friendship, murder and schizophrenia, based on a true story.
She speaks 4 languages fluently and holds a masters in European cultural studies and translation as well as a baccalaureate in literature and philosophy. She works in international communications and is a guest lecturer at ESCP Europe and London School of Economics.
She has been a passionate reader and storyteller since childhood and has now published her first novel: Solacium, a riveting contemporary coming-of-age novel about friendship, murder and schizophrenia, based on a true story.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 18, 2016
First of all, I want to say that I really enjoyed the layout of this book! The story alternates between the past and the present and it is always clearly marked what year you are reading about. The author withholds certain information right up until the very end (for instance, Jay commits a murder, but you don't know who was murdered), keeping you constantly speculating about the finer details.
There is literally nothing negative for me to point out about this book. The author's writing is descriptive and engaging, her characters deep and well-developed, and the plot emotional and intriguing. This book is a contemporary for the ages.
One thing I definitely wish to point out is that not everyone will be comfortable reading this book. As you can guess from the description, this book covers many difficult topics, includes some fairly graphic scenes, and contains what could be serious triggers for some people. If you would like more details about what exactly this book includes before you read it, feel free to contact me and I'm happy to tell you more about what you can expect from this book. (I'd be more detailed here, but I'm trying to keep this review as spoiler-free as possible!)
As long as you are emotionally prepared for this psychological roller coaster, you will really love this book. I know it seems weird to word it like that, after everything I said in the last paragraph, but this really is a beautiful book. It revolves around Jay and Sophie's relationship and it is truly an excellent read.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in psychology! It gives amazing insight into the mind of someone suffering from a mental illness. It forces you to realize that there's always another story, that things aren't always as they appear, and that sometimes your life can be turned on its head with no warning. Solacium isn't just a story about a young man with schizophrenia; it's about never taking what you have for granted.
If you are up to the emotional challenge of this book, I very, very much recommend it!
(Please note the breakdown below that will give you a better idea of what this book involves. Due to mature content, I would not recommend this book to readers younger than 16.)
Content (10= extremely high focus; 0=non existent):
Adventure content: 8
Creepiness content: 6
Grief content: 6
Language content: 8
Religion content: 2
Romance content: 7
Sexual content: 9
Violence content: 6
There is literally nothing negative for me to point out about this book. The author's writing is descriptive and engaging, her characters deep and well-developed, and the plot emotional and intriguing. This book is a contemporary for the ages.
One thing I definitely wish to point out is that not everyone will be comfortable reading this book. As you can guess from the description, this book covers many difficult topics, includes some fairly graphic scenes, and contains what could be serious triggers for some people. If you would like more details about what exactly this book includes before you read it, feel free to contact me and I'm happy to tell you more about what you can expect from this book. (I'd be more detailed here, but I'm trying to keep this review as spoiler-free as possible!)
As long as you are emotionally prepared for this psychological roller coaster, you will really love this book. I know it seems weird to word it like that, after everything I said in the last paragraph, but this really is a beautiful book. It revolves around Jay and Sophie's relationship and it is truly an excellent read.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in psychology! It gives amazing insight into the mind of someone suffering from a mental illness. It forces you to realize that there's always another story, that things aren't always as they appear, and that sometimes your life can be turned on its head with no warning. Solacium isn't just a story about a young man with schizophrenia; it's about never taking what you have for granted.
If you are up to the emotional challenge of this book, I very, very much recommend it!
(Please note the breakdown below that will give you a better idea of what this book involves. Due to mature content, I would not recommend this book to readers younger than 16.)
Content (10= extremely high focus; 0=non existent):
Adventure content: 8
Creepiness content: 6
Grief content: 6
Language content: 8
Religion content: 2
Romance content: 7
Sexual content: 9
Violence content: 6
September 5, 2017
I received this book in exchange for a honest opinion. The author kindly sent it to me after seeing how active I was to bring awareness towards mental health issues.
TW// violence, death, sex
I was really scared to start this book because it deals with scyzophrenia BUT I was also really curious about it for the same reason. I had no idea what kind of story the author would tell in her book, and I was really surprised by it. Solacium is an intense read that I recommend to anyone who is interrested in psychology (but maybe not younger than 16).
What I really liked about this book was the way the story was told. Each chapter starts at the present, when characters are grown up, but then each of them also presents us a flashback of how their lives used to be when they were younger. How they met, how their friendship starts, how things started to get wrong, what happened etc. It made you really think about the whole thing and wondering what you could do if you too fell in love with someone as a young age and then discover that this person killed someone years after.
The whole book, of course, makes you feel weird. Somehow you understand, somehow you love too – even though you don’t want to. It makes you think, it keeps awake at night to do so. It’s the kind of books that stay with you longer after you are done with it.
Also, it is important to say that all the characters are really well made and complex. The author put a lot of effort in it and this book is, thanks to her, true. It doesn’t lie, it gives you the naked truth but also an honest mirror of what scyzophrenia is.
I really liked it, mostly because it was really intelligent and well made. I didn’t give it 5/5 stars only because it was really triggering for me, and that’s why I won’t recommend it to a younger public, but it sincerely was a good and intense book that will stay with you for a long time.
Thank you, SJ de Lagarde, for this deep, true and beautiful novel.
TW// violence, death, sex
I was really scared to start this book because it deals with scyzophrenia BUT I was also really curious about it for the same reason. I had no idea what kind of story the author would tell in her book, and I was really surprised by it. Solacium is an intense read that I recommend to anyone who is interrested in psychology (but maybe not younger than 16).
What I really liked about this book was the way the story was told. Each chapter starts at the present, when characters are grown up, but then each of them also presents us a flashback of how their lives used to be when they were younger. How they met, how their friendship starts, how things started to get wrong, what happened etc. It made you really think about the whole thing and wondering what you could do if you too fell in love with someone as a young age and then discover that this person killed someone years after.
The whole book, of course, makes you feel weird. Somehow you understand, somehow you love too – even though you don’t want to. It makes you think, it keeps awake at night to do so. It’s the kind of books that stay with you longer after you are done with it.
Also, it is important to say that all the characters are really well made and complex. The author put a lot of effort in it and this book is, thanks to her, true. It doesn’t lie, it gives you the naked truth but also an honest mirror of what scyzophrenia is.
I really liked it, mostly because it was really intelligent and well made. I didn’t give it 5/5 stars only because it was really triggering for me, and that’s why I won’t recommend it to a younger public, but it sincerely was a good and intense book that will stay with you for a long time.
Thank you, SJ de Lagarde, for this deep, true and beautiful novel.
January 20, 2017
I want to start by saying how much I really enjoyed this book. It is very different to what I used to reading since I mostly read fantasy and romantic books. But I LOVED this.
The story covers many different difficult topics, with some violence and some parts which could trigger some people. So only read if you're comfortable with that sort of thing.
I loved that the authors writing flowed consistently. The book is constantly switching between past and present, but it is clear which year it is when it does switch, which was great since you're not left confused.
I loved how each time we went to the past, we saw more of inside Jay's head and his violent outbursts. It was interesting and intriguing to read about what kind of things a person with schizophrenia thinks about. I loved having an insight of Jay's mind as someone suffering with a mental illness.
The characters were amazing and I loved reading about them growing up together. Seeing their friendship grow and their lives change as they got older.
And it was great to se everything tie together in the end and read how Jay could have killed someone. He was a very interesting character and with his paranoid schizophrenia it was easy to understand why he hated his step father so much.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in psychology. It makes you realise that no matter what your background of upbringing or childhood, anyone can become mentally unstable and things are not always as they appear. Though Jay was rich and had a good upbringing, he was mentally unstable.
If you're interested in a psychological book with triggering content - I highly recommend you go read it!
The story covers many different difficult topics, with some violence and some parts which could trigger some people. So only read if you're comfortable with that sort of thing.
I loved that the authors writing flowed consistently. The book is constantly switching between past and present, but it is clear which year it is when it does switch, which was great since you're not left confused.
I loved how each time we went to the past, we saw more of inside Jay's head and his violent outbursts. It was interesting and intriguing to read about what kind of things a person with schizophrenia thinks about. I loved having an insight of Jay's mind as someone suffering with a mental illness.
The characters were amazing and I loved reading about them growing up together. Seeing their friendship grow and their lives change as they got older.
And it was great to se everything tie together in the end and read how Jay could have killed someone. He was a very interesting character and with his paranoid schizophrenia it was easy to understand why he hated his step father so much.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in psychology. It makes you realise that no matter what your background of upbringing or childhood, anyone can become mentally unstable and things are not always as they appear. Though Jay was rich and had a good upbringing, he was mentally unstable.
If you're interested in a psychological book with triggering content - I highly recommend you go read it!
November 10, 2016
This was always going to be an interesting read for me. I actually met the author one day while I was at work and being the avid reader that I am when she told me she had just had her first book published I was overcome with excitement. I promised that I would order her book as soon as I finished my shift and would love her to know that I kept my promise.
A budding writer myself I recognised some traits from my own writing in this. It does however, feel like a first novel in places but I was sucked in by the narrative and the drama of this fictionalised true story! I hope she continues to write as I would love to see how her style progresses in the future.
A budding writer myself I recognised some traits from my own writing in this. It does however, feel like a first novel in places but I was sucked in by the narrative and the drama of this fictionalised true story! I hope she continues to write as I would love to see how her style progresses in the future.
October 3, 2016
Brilliant book on a subject I knew relatively little about beforehand, written in such an intriguing and evocative way it was completely unputdownable. I loved every minute of it!
February 9, 2018
Finding love in your childhood days will be one of the best things that will happen in your life. You will have dreams to grow up and old with your soulmate, who will be your side kick and partner in crime when breaking rules and standing up to your parents and you will be dreaming of a future together. Unless circumstances don’t allow you to speak up and admit to your true feelings and what could have been the happiest of love stories turns into a tale of missed chances and ultimately to a living nightmare.
While reading Solacium I couldn’t help but feel sorry for its anti hero Jay, but I also felt admiration for him in his resolve to fight his demons. He is such a great person. Talented, smart and sensitive. Willing to stand up for what he believes. But his condition cripples him. My high school teacher described schizophrenia as one of the worst existing mental disorders as it is a slow and relentless breakdown of a persons mind. People suffering from schizophrenia will have delusions, an inability to communicate to the people around them and a tendency to feel persecuted which can resultin violent behaviour.
In Jay’s case I can’t help but blame his parents who should have been there more for him and get him the help he so desperately needed. Instead in his eyes they became the root of all evil.
Jay is a kind and loving man with only the best intentions at heart to protect the ones he loves. And listening to the demon voices in his head result in him committing murder. Despite the horror of the crime somehow I still admire him as I believe he just wanted to protect the ones he loves which makes him brave, however twisted that may sound. If only the people around him had paid more attention to his feelings. Ifonly they had listened to him and understood the symptoms he’d displayed. It would have never happened. He would have never become a murderer and it would have been Sophie and Jay forever.
Instead his condition drives the people around him to send him to Solacium. I understand the mental institution is a home for those who need help, support and therapy but it doesn’t change the fact that it is also a place where mentally ill people are imprisoned behind thick walls and separated from reality and the outsideworld.
Oh Jay… if only I could talk to you, if only you knew how the story ends and that your life is not as useless as you think it is. There is hope and there is a future. If only you knew how important your eye colour is.
I loved the structure of the story, how the past and the present alternate. The intertwined timeline didn’t confuse me at all, it made sense and allowed me to discover how the characters evolve. From the moment I started to read the first part it got me hooked. It’s like the book whispered ‘go on, read more, continue to flip those pages.’
I can’t describe it with flowery words, Solacium is an emotionalbomb. The story was well developed and very engaging. The author’s writing was of the highest quality and will hook readers instantly. It’s a story about love, friendship, family and hatred. It’s an emotional rollercoaster of a book and will make you feel all the feels. And finally it will make you think and reflect on yourself. There is a lesson for all of us in Solacium, how to be more tolerant and open minded towards people suffering from a mental illness, how to not give up on someone just because he’s different, and how to forgive and still love.
When I finished reading the book I was stunned for days. I needed time to gather my thoughts because I was like: ‘Oh my god, what just happened to me?’
I’m sure the author won’t believe me, but I re-read the last chapter over and over and over again wishing this was not the last chapter, hoping this wasn’t the end, praying I made a mistake and there was more to the story.
I rated Solacium 5/5 because its author broke my heart so many times. The last few pages of the book were definitely my favourite part of the book. It was the most emotional chapter believe me! I’m hoping for a sequel because I believe this is not the end of Sophie Liebtreu and Jay Adler’s story.
July 19, 2017
Finding love in your childhood days will be one of the best things that will happen in your life. You will have dreams to grow up and old with your soulmate, who will be your side kick and partner in crime when breaking rules and standing up to your parents and you will be dreaming of a future together. Unless circumstances don’t allow you to speak up and admit to your true feelings and what could have been the happiest of love stories turns into a tale of missed chances and ultimately to a living nightmare.
While reading Solacium I couldn’t help but feel sorry for its anti hero Jay, but I also felt admiration for him in his resolve to fight his demons. He is such a great person. Talented, smart and sensitive. Willing to stand up for what he believes. But his condition cripples him. My high school teacher described schizophrenia as one of the worst existing mental disorders as it is a slow and relentless breakdown of a persons mind. People suffering from schizophrenia will have delusions, an inability to communicate to the people around them and a tendency to feel persecuted which can result in violent behaviour.
In Jay’s case I can’t help but blame his parents who should have been there more for him and get him the help he so desperately needed. Instead in his eyes they became the root of all evil.
Jay is a kind and loving man with only the best intentions at heart to protect the ones he loves. And listening to the demon voices in his head result in him committing murder. Despite the horror of the crime somehow I still admire him as I believe he just wanted to protect the ones he loves which makes him brave, however twisted that may sound. If only the people around him had paid more attention to his feelings. If only they had listened to him and understood the symptoms he’d displayed. It would have never happened. He would have never become a murderer and it would have been Sophie and Jay forever.
Instead his condition drives the people around him to send him to Solacium. I understand the mental institution is a home for those who need help, support and therapy but it doesn’t change the fact that it is also a place where mentally ill people are imprisoned behind thick walls and separated from reality and the outside world.
Oh Jay… if only I could talk to you, if only you knew how the story ends and that your life is not as useless as you think it is. There is hope and there is a future. If only you knew how important your eye colour is.
I loved the structure of the story, how the past and the present alternate. The intertwined timeline didn’t confuse me at all, it made sense and allowed me to discover how the characters evolve. From the moment I started to read the first part it got me hooked. It’s like the book whispered ‘go on, read more, continue to flip those pages.’
I can’t describe it with flowery words, Solacium is an emotional bomb. The story was well developed and very engaging. The author’s writing was of the highest quality and will hook readers instantly. It’s a story about love, friendship, family and hatred. It’s an emotional rollercoaster of a book and will make you feel all the feels. And finally it will make you think and reflect on yourself. There is a lesson for all of us in Solacium, how to be more tolerant and open minded towards people suffering from a mental illness, how to not give up on someone just because he’s different, and how to forgive and still love.
When I finished reading the book I was stunned for days. I needed time to gather my thoughts because I was like: ‘Oh my god, what just happened to me?’
I’m sure the author won’t believe me, but I re-read the last chapter over and over and over again wishing this was not the last chapter, hoping this wasn’t the end, praying I made a mistake and there was more to the story.
I rated Solacium 5/5 because its author broke my heart so many times. The last few pages of the book were definitely my favourite part of the book. It was the most emotional chapter believe me! I’m hoping for a sequel because I believe this is not the end of Sophie Liebtreu and Jay Adler’s story.
While reading Solacium I couldn’t help but feel sorry for its anti hero Jay, but I also felt admiration for him in his resolve to fight his demons. He is such a great person. Talented, smart and sensitive. Willing to stand up for what he believes. But his condition cripples him. My high school teacher described schizophrenia as one of the worst existing mental disorders as it is a slow and relentless breakdown of a persons mind. People suffering from schizophrenia will have delusions, an inability to communicate to the people around them and a tendency to feel persecuted which can result in violent behaviour.
In Jay’s case I can’t help but blame his parents who should have been there more for him and get him the help he so desperately needed. Instead in his eyes they became the root of all evil.
Jay is a kind and loving man with only the best intentions at heart to protect the ones he loves. And listening to the demon voices in his head result in him committing murder. Despite the horror of the crime somehow I still admire him as I believe he just wanted to protect the ones he loves which makes him brave, however twisted that may sound. If only the people around him had paid more attention to his feelings. If only they had listened to him and understood the symptoms he’d displayed. It would have never happened. He would have never become a murderer and it would have been Sophie and Jay forever.
Instead his condition drives the people around him to send him to Solacium. I understand the mental institution is a home for those who need help, support and therapy but it doesn’t change the fact that it is also a place where mentally ill people are imprisoned behind thick walls and separated from reality and the outside world.
Oh Jay… if only I could talk to you, if only you knew how the story ends and that your life is not as useless as you think it is. There is hope and there is a future. If only you knew how important your eye colour is.
I loved the structure of the story, how the past and the present alternate. The intertwined timeline didn’t confuse me at all, it made sense and allowed me to discover how the characters evolve. From the moment I started to read the first part it got me hooked. It’s like the book whispered ‘go on, read more, continue to flip those pages.’
I can’t describe it with flowery words, Solacium is an emotional bomb. The story was well developed and very engaging. The author’s writing was of the highest quality and will hook readers instantly. It’s a story about love, friendship, family and hatred. It’s an emotional rollercoaster of a book and will make you feel all the feels. And finally it will make you think and reflect on yourself. There is a lesson for all of us in Solacium, how to be more tolerant and open minded towards people suffering from a mental illness, how to not give up on someone just because he’s different, and how to forgive and still love.
When I finished reading the book I was stunned for days. I needed time to gather my thoughts because I was like: ‘Oh my god, what just happened to me?’
I’m sure the author won’t believe me, but I re-read the last chapter over and over and over again wishing this was not the last chapter, hoping this wasn’t the end, praying I made a mistake and there was more to the story.
I rated Solacium 5/5 because its author broke my heart so many times. The last few pages of the book were definitely my favourite part of the book. It was the most emotional chapter believe me! I’m hoping for a sequel because I believe this is not the end of Sophie Liebtreu and Jay Adler’s story.
March 15, 2017
Rating: 5/5
I want to thank the author SJ de Lagarde, for sending me a copy of her novel for an honest review. This review is not affected by anything, it contains my true feelings and opinions.
Sophie lives a happy life with her lovely husband and sweet little daughter Juliet. They want to run away from London's grayness and have a trip to Berlin to spend Juliet's very first Christmas with their whole family. Their holiday gets tense when she learns her best friend, Jay, involves in an incident and he is being kept in an asylum called "Solacium".
After a while, she decides to visit him at the mental institution. He is changed but no matter what happens, she knows he is still the same boy who was her best friend for many years.
Jay is creepy and mysterious. He is a peculiar boy. He loves art and music. Sophie simply describes his passion for drawing in these words; " There is something about the way he holds his pen. So delicately, as if it's a living thing and he us worried he might hurt it."
He is way more different than his friends. His parents give him everything even if he doesn't ask for them. The latest technology devices, the most fashionable clothes.His parents can provide him the best opportunities but still, he turns his back to all of it.
He realizes he can hear the things others cant. The voice inside of his head drives him crazy. Music is the only solution to block the connection between the voices and his brain. He doesn't tell about this situation to Sophie for a very long time. He doesn't want to scare her off.
After she learns he's in a clinic, Sophie wants to know how he is and what happened in the accident. She never stops calling. She never gives up on her best friend.
She has a steady job and a pretty normal life. But when they were young, she was the one who wanted to take risks and go on dangerous adventures.
Additionally, there are flashbacks to their old memories in each chapter. It is actually one of the things that keeps the story engaging.
Reading this intriguing and compelling novel gave me goosebumps. This book took me out of my comfort zone, left me speechless,and crumpled my brain like a piece of paper. It is like anything I've read before. This novel deserves more attention.
I usually listen music while I am reading. And I recommend everyone who reads this book to listen 'Recovery' by James Arthur.
I want to thank the author SJ de Lagarde, for sending me a copy of her novel for an honest review. This review is not affected by anything, it contains my true feelings and opinions.
Sophie lives a happy life with her lovely husband and sweet little daughter Juliet. They want to run away from London's grayness and have a trip to Berlin to spend Juliet's very first Christmas with their whole family. Their holiday gets tense when she learns her best friend, Jay, involves in an incident and he is being kept in an asylum called "Solacium".
After a while, she decides to visit him at the mental institution. He is changed but no matter what happens, she knows he is still the same boy who was her best friend for many years.
Jay is creepy and mysterious. He is a peculiar boy. He loves art and music. Sophie simply describes his passion for drawing in these words; " There is something about the way he holds his pen. So delicately, as if it's a living thing and he us worried he might hurt it."
He is way more different than his friends. His parents give him everything even if he doesn't ask for them. The latest technology devices, the most fashionable clothes.His parents can provide him the best opportunities but still, he turns his back to all of it.
He realizes he can hear the things others cant. The voice inside of his head drives him crazy. Music is the only solution to block the connection between the voices and his brain. He doesn't tell about this situation to Sophie for a very long time. He doesn't want to scare her off.
After she learns he's in a clinic, Sophie wants to know how he is and what happened in the accident. She never stops calling. She never gives up on her best friend.
She has a steady job and a pretty normal life. But when they were young, she was the one who wanted to take risks and go on dangerous adventures.
Additionally, there are flashbacks to their old memories in each chapter. It is actually one of the things that keeps the story engaging.
Reading this intriguing and compelling novel gave me goosebumps. This book took me out of my comfort zone, left me speechless,and crumpled my brain like a piece of paper. It is like anything I've read before. This novel deserves more attention.
I usually listen music while I am reading. And I recommend everyone who reads this book to listen 'Recovery' by James Arthur.
February 22, 2017
Review coming soon!
April 27, 2017
I want to thank the lovely SJ de Legarde for kindly sending me a copy of Solacium for an honest review.
It's been a while since I've read a contemporary, and I'm glad I had the chance to read Solaclium, which is a story that follows the lives of childhood friends, Sophie and Jay as they navigate their world of traveling, parties, love, friendship, and coming of age. The novel alternates between the past and present perspectives of both Sophie and Jay, allowing the reader to see how their experiences parallel and reflect their past. The characters and story are well developed, and the writing is so real and raw. I could not put the book down once I started reading. This book covers difficult subject matter, so some readers might find it triggering. However, SJ de Legarde tackles these topics with such finesse.
These characters are tied by their deep friendship, but also by schizophrenia. Rarely do I come across a book that has such an impact on me. As someone who works in the field of mental health, I was so happy to come across a book that tackles the real issues surrounding mental health including the stigma. Based on a true story, Solacium gives us the allows us to enter into the mind of someone struggling with mental illness.
As I read, I found myself thinking about my own experiences in the field of mental health. I'm apart of a group who works to raise awareness about mental health, mental wellness, and the stigma surround mental illness at my university. It is so important that stories like these are heard, and it is frustrating to see how the media perpetuates the stigma and stereotypes surrounding mental illness. Proceeds from the sales of Solacium will go towards a mental health charity. If you are interested in reading a contemporary coming of age about the struggles and experiences of mental illness, I wholeheartedly recommend Solacium.
-
All opinions are my own.
It's been a while since I've read a contemporary, and I'm glad I had the chance to read Solaclium, which is a story that follows the lives of childhood friends, Sophie and Jay as they navigate their world of traveling, parties, love, friendship, and coming of age. The novel alternates between the past and present perspectives of both Sophie and Jay, allowing the reader to see how their experiences parallel and reflect their past. The characters and story are well developed, and the writing is so real and raw. I could not put the book down once I started reading. This book covers difficult subject matter, so some readers might find it triggering. However, SJ de Legarde tackles these topics with such finesse.
These characters are tied by their deep friendship, but also by schizophrenia. Rarely do I come across a book that has such an impact on me. As someone who works in the field of mental health, I was so happy to come across a book that tackles the real issues surrounding mental health including the stigma. Based on a true story, Solacium gives us the allows us to enter into the mind of someone struggling with mental illness.
As I read, I found myself thinking about my own experiences in the field of mental health. I'm apart of a group who works to raise awareness about mental health, mental wellness, and the stigma surround mental illness at my university. It is so important that stories like these are heard, and it is frustrating to see how the media perpetuates the stigma and stereotypes surrounding mental illness. Proceeds from the sales of Solacium will go towards a mental health charity. If you are interested in reading a contemporary coming of age about the struggles and experiences of mental illness, I wholeheartedly recommend Solacium.
-
All opinions are my own.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews