Sunbathing in the Rain: A Cheerful Book About Depression - Softcover

Lewis, Gwyneth

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0007120621 ISBN 13: 9780007120628

Publisher: Flamingo, 2003

Synopsis

101 Ways to Climb out of the Slough of Despond – a literary guide (part memoir, part companion) to coming through depression.

'Depression is internal snow. Black snow. The flakes whirl around like motes in the water around your personal shipwreck. The quicker you dive down to see your sorry state, the better for you in life. For above you, if only you can reach it without getting the bends, are sunshine, laughter on a yacht, the clink of plates as a lunch of steaming fish is handed round.'

Whilst the overall structure of Sunbathing in the Rain moves from dark to light, telling the story of Lewis's recovery, its different strands allow a variety of tones and subjects to be explored, from the profound to the frivolous. Alongside a paragraph about the proper relationship between the ego, the mind and the emotions nestles a passage on the therapeutic value of nail varnish. Practical hints on how to get better (diet, read Hello!, helpful pieces of music) are alongside striking quotations, ranging from sentences on crisp packets, to prayers, from Russian orthodox writings on silence to collections of slang. Part memoir – drawing on her own experiences, both adverse and encouraging, as a depressive and an alcoholic – and part guide or companion, this book brings Burton's Anatomy of Melancholy into the twenty-first century. For it will have two voices, one calling from the valley of despair, the other from a safer, calmer new place. The suffering depressive needs help from outside his or her own consciousness, a radical new perspective that makes life possible again. This unique book offers it.

About this title

About the Author

Gwyneth Lewis is an award-winning poet whose work has drawn widespread acclaim. Her previous book, Zero Gravity, which followed the journey of her cousin to repair the Hubble Space telescope, used the science of space to describe a voyage, a death and coming to terms with lost love, was shortlisted for the Forward Prize. She is married and lives in Cardiff.

From the Back Cover

"'Sunbathing in the Rain' is such a lovely title for a book about beating depression. Gwyneth Lewis says she wants this book to be easy to pick up and read at any page. It is…A delicate, vulnerable triumph."
'Guardian'

Drawing on her own experience, Lewis re-embarks on a journey that nearly killed her first time round and returns from it with this, perhaps 'the first truly undogmatic, undemanding, downright useful companion to depression'. Alongside a paragraph about the proper relationship between the ego, the mind and the emotion, nestles a passage on the 'therapeutic value of nail varnish'. Practical hints '(diet, read HELLO!)' sit alongside striking quotations.

"What gives the book its edge is her determination that the illness must be seen as an early warning system, to be welcomed as a timely indication that something needs addressing. This 'upbeat', very readable and engaging view of depression as a temporary retrenchment, a breathing space in which to adjust better to life, makes 'encouraging' reading."
'Spectator'

'"A flush of hard-won knowledge and hope for a brighter future suffuses these pages"'
'TLS'

"'Sunbathing in the Rain' is both 'witty and wise': a profound musing on the problem of depression that is deeply informed yet 'full of hope and cheer'."
ANDREW SOLOMON, author of 'The Noonday Demon'

Edition details

• Publisher: Flamingo
• Publication date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0007120621
• ISBN 13: 9780007120628
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 272