Love and Theft: A Memoir of Mental Illness

by Jocelyn Patten

Mental illness can be raw, intense, and terrifying, yet it is recognizable to almost everyone. Whether you are a family member or friend of someone who struggles with their mental health, or you yourself live with a disorder, you will find a connection in the pages of "Love and Theft." From social anxiety and depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, it’s here. "Love and Theft" powerfully illustrates a variety of mental illnesses, while tracing Patten’s own battle with the lesser known schizoaffective disorder. At times comic, dark, and always moving, this memoir is about the casualties of mental illness, and the raw humanity that runs beneath.

279 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 17, 2022

About the author

There was so much loveliness surrounding Jocelyn Patten as she grew up in Canada. Having moved to the country from her birthplace of Massachusetts at the age of two, Patten was surrounded by relatives and family friends who supported and loved her. And, yet, despite all this, she fell through the cracks into a world of both numbness and agitation. Family support did not protect her from a life of mental illness. It may have softened it a bit, her landing, but it didn’t prevent any of it, or dictate its course. There are many factors in the development of mental illness, family support being just one of them.

Schooling at first seemed to be okay, but Patten was teased and taunted by the kids around her. And, we realize through the chapters of her memoir, her illness was starting to poke through as a teenager. She barely finished high school. By the time she reached her twenties, there was no denying that she was walking a different path than those around her.

Patten’s family was filled with highly successful people, including her two brothers who moved through university and shone in their chosen professions. It took a long time for Patten to shine her own light—decades, even—but she is figuring out how to work that ‘on’ button. It doesn’t always work, but that light definitely stays on longer than she ever thought possible.

Jocelyn Patten lives in Ottawa, Canada in a neighbourhood alongside the moody Ottawa River. In the warmer months, her two cats Maggie and Birdy hang out on the screened-in porch, chasing squirrels from the comfort of rattan furniture. Patten is drawn to stories that explore identity through the lens of mental illness. She is working on a novel with a heroine who lives with bipolar disorder.

Reviews

[Gianna Lian · Rating 4 out of 5]

🤍for a more in depth review, watch my reading wrap up!🤍
https://youtu.be/GlWO3gz0AIc?si=wDeZp...

I HATE RATING MEMOIRS BUT IF I HAD TO:
💫overall rating: 4.5/5⭐️s!💫

Wow. this one really hit my heartstrings…

💫quotes💫
•”…show the rest of the world what it’s like to have your life demolished right in front of you. And then be able to pick up the pieces and move on.” (4)

•”sometimes even the craziest stuff will seem normal after a while.” (6)

•”that it crept into my thoughts as a desperate plea for love.” (196)

💫synopsis💫
first off.. check TWS!! Definitely one of the deepest books I’ve ever read. this one really dives into the raw truths about living and dealing and overcoming mental illnesses.

💫pros💫
•the writing really touched me in this story and had this way to make me feel extremely connected to Jocelyn’s story and feel everything she’s going through
•it really highlighted the major highs and major lows she faces in her life and how she is working to overcome them and grow
•it was extremely extremely sad but also super heartwarming at times
•it spread amazing awareness of living with these things and allowed me to learn so much more than just the surface of facing things like that everyday
•the book was set up/laid out perfectly

💫cons💫
•I wanted a little bit more at the end of just her present life and an update of how she is living and coping now.

💫overall💫
I highly recommend everyone to read this book. It opens your eyes to a lot of things and allows you to have a way better understanding of mental illness and others learning about coping with it everyday.

[Susan Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating and compelling memoir that takes the reader through five decades of the author’s life living with serious mental illness. Patten is a very gifted writer and weaves effortlessly between time periods as she describes in vivid detail, her bouts with mania, depression and psychosis. She acknowledges that she has had many advantages as a upper middle class white person and indeed she is well travelled and cultured, and I can’t deny her life seemed very exciting at times. Pattens story also is a bit different in that she also acknowledges having a pretty idyllic childhood but it was clear the seeds of her illness were present even then. The family history is also really interesting and provides some insight regarding the apparent genetic predisposition to mental illness.

I must say something about the authors mother who seems almost saint like in her unfailing support and devotion to her daughter. Patten acknowledges this as well, and makes it very clear that without her mother, things could have been much worse.

I hope this book receives the attention and recognition it deserves, and that we can look forward to more from this talented writer

[Annie Lace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know you’ve heard this sentence before: Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. That sentiment is very true about this book. I thought maybe I knew a little bit about mental illness before I read this book but now I realize that I knew nothing. Jocelyn Patten is extremely honest telling her story about her life with mental illness and she does it in a way that makes me want to know more. This book takes you through all her emotions: her highs and lows, her strengths and weaknesses, through her hopes and dreams and very much shows you her reality. I can’t promise you will always feel comfortable reading her words but I can promise you will learn something. I highly recommend this book.

[Paula Lafferty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most meaningful book on mental health that I have ever read. I have bipolar disorder with psychotic features and this book spoke to me. I could see aspects of myself in the pages. However, I wish I was half as brave as Joceyln Patten. She has lived an interesting life and traveled the world! I love her story. I think she is remarkable! It is beautifully written and easy to read. It is a perfect book for family members and friends of people with mental health struggles, because this book shows how important they are. It humanizes people with mental illness and takes away the stereotypes. This is a book I will reread and treasure.

[Dagne Forrest · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an honest and generous book, and one for which the term "unflinchingly open" could have been coined. Although key points in the author's life have been chosen to help mark the way along her journey with profound mental illness, it also feels as though no stone has been left unturned. The book manages to be uplifting, in spite of its harrowing nature throughout. My only criticism, and it's only a very slight one, is that it feels the author takes the blame for her illness and what it compels her to do at times, and doesn't particularly shine a light on the mistakes the people closest to the author will have made in their efforts to support her. In the end, its the generous heart of the author and her project to unmask every aspect of mental illness and the ways in which it upended her life that shines most strongly. Read this book, and share it.

[james somplack · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning true story by a truly gifted debut author.

This book is for everyone who has heard the words “mental illness”. You will learn a great deal. Loved it.

[Frederik J Simons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read half of it in one sitting (long plane ride!) and the rest over a handful more days. It is an engrossing, eye-opening testimony, beautifully and engagingly written, with many angles to consider and many potent moments to savor; many of poignancy, and some of poetry. But above all, simply really interesting to follow the narrative and discover what all goes on inside the multiverse that is a head under all those many hats.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Excellent Read!

I really found it easy to become engaged and engrossed with this book! I found it hard to put down and yet almost didn't want it to end. I think partially it's because not only is the author a very good writer, but I identified with her in several ways throughout the book!
I have experienced mental health issues and was diagnosed with mental illness (anxiety, major depression and ptsd). I have struggled with my weight for many years, I have seen dreams die and both fought against their death and mourned it. I was bullied at times in school. I am on several medications, currently dealing with insomnia. I am disabled. However I've not ever heard voices or been diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Despite being disabled, I went to college part time after working two jobs for many years, and earned two degrees in the social services/mental health and human services field, graduating summa cum laude. Long way of saying I can identify with Jocelyn. Oh, and I'm also a writer!
There's a few spelling mistakes in the book but nothing major or distracting. It is easy to read and a solid storyline. I'm curious about one thing since the beginning. Does she REALLY have a friend by the name of Ruby Tuesday? For some reason I just think that is a great name for a human although it may result in bullying😥.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A riveting memoir of the author’s life living with serious mental illness. Although her life’s journey has so many complexities in dealing with her illness, readers can easily follow it as she moves back and forth through the stories of her life. We gain a deep and intimate understanding of what it is like to experience mania, depression and psychosis.

It is an act of bravery to share with the world these struggles in such an authentic and personal way.

[Jonathan Mejia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick look into the realities of mental health issues.

Overall the story and history was interesting. The memoir isn't quite written linearly, which lends to the unorganized feel of the mind writing it. Also, I think there is much Jocelyn Patten chose not to tell.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks for the kindle copy.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really worth reading