Books like Angelhead by Greg Bottoms
Angelhead is a gripping memoir that follows the author’s brother, Michael, through a traumatic rise of schizophrenia, drug use, and violent behavior. Set in Tidewater, Virginia, the narrative covers Michael’s first psychotic break at fourteen, his subsequent criminal acts, and the eventual prison psychiatric treatment. The book offers an intimate view of how a family copes with a loved one’s mental illness and the ways the author, now a journalist, uses storytelling to heal and understand.
Through sharp prose and empathy, the memoir highlights the psychological fragmentation of an individual, the influence of heavy metal, martial arts, occult interests, and Christianity on his life, and the devastating effects on those around him. It invites readers to reconsider society’s perception of mental illness and its reach into everyday life.
First publish date: 2000
Genre: Biography & Autobiography/Biography
Authors: Greg Bottoms
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