Cheer Up, Love: Adventures in Depression with the Crab of Hate by Susan Calman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I’ve always enjoyed Susan Calman’s comedy, and what I viewed from afar as quite a positive outlook on life. In fact Susan DOES have a positive outlook on life, it’s just that she’s also had to deal with a brain that misfires and tells her everything is wrong (I can relate!). This is a very honest account of what depression does to your mind and your body, and how any one person’s coping mechanisms can be totally different to your own.. and that’s all FINE.
Susan, with her background in law, also caveats an awful lot of the chapters with reasons why you shouldn’t necessarily listen to (or read) a single word she’s said (but you should anyway), and why her experiences and opinions may or may not match up with your own. This is good, we’re all different, have personal opinions and views, and this is just her story.
Cleverly wrapped up in Susan’s own brand of humour, you’ll laugh and cry in equal amounts. Also, having heard Calman speak a lot on TV, I couldn’t help but hear most of this book in my head in her own voice, and Scottish accent.
Crown Jules Presents 