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Dave Schaafsma's Reviews > The Next Day: A Graphic Novella
The Next Day: A Graphic Novella
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Dave Schaafsma's review
bookshelves: collage-pastiche-multigenre, gn-psych, comics-journalism
Oct 23, 2017
bookshelves: collage-pastiche-multigenre, gn-psych, comics-journalism
A collaborative, multi-media project about attempted suicide, focused on interviewers with for suicide attempt survivors. This version of it features the comics illustration of John Porcellino. Spare, respectful, subdued, honest, sections are separated by scenes of outdoors with increasing cloudiness and rain. The point of the title is to ask the question, what about the next day? The stories are told in sections, focused on common themes, early experiences, mental illness, substance abuse, family support (or not), and so on. It's not that helpful with respect to actual solutions, but is insightful about each of these individuals and their experiences.
I read it because there was the mention of a suicide attempt in If I Was Your Girl by Michelle Russo, and I was wondering how I might help students deal with the issue of suicide. 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher (the book, which I also reviewed a couple years ago, but also the series, which are done somewhat differently) is right now a popular (and or reviled) source for dealing with teen suicide. It's also banned in some schools because of the fears of copy cat suicide attempts, which is a real concern, extending at least as far back as Goethe's The Sorrows of Young Werther, which initially and for several years set off a response of many teen suicides.
My view is that it is better, in general, to talk about a problem than not talk about it. Books and projects like this help to get serious issues out in the open and maybe get more people to open up about the problems that lead to suicide, so that professionals can be involved.
Here's the link to the interactive audio/film, illustrated also by Porcellino.
http://thenextday.nfb.ca/#/thenextday
I read it because there was the mention of a suicide attempt in If I Was Your Girl by Michelle Russo, and I was wondering how I might help students deal with the issue of suicide. 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher (the book, which I also reviewed a couple years ago, but also the series, which are done somewhat differently) is right now a popular (and or reviled) source for dealing with teen suicide. It's also banned in some schools because of the fears of copy cat suicide attempts, which is a real concern, extending at least as far back as Goethe's The Sorrows of Young Werther, which initially and for several years set off a response of many teen suicides.
My view is that it is better, in general, to talk about a problem than not talk about it. Books and projects like this help to get serious issues out in the open and maybe get more people to open up about the problems that lead to suicide, so that professionals can be involved.
Here's the link to the interactive audio/film, illustrated also by Porcellino.
http://thenextday.nfb.ca/#/thenextday
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Reading Progress
October 23, 2017
–
Started Reading
October 23, 2017
– Shelved
October 23, 2017
– Shelved as:
collage-pastiche-multigenre
October 23, 2017
– Shelved as:
gn-psych
October 23, 2017
– Shelved as:
comics-journalism
October 23, 2017
–
Finished Reading
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Oct 24, 2017 12:47AM
Very interesting, i'll add to my never ending to read list.
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Thanks, guys. It has a low GR rating, but I still think it is interesting. Tough subject in so many ways, of course.
I agree with your point of view that it's better to talk about this problem than not. Who didn't think for a moment that it would be better to be dead. Mostly, it's only a passing, pathetic thought, not worthy to talk about. When it becomes an obsessive thought, it's necessary to be able to talk about it. But with whom? Not an easy, but admirable task you take upon you, David.
Greta wrote: "I agree with your point of view that it's better to talk about this problem than not. Who didn't think for a moment that it would be better to be dead. Mostly, it's only a passing, pathetic thought..." It is an uncomfortable subject, I have had some experience with it (Though I have never really been suicidal) in vagus areas of my life. But the copy cat suicide reaction is a baffling and troubling one. Hard to know what to do with it.
There are guidelines from the World Health Organization for this : http://www.who.int/mental_health/prev...
Greta wrote: "There are guidelines from the World Health Organization for this : http://www.who.int/mental_health/prev..."
Ooh, thanks, very useful for me in my work and to anyone reading this who may be suicidal.
I also am reading this strange series, Demon, by Jason Shiga, about a guy who just cannot die, no matter how many times he tries to kill himself. This sounds disrespectful, ludicrous, but I am thinking that the series will head in a thoughtful direction about his desire to die. Though maybe not. Harold and Maude is a funny movie that opens with a teen's various attempts to play at suicide. He's depressed, meets Maude, and this changes his life.
Demon wasn't on my radar yet, but after reading some reviews, I added it. I read in one of the reviews that you were a volunteer for the Suicide Hotline. Wow, that's very admirable. I assume you already had a training on how to deal with suicidal feelings then?
I haven't seen the movie Harold and Maude yet.
But I saw a similar, more recent movie, "Wilbur wants to kill himself", which I thought was a very wise, enriching movie and highly recommended too.
Demon is in some respects deliberately offensive, so I worry about your reading it. Haven't seen Wilbur; do recommend Harold and Maude. I did work on the suicide hotline for a year; I worked in a psych hospital where I was part of the staff for two suicides; my brother-in-law committed suicide, a couple of student from the school I was teaching. . .. all of those I will never forget. All give you a sense of failure, among other emotions.
I'm very sorry to hear that, David. That same sense of failure can trigger a suicide attempt as well, especially when it's accompanied with a sense of rejection.
These feelings are strong, stronger then the fear of death. There's not much one can do. Being an understanding listener can help, but often, it's too shameful for them to talk about it (I think especially for men).
So, back to the book and your review, I think it's wonderful what you're trying to do.
It's one thing to be a reader of suicide, but to be a teacher of texts that focus on suicide, or even just mention it, it's not like other subjects or topics that might just come up in a story. . .
I know David. It must be very difficult, and a heavy responsibility. It's all the more admirable.
