Liz's Reviews > Challenger Deep

My first impression of this book was also the one that lasted - While reading I often felt like I was drowning in it; and about as often like I was re-emerging.



I will try to write a review that does this magnificent book justice, but I am also fully aware of the fact that no matter what I say and how, I will not be able to encompass it all.
But let's start at the beginning - Normally, I avoid books about mental illness as I avoid books about cancer. Authors often spiral out of control and go crashing into banalities and sugarcoating.
Not this book.

I picked it up because of the reference to the Mariana Trench, I wanted to know whether it would end at the title or whether the author would explore it further and draw more parallels. In order to avoid spoilers I will not answer the question - find it out yourself.
What I will say however is - nothing could have prepared me for this.
Imagine this -you are underwater with your face turned towards the surface. Beneath you is the bottomless darkness and you know you are sinking, deeper and deeper, but you are not frightened. Instead you watch the sunrays dance on the surface, you watch the waves, you may even hear something happening above you though it is muted. Everything is muted. You are in some strange, undescribable vacuum or maybe limbo. You know you have to re-emerge soon, the sooner the better, but you are torn. A part of you wants to stay this way, the other desires to escape the water and never enter it again. Focus on what you are feeling, on what you are not feeling.
It is a strange state to be in, isn't it?


(I have no idea why, but this book reminded me of the atmosphere of 'Spirited Away' and especially No-Face. Maybe because both the mentioned character and this book had some unique imperturbability about them)

The author constantly switches between two settings, the reality and the delusion of Caden's life. Through the use of mostly brief and emotionally intense chapters the atmosphere changes rapidly leaving the reader more often than not somewhere between confused, shocked and heartbroken. There is certainly no action in this book - it is deeply introspective and psychological but not plot-driven. As I have already said, there is a calmness in it that is both stunning and scary.
It is very soon that the reader realises that it is about a scattered mind and follows Caden's journey, or rather journeys. Watches him losing himself to his delusions and getting more and more out of control until, finally, he is hospitalized. There are so many chapters that are entirely detached from reality and all of them are allegorical. In these chapters every phrase, every turn of the head, has a meaning and it is not always graspable, neither to the reader nor to Caden. Likewise, there are many chapters that are real and shocking, yet somewhat hopeful, because there are people in Caden's life who are willing to help him, who are there for him and support him during his difficult episodes.
The book is scary and confusing and moving and heartbreaking. And I loved every second of it and deeply appreciated the insight and the honesty behind it. Following the deterioration of Caden's sanity was both horrifying and enlightning and this is probably one of the very few books that will stay with me for a long, long time.



The author does not glamorize mental illness. Not even once - which makes it even more heart-wrenching. No one is put into boxes, there is no sugarcoating. There is however the truth, the way a person experienced mental illness first-hand.
This book carries an important, poignant message which is worth sharing and which should be spread. HIGHLY recommended.



P.S. Only now, after going through the review to check for mistakes do I realise in what an emotional turmoil this book left me. I am still not over it.

P.P.S. READ IT.