Nussaibah Younis Reveals the Books That Helped Her Through Mental Illness and Inspired Her Writing Career
In a poignant essay, writer Nussaibah Younis has revealed how a range of books have helped her navigate mental illness and shape her writing career. For Younis, literature has long been a source of solace and inspiration.
Younis' earliest reading memories are of Enid Blyton's boarding school stories and Roald Dahl's Matilda, which she says made her feel understood by the world. However, it was Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar that had a profound impact on Younis when she read it at 16. This powerful exploration of mental illness in young women resonated with Younis during her own struggles with the condition two years later.
The Bell Jar helped Younis conceptualize her mental health issues and find a sense of connection to others who had experienced similar struggles. This experience ultimately inspired her to pursue a career in writing, where she could explore themes of identity, mental health, and societal expectations.
Younis has also spoken about the books that have become comfort reads for her during difficult times. Donna Tartt's The Secret History, which she finally read after waiting 10 years, transported Younis into an enchanting world when she needed it most. Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking has provided solace in moments of grief, helping Younis feel less alone.
In contrast, some books have left a sour taste in her mouth. Philip Roth's Portnoy's Complaint, with its hyper-sexualized and misogynistic portrayal, no longer holds up for Younis. Instead, she finds inspiration in works like Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique, which reframed her understanding of the role of marriage and children in her life.
Younis is currently reading Paul Beatty's Slumberland, a novel that tackles racism with brutal honesty. Her comfort reads, meanwhile, include David Sedaris, whose humor and wit have helped lift her spirits when she needs them most.
Throughout her essay, Younis highlights the importance of literature in our lives, serving as both a source of solace and inspiration for those navigating the complexities of mental health and societal expectations.
In a poignant essay, writer Nussaibah Younis has revealed how a range of books have helped her navigate mental illness and shape her writing career. For Younis, literature has long been a source of solace and inspiration.
Younis' earliest reading memories are of Enid Blyton's boarding school stories and Roald Dahl's Matilda, which she says made her feel understood by the world. However, it was Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar that had a profound impact on Younis when she read it at 16. This powerful exploration of mental illness in young women resonated with Younis during her own struggles with the condition two years later.
The Bell Jar helped Younis conceptualize her mental health issues and find a sense of connection to others who had experienced similar struggles. This experience ultimately inspired her to pursue a career in writing, where she could explore themes of identity, mental health, and societal expectations.
Younis has also spoken about the books that have become comfort reads for her during difficult times. Donna Tartt's The Secret History, which she finally read after waiting 10 years, transported Younis into an enchanting world when she needed it most. Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking has provided solace in moments of grief, helping Younis feel less alone.
In contrast, some books have left a sour taste in her mouth. Philip Roth's Portnoy's Complaint, with its hyper-sexualized and misogynistic portrayal, no longer holds up for Younis. Instead, she finds inspiration in works like Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique, which reframed her understanding of the role of marriage and children in her life.
Younis is currently reading Paul Beatty's Slumberland, a novel that tackles racism with brutal honesty. Her comfort reads, meanwhile, include David Sedaris, whose humor and wit have helped lift her spirits when she needs them most.
Throughout her essay, Younis highlights the importance of literature in our lives, serving as both a source of solace and inspiration for those navigating the complexities of mental health and societal expectations.
I think its so cool that Nussaibah Younis is sharing all these books that have helped her through tough times. For me, reading has always been like therapy - it helps me process my emotions and feel less alone. I can totally relate to how The Bell Jar impacted her when she read it at 16... it's like the book spoke directly to her soul. And its awesome that she's found comfort in books like The Secret History and The Year of Magical Thinking. They're like old friends who are always there for you during hard times 
I'm loving how Nussaibah Younis is open about what books helped her through her mental illness struggles - it's so refreshing to see authors speaking up about their experiences! 
What about you guys, what books have helped you through tough times? 
meanwhile, i've had some not-so-great experiences with certain books that just make me wanna toss them in the trash tbh portnoy's complaint is like a total no go for me too idk what philip roth was thinking lol anyway, it's so great to see younis finding solace and inspiration in all these amazing books 
. It's crazy how books can be like, life changing for some people, you know? Like, I still remember reading Harry Potter for the first time and just feeling like I was home or something 
. And Nussaibah Younis is all about finding solace in books during tough times - that's so me 
And I'm intrigued by her take on The Secret History - it sounds like a book that would really transport you to another world, even if it wasn't exactly what you needed at the time 
And I love how she talks about The Bell Jar being that one book that really resonated with her mental health struggles at 16. Its like, literature can be such a powerful source of comfort and connection 
... anyway, I started reading some old favorite books again and it got me thinking, have you ever noticed how certain smells can instantly transport you back to a specific time and place? Like, the smell of fresh cut grass always takes me back to my childhood summers. It's so weird, but it's like your brain associates that smell with memories or something 
.
I'm so inspired by Nussaibah's honest story 
. I've been through some dark days myself, but my go-to comfort reads are usually sci-fi novels and fantasy series 
. For me, it's all about escapism 
. But what I love most is how books can help you find connection to others who've been through similar struggles 
. But at the same time, I'm kinda surprised that some books, like Portnoy's Complaint, don't hold up for her anymore - isn't that what we're supposed to be critiquing and learning from? I mean, as a society, aren't we supposed to be moving forward and not stuck in our past attitudes and biases? 
Still, it's awesome that Younis has found comfort in books like The Bell Jar and Slumberland - maybe we can all learn a thing or two from her perspective on how literature can shape our understanding of the world.