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Growing Up Next to The Mental
We called it the Mental and thought nothing of it. No more than eeny, meeny, miney, mo and who we were supposed to catch by the toe.
Wish Mooney’s earliest memory in life is finding a corpse in the Waterford River. Jarring stuff for a four-year-old, yet far from the most shocking or bizarre he would witness growing up in west end St. John’s next door to the Waterford Hospital. Or, as it was unabashedly labelled before the advent of political the Mental.
An unfortunate moniker, but one legitimately derived from the original name of the place—the Hospital for Mental and Nervous Diseases—when it opened in 1854. Not until 1972 would it be renamed after the river that runs by it. But in Mooney’s world, which revolved mostly in and around the asylum’s drab, depressing confines in the mid-1970s, it was colloquially the Mental, just as its largely despondent inhabitants were the mental patients.
Thus was the oft-surreal environment that unavoidably enveloped Wish and the rest of the Irish Catholic Mooney clan, including the quietly acknowledged other realities of the place—the sad, the tragic, the maniacal. Little did Wish ever consider that any or all of that would come full circle later in life when, as the court reporter for the Daily News, he would be thrust into the middle of his own life story, replete with shocking conclusion.
Wish Mooney’s earliest memory in life is finding a corpse in the Waterford River. Jarring stuff for a four-year-old, yet far from the most shocking or bizarre he would witness growing up in west end St. John’s next door to the Waterford Hospital. Or, as it was unabashedly labelled before the advent of political the Mental.
An unfortunate moniker, but one legitimately derived from the original name of the place—the Hospital for Mental and Nervous Diseases—when it opened in 1854. Not until 1972 would it be renamed after the river that runs by it. But in Mooney’s world, which revolved mostly in and around the asylum’s drab, depressing confines in the mid-1970s, it was colloquially the Mental, just as its largely despondent inhabitants were the mental patients.
Thus was the oft-surreal environment that unavoidably enveloped Wish and the rest of the Irish Catholic Mooney clan, including the quietly acknowledged other realities of the place—the sad, the tragic, the maniacal. Little did Wish ever consider that any or all of that would come full circle later in life when, as the court reporter for the Daily News, he would be thrust into the middle of his own life story, replete with shocking conclusion.
- GenresCanada
Kindle Edition
Published June 6, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 2, 2019
A boy named Wish grew up next to the asylum for the mentally ill, known back in the day as "the mental hospital", or, for short, "the mental". His earliest memory is of finding the body of a patient from the hospital who committed suicide. Over the years, he and his family adapt to their unusual neighbours.
This book seems to be a memoir told in the form of a novel. The author has a straightforward style and just tells the story plainly, in chronological order beginning in the 1970s. It's funny in parts and overall very entertaining. The story moves along quickly and easily held my interest. As a character, Wish has enough layers (good and bad) to be interesting. His relationships with people are complex and therefore realistic.
Despite the mostly light-hearted way in which Wish's story is presented, there is a lot to think about when reading this book. In particular, when one of Wish's friends ends up as a patient, the lines between "them" (the patients) and "us" (those considered by the world to be normal) is blurred. It is blurred even more when Wish befriends a longtime patient who is normally taunted by the neighbourhood kids, and takes the time to learn about the patient's life.
For me, an added bonus is that I grew up in the City of St. John's where this story takes place, and I am familiar with the times and places described in the book. It's not necessary to have grown up here to enjoy the book, as it stands alone quite well on its own, but it's a walk down memory lane for those of us who know the city.
This book seems to be a memoir told in the form of a novel. The author has a straightforward style and just tells the story plainly, in chronological order beginning in the 1970s. It's funny in parts and overall very entertaining. The story moves along quickly and easily held my interest. As a character, Wish has enough layers (good and bad) to be interesting. His relationships with people are complex and therefore realistic.
Despite the mostly light-hearted way in which Wish's story is presented, there is a lot to think about when reading this book. In particular, when one of Wish's friends ends up as a patient, the lines between "them" (the patients) and "us" (those considered by the world to be normal) is blurred. It is blurred even more when Wish befriends a longtime patient who is normally taunted by the neighbourhood kids, and takes the time to learn about the patient's life.
For me, an added bonus is that I grew up in the City of St. John's where this story takes place, and I am familiar with the times and places described in the book. It's not necessary to have grown up here to enjoy the book, as it stands alone quite well on its own, but it's a walk down memory lane for those of us who know the city.
June 17, 2019
I love to support NL authors of which there are many engaging and excellent writers.
This book is not numbered amongst them,
It was simplistic in the extreme (and he's an editor IRL?) editorializing constantly, many asides crowing over his own hilarity, and worst of all, absolutely nothing happens. I mean nothing. We're down to closing doors, searching in snow for snow gear, losing his coat, listening to radio and early TV, and mocking the inhabitants of the mental institution next door for fun.
I persisted, in disbelief, for 70 pages - I had heard his interview on the radio and was expecting Great Things of a bygone St. John's nature. Nostalgic recollections. Hooboy.
But it wasn't in this book.
"Endless prose with no purpose" was one review I read. Exactly.
And he threatens a Volume 2.
Spare me.
0/5
This book is not numbered amongst them,
It was simplistic in the extreme (and he's an editor IRL?) editorializing constantly, many asides crowing over his own hilarity, and worst of all, absolutely nothing happens. I mean nothing. We're down to closing doors, searching in snow for snow gear, losing his coat, listening to radio and early TV, and mocking the inhabitants of the mental institution next door for fun.
I persisted, in disbelief, for 70 pages - I had heard his interview on the radio and was expecting Great Things of a bygone St. John's nature. Nostalgic recollections. Hooboy.
But it wasn't in this book.
"Endless prose with no purpose" was one review I read. Exactly.
And he threatens a Volume 2.
Spare me.
0/5
March 23, 2019
This book started out as a solid 3 star. For pure townie nostalgia alone. Then the story started to lag and it was a push to finish. The final insult was the ‘to be continued’ at the end. I really try to support NL authors but I just couldn’t get there on this one. Part memoir, part raising awareness towards stigma surrounding mental health and part endless prose with no purpose. Don’t bother. Though catchy title so props to someone for that nugget of wisdom.
July 7, 2018
I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. I thought not being a "townie" might play a role how I could relate to the characters and the place. However, I was pleasantly surprised that it didn't matter. I was drawn in at the beginning and especially enjoyed Wish as a 12 year old with a little bit of sass and a lacking a bit of sense yet his strength when faced with one of the biggest challenges of his life. I loved the writing style, the use of words to draw a picture of what was going on and to evoke emotion. Well done Brian Callahan, I can't wait for "to be continued..." to be continued, I never saw that coming.
January 18, 2019
There was some nostalgia in this because of the NL factor, which I'm always drawn to. The themes of mental health are important, so I consider any literature on them to be largely a good thing (with a few exceptions, of course). I didn't feel like there was a lot to the story. It was a quick read, thankfully.
June 21, 2019
2 1/2 for the setting and nostalgia of St. John's in the mid 70's, and references to mental health, but that's about it. It needs serious editing. With half the pages cut it would have made an interesting novella. I won't be reading the second part. (which in itself is annoying- buy my book and, by the way, you need to buy my second book to find out how it ends.
December 30, 2019
The writing style kept me excited about the book in the beginning. However, when Wish grew up I disconnected from the storyline completely. The boy Wish and the man Wish seemed like two different people. Its unfortunate because it seemed like the author ran out of story and then threw and ending on the book to fill up the pages.
January 5, 2023
Enjoyed this book set in St. John’s for much more than it’s references to local culture and happenings in the 60s to 80s. Depiction of pre-adolescent thinking and behaviours are well done. Many good chuckles in a book that has a good look and perceptions about mental health and how it was, and might still be perceived by many. Hope there is a part 2.
August 12, 2018
See my column featuring this novel at the following link:
http://www.thepacket.ca/living/book-r...
http://www.thepacket.ca/living/book-r...
September 9, 2018
Jesus murphy.. so much actually history bits shoved in the story through the perspective of the main character.. penful ending😉
March 20, 2019
too short
April 19, 2019
Very easy read.
August 16, 2019
An okay read. I didn't dive into the pages the way I have with other books, but I didn't have to force myself to finish it either.
July 31, 2020
very interesting book
September 1, 2022
An interesting read. Familiar things from growing up, and seeing the character learn as he grew. I'd like to know when the 'to be continued...' is out! Definitely not a waste of time to read.
August 4, 2025
should teach this in high school. really good lessons I'm mental health
August 9, 2025
I found this book very boring, but it was cool knowing that it took place in NL!
August 26, 2022
I liked how well Callahan re-animated his youth voice and then was later able to bring us to the adult. It’s a good read and highlights a boyhood period in a little known place called Newfoundland, Canada.
December 6, 2020
I thought this book would be more intense and have more to do with actually growing up next to the mental. It was inflated with rambling that had nothing to do with anything. If condensed it would make a great novella. I found it hard to get through.
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April 19, 2019Ok. Unanswered questions
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews