because we are bad OCD book review @duffythewriter

Because We Are Bad will draw you into the sometimes hellish internal world of Lily, who has suffered from severe OCD since she was a child.

“As a child, Lily Bailey knew she was bad.  By the age of 13, she had killed someone with a thought, spread untold disease and ogled the bodies of other children.”

Lily performs secret, exhausting routines, both in her head, and physically, to keep everything in order and everyone she loves safe. This spirals out of control, and is finally diagnosed. Diagnosis doesn’t suddenly mean all is well. There is a life-long journey ahead for Lily as she lives with her disorder and unravels the controlling thoughts and actions which dictate her young life.

My thoughts on Because We Are Bad

Prepare to become emotionally invested in Lily Bailey.  It was heartbreaking at times to read the memoir of this little girl, harbouring all those secrets, carrying such a huge burden which no-one knew about until her diagnosis.  I could relate to those inner monologues; lying awake at 4am feeling like the weird one in the group and over analysing social situations because you felt like a complete idiot or outcast. However, what Lily has to deal with is overwhelming.

This book is far from sad and depressing though. It’s extremely funny, honest, open, and uplifiting. I particularly loved the relationship that Lily had with her psychologist which blurs the lines between a usual doctor and patient relationship.  Lily Bailey’s memoir opened my eyes to what OCD actually is. In TV and movies it’s tossed around as a bit of a joke and I now have a far deeper understanding of this debiltating disorder.  I did find myself having to take a little break here and there, so I could decompress all that was happening, and it broke my heart everytime Lily’s red raw hands were mentioned.

Because We Are Bad is not just a must read for those suffering from, or living with someone with OCD.  It’s a must read for any lover of a good human interest story, anyone prone to a bit of anxiety, and those who enjoy an absorbing read.

Lily Bailey is an amazing writer and i’m sure this book will become a best seller.

Get out and buy it now at Booktopia!

Check out my reviews of other memoirs here.

The Book Blurb

A vivid, darkly funny, moving and uplifting account of a young woman’s struggle with OCD.

As a child, Lily Bailey knew she was bad. By the age of 13, she had killed someone with a thought, spread untold disease and ogled the bodies of other children.

Only by performing an exhausting series of secret routines could she correct her wrongdoing. But it was never enough. She had a severe case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. From child to teenager to young woman, OCD had ruled Lily’s life, sending a bright, vital mind spinning into a downward vortex. Until she learnt a fundamental philosophical lesson.

Raw and funny, heart-breaking and uplifting, Because We Are Bad reveals with humour, grace and searing honesty what it’s like to live with an almost intolerable burden of obsession.

‘Because We Are Bad is an intense heart-rending roller coaster of a book . . . the most engaging and well-written account of mental health experiences I have read.’ Huffington Post UK

 

Book provided by Allen & Unwin to @duffythewriter in exchange for an honest review