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Possums Run Amok: A True Tale Told Slant
Possums Run Amok is a rollicking, hilarious, at times deeply uncomfortable and dark memoir. With fearless candor Lora Lafayette recounts her life from a delinquent, late 1970's punk rock adolescence, through a manic, crooked transatlantic path to adulthood and her eventual terrifying descent into schizophrenia. Whip smart, daring and inventive, Lafayette navigates the harsh realities of being an adventurous young woman seeking to wrest all the wild joy she can out of life. Her story reveals how blurry the line can be between real and unreal, choice and force. It lays bare the startling lack of empathy and services in society for those in crisis. Her voice is singular, her language full of shining unconventional metaphor. Deadpan and wise, heartbreakingly funny and devastatingly moving, Possums Run Amok is equal parts challenging and entertaining.
176 pages, Hardcover
Published April 1, 2022
16 people are currently reading
1733 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
August 11, 2022
Possibly my favorite book about schizophrenia. I love this. Read it one day and I know I will return to it again and again. I’m not sure this will help people understand schizophrenia broadly, only, perhaps, the intimate, lonely nature of how the illness impacts an individual. It’s beautiful.
April 18, 2022
TW/CW: SA, R*pe, Drug Ab*se, S*ic*de, Mental Illness, Domestic Ab*se
A surreal and frenzied fever dream, Possums Run Amok is a memoir of the manic freedom of a feral youth that could only exist during the brief window into the wild that was the late 60s & 70s. Like the rambling testimony of a midnight stranger in a desert highway truckstop diner, this book leaves you unsettled and unsure of what you've witnessed but grateful that you did.
Coming in at just about 150 pages this book is short but anything but sweet. That anyone could have lead this life and lived to tell the tale is mind boggling and I feel like I will be thinking about this one for a long time.
I guess sometimes the truth really is stranger than fiction.
A surreal and frenzied fever dream, Possums Run Amok is a memoir of the manic freedom of a feral youth that could only exist during the brief window into the wild that was the late 60s & 70s. Like the rambling testimony of a midnight stranger in a desert highway truckstop diner, this book leaves you unsettled and unsure of what you've witnessed but grateful that you did.
Coming in at just about 150 pages this book is short but anything but sweet. That anyone could have lead this life and lived to tell the tale is mind boggling and I feel like I will be thinking about this one for a long time.
I guess sometimes the truth really is stranger than fiction.
November 16, 2021
this memoir is a breathtaking and daringly original fever dream. i was honoured to get the chance to read it early (and blurb it). you don't want to miss this!
November 28, 2022
4.5 stars
April 25, 2022
A very unique and intriguing memoir that really gets you into the mind of the author, Lora, as she recounts her teenage and early adult years in the Pacific Northwest and around the world as she is a part of on-the-fringes-of-society groups of the 70s, such as punk rock groupies, and Russophiles, and hitchhikers through Europe. Then, the heartbreaking description of how Lora felt to lose herself to the descent of schizophrenia, and her subsequent stays in institutions throughout her life. Just as full of joy as it is of loss and despair, this is a truly one-of-a-kind piece of beautiful, almost stream-of-consciousness writing.
February 11, 2023
i feel so much
June 9, 2023
a beautifully written, consuming, bleak rollercoaster of a memoir. it was by turns raucous and then horrifying - i found it to be the kind of book that brings you to the point of tears, makes you want to stop reading just so you won't have to see how bad things get beyond that page, but forces you to read ahead anyways because it is just SO compelling. the author's stories of her life as a young woman were fascinating but filled with the kind of violence and horror that makes your skin crawl, and when she concluded this section by saying that "the best part of her life was now over", i almost called it there and left it as a dnf. however, i'm really glad i finished it. despite being an intensely difficult read, it's an illuminating and raw look at how schizophrenia can completely turn your life upside down and how severe mental illness steals years, even decades, of your life. i would recommend, with a strong warning to start it only if you are in a good place mentally and to check the trigger warnings before you begin.
January 16, 2025
Wow, such an interesting tale of mental illness and life in general. It's both beautifully written yet devastating and brutal to read. I will most definitely go back to this again sometime in the future.
January 21, 2024
i just finished this book and i’m honestly emotionally devastated. beautiful. haunting. poetic. i don’t even know how to describe it. up until near the very end, the storytelling felt so dreamlike. even the nightmarish violence described felt so idyllically nostalgic, i found it almost distasteful. but by the end, i understood. incredible book. 5/5 stars. i need to go stare at a wall and process.
December 20, 2022
Beautifully paced and told, Lafayette captures the horrors of having your life torn from you by focusing on the depth of experience she had before mental illness and the system ripped her from it. The story is rich with tragedy, terror, excitement, and love.
April 14, 2024
Confuso, doloroso, sensibilizador y desconcertante. Con una fuerte crítica a la alienación asociada a la medicalización de la salud mental.
May 6, 2023
Why does this not have more readers?
In some ways it's hard to believe this is a memoir, but on the other hand, no one could have made this up out of thin air. There is a passage on page 119 where Lafayette talks about how when one is on acid, there would always be "incredible things, bizarre things, things that wouldn't happen if you were sober...as if God provided humor for himself by, in the spirit of Loki, perplexing and confounding one." In a sense, I find this an accurate description of the entire book. I was reading, simply in awe of Lafayette and the absolute freedom, adventure, and serendipity personified in much of her life, which to a degree were unique to the time. With her wealth of experiences came costs, namely sexual assault. The amount of rapes she endured is sickening, although Lafayette interprets these in the book less as trauma (at least directly) and more as an unsurprising side effect of womanhood. On page 17, she writes, "Date rape was soon becoming little more than an annoyance, one that we felt degraded the man more than us. (I had once been told that I wasn't a good candidate for rape—curiouser and curiouser as this was proven untrue, repeatedly)." The portrayal of rape as standard and banal is devastating in its own way.
It's hard to review this book because it speaks so perfectly for itself. Memoirs typically perform a lot of introspection and generally are slower, in a way. Lafayette lived so deeply that her life speaks for itself. I love the writing style and am not sure how to describe it—you just have to read it.
The tone and significance of this book changes completely when Lafayette becomes ill. On the last page, she writes, "I realize that my biggest crime (I've committed many small infractions)—what I shall surely be held accountable for in the end—is a wasted Life. I can't remember how this happened to me. So many years ago, voices held me back, and since I couldn't quit them, I quit Life." This was brutal to read because, as I've expressed, I think she lived a remarkable life. Clearly she had no limit of hardships, but she had an indefatigable spirit, until she got sick. It was gut-wrenching to read the final chapters that clearly seem like grieving and a cry for help, but this part is also incredibly resonant for those experiencing chronic illness, whether mental or physical.
I feel like I didn't do justice to this book in the review, but truly I would read this over and over, and I probably will.
In some ways it's hard to believe this is a memoir, but on the other hand, no one could have made this up out of thin air. There is a passage on page 119 where Lafayette talks about how when one is on acid, there would always be "incredible things, bizarre things, things that wouldn't happen if you were sober...as if God provided humor for himself by, in the spirit of Loki, perplexing and confounding one." In a sense, I find this an accurate description of the entire book. I was reading, simply in awe of Lafayette and the absolute freedom, adventure, and serendipity personified in much of her life, which to a degree were unique to the time. With her wealth of experiences came costs, namely sexual assault. The amount of rapes she endured is sickening, although Lafayette interprets these in the book less as trauma (at least directly) and more as an unsurprising side effect of womanhood. On page 17, she writes, "Date rape was soon becoming little more than an annoyance, one that we felt degraded the man more than us. (I had once been told that I wasn't a good candidate for rape—curiouser and curiouser as this was proven untrue, repeatedly)." The portrayal of rape as standard and banal is devastating in its own way.
It's hard to review this book because it speaks so perfectly for itself. Memoirs typically perform a lot of introspection and generally are slower, in a way. Lafayette lived so deeply that her life speaks for itself. I love the writing style and am not sure how to describe it—you just have to read it.
The tone and significance of this book changes completely when Lafayette becomes ill. On the last page, she writes, "I realize that my biggest crime (I've committed many small infractions)—what I shall surely be held accountable for in the end—is a wasted Life. I can't remember how this happened to me. So many years ago, voices held me back, and since I couldn't quit them, I quit Life." This was brutal to read because, as I've expressed, I think she lived a remarkable life. Clearly she had no limit of hardships, but she had an indefatigable spirit, until she got sick. It was gut-wrenching to read the final chapters that clearly seem like grieving and a cry for help, but this part is also incredibly resonant for those experiencing chronic illness, whether mental or physical.
I feel like I didn't do justice to this book in the review, but truly I would read this over and over, and I probably will.
January 7, 2025
I was pretending to remote work in a Portland Oregon hostel when the cafe was closed off for book reading event purposes. I bought the book because the cover looked nice and I knew I'd get it signed. I stupidly bailed for the entire reading, returned for the signing. The first person i spoke to (allegedly she was in the book as an allegedly best friend- i allegedly can tell that this is totally the case but please do not allegedly listen to me) told me that the author is a Rusophile- great couse i am a Ruski (not by choice but still!!). I got my book signed by the author and went on my merry way. Did not realize this would become one of my favorite books. Low-key super glad that I had no context or spoilers into the themes of the book. Someone could write essays about that side, but I'm weighing in just to say I love the way it was written (deadpan stream of conscious writing!!). This novel is the only one besides Diary of a Teenage Girl that I can identify as having achieved this writing style. I love it and would recommend to any other young women who struggle to read literature from female authors. This is an exception. Spasibo bolshoye!
April 2, 2026
Possums Run Amok: A True Tale Told Slant by Lora Lafayette is a fearless and unconventional memoir that challenges, unsettles, and ultimately captivates. With striking candor and a voice that is both sharp and darkly humorous, Lafayette chronicles her journey from a rebellious punk adolescence to a chaotic adulthood marked by mental health struggles.
What sets this memoir apart is its raw authenticity and inventive language. Lafayette’s storytelling blurs the boundaries between reality and perception, offering readers an unfiltered look into the complexities of schizophrenia and the fragility of the human mind. At once deeply uncomfortable and profoundly moving, the narrative also sheds light on the societal gaps in empathy and support for those in crisis.
Equal parts chaotic, insightful, and emotionally resonant, Possums Run Amok is a bold literary work that lingers long after the final page.
What sets this memoir apart is its raw authenticity and inventive language. Lafayette’s storytelling blurs the boundaries between reality and perception, offering readers an unfiltered look into the complexities of schizophrenia and the fragility of the human mind. At once deeply uncomfortable and profoundly moving, the narrative also sheds light on the societal gaps in empathy and support for those in crisis.
Equal parts chaotic, insightful, and emotionally resonant, Possums Run Amok is a bold literary work that lingers long after the final page.
October 24, 2022
Seasonal depression is around the corner and I can't stop reading books that relate to severe mental illnesses. How can someone's life be that adventurous and wild? It is a story told slant but where does the line cross? Like something true but also false because of the the absurdity. It didn't matter, the story was told in such a enticing matter that I could not put it down. A fever dream for sure. I do not know a lot about schizophrenia so reading someone's painful descent into it was insane. To have your mind deceive you is a great tragedy but also that same mind made this memoir. Amazing. 100% would recommend.
PLEASE check TW!
PLEASE check TW!
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December 1, 2023(Paperback)
I picked this book up at the Portland Book Festival. Was intrigued by the '70s punk rocker and local scene. Also, it's pretty.
I found this person's story interesting but ultimately, it made me sad and angry. We'd like to think institutionalization is a thing of the past but it is not.
Thank you for sharing your story, Lora.
I do think it's important to include some content warnings here. The author does mention several sexual assaults. Also, mental health issues, including hospitalization, institutionalization and loss of autonomy, among many other things. This is not an exhaustive list of warnings.
I picked this book up at the Portland Book Festival. Was intrigued by the '70s punk rocker and local scene. Also, it's pretty.
I found this person's story interesting but ultimately, it made me sad and angry. We'd like to think institutionalization is a thing of the past but it is not.
Thank you for sharing your story, Lora.
I do think it's important to include some content warnings here. The author does mention several sexual assaults. Also, mental health issues, including hospitalization, institutionalization and loss of autonomy, among many other things. This is not an exhaustive list of warnings.
June 1, 2022
Warning: Carve out some time in your day, because when you start to read this book, you will find it nearly impossible to put down. I wish I had a fraction of the talent of Lora Lafayette so that I could do her book justice in describe how amazing it is, but alas, all I can tell you is, "Read it!" It will move you in more ways than you can imagine.
February 19, 2024
A truly beautiful little memoir, at times frenzied and frightening and heartbreaking with a fast pace that reminded me of the Beat poets … pulling you along on their adventures with bursts of emotion and wonder for every situation.
This one will get a permanent spot on my bookshelf, I know I will read it again.
This one will get a permanent spot on my bookshelf, I know I will read it again.
May 23, 2024
An incredible book, and a very short and worthwhile read. The only thing I would’ve preferred is a longer account of her time in hospitals and battling schizophrenia. However, what is there is deeply moving, but can be a tough read for some. Check TW’s. Overall, I think this book will stick with me for a long time.
March 20, 2025
I initially DNFed this book but I came back to it. I understand the appeal of the fragmented, sort of stream of consciousness writing style and some chapters were interesting. But I just couldn’t get into it. I would finish a (very short) chapter and not feel compelled to read the next. All that said, it was an interesting peek into a life much different that my own
May 11, 2023
Wow! Memorizing and at times horrifying. I felt simultaneously like I had been a complete slacker from 16-21 and incredibly fortunate not to have lived in a time and place where I believed date rape was the price of having fun. And then for it to end with mental illness is heartbreaking.
August 20, 2024
I normally don’t like this kind of book, but I could relate to some aspects of her journey. I think if we are honest all of us can to some degree. It’s a fast read. It’s not an easy one though. It’s a true tale told slant for a reason.
December 18, 2021
Got an advance copy to check out, but not for me.
June 1, 2022
Exhilarating, terrifying, and beautiful!
February 11, 2023
GAHHHHH!!!!!!!!
March 7, 2023
Eh not my vibe
July 21, 2023
Wow. What a charming, devastating memoir.
September 10, 2023
I enjoyed this read so very much. I don’t have many words. I just want to hold this book in my heart.
October 8, 2023
A moving, interesting memoir that reminded me a lot of someone I lost.
January 3, 2024
masterpiece
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews