It's Kind of a Funny Story

It's Kind of a Funny Story is a 2006 novel by American author Ned Vizzini. The book was inspired by Vizzini's own brief hospitalization for depression in November 2004.[1] Ned Vizzini later died by suicide[2] on December 19, 2013. The book received recognition as a 2007 Best Book for Young Adults from the American Library Association.[3]

For the 2010 film adaptation, see It's Kind of a Funny Story (film).
It's Kind of a Funny Story
First edition cover
AuthorNed Vizzini
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenresYoung adult fiction, Comedy
Published2006 (Hyperion)
Media typePrint (Hardback & Paperback)
PagesPaperback 444 pgs Hardcover 502 pgs
ISBN9780786851966
OCLC61458359

A film adaptation, directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, was released in the United States on October 8, 2010.[4]

Plot

Craig Gilner, the narrator, is 15 years old and lives with his family in a middle-class Brooklyn neighborhood. He attends the prestigious Executive Pre-Professional High School, having studied arduously to win admission. Once admitted, however, he becomes overwhelmed by the school's intense academic pressure. He has a longstanding crush on Nia, who is dating his best friend, Aaron. He feels alienated and unable to fit in.

His stress eventually manifests itself in an eating disorder, affected sleep habits, and suicidal thoughts. He takes a stand and goes to a psychiatrist who prescribes him Zoloft. He is elated for a brief period, and believes he is cured (what he calls "The Fake Shift")—so he decides to throw away the medicine. Consequently, his depression builds until, unable to fend off his suicidal ideation, he calls 1-800-SUICIDE and is admitted to a nearby psychiatric hospital. He is initially taken aback and feels he doesn't belong in a loony bin. He meets many other patients, some friendly, others reclusive or delusional, and is supported and encouraged by his family and school principal once they learn of his hospitalization.

He is apprehensive about going back to school and talks to his psychiatrist, Dr. Minerva, about this. Craig meets a female patient, Noelle, who coped with a history of abuse by cutting her face with scissors. In isolation from the outside world, and with help from Noelle, Craig confronts the sources of his anxiety and regains his health.

During his recovery, Craig experiments with art, specifically stylized human figure maps, and discovers he has a great deal of natural talent and ability. He realizes his art makes him feel good and wishes to pursue it. Once Craig has recovered, his counselor suggests he transfer to an art school, a thought that excites him. However, he is scared of telling his father the same, who considers people at art school "messed up". He returns home at the novel's end, with a new energy to live life. He begins to appreciate the little things that make him happy.

Major themes

Critics recognized many themes in It's Kind of a Funny Story, such as being yourself, and finding out who you are. Kirkus Reviews stated that the novel addresses "the influence of peer pressure", and how depression recovery can be attributed to being oneself and "acceptance for who he is".[5]

Reception

The book is widely celebrated, with it being selected in 2007 by the American Library Association for its list of the Best Books for Young Adults. It was also met with critical applause from multiple publications including the New York Times, who described it as—"Insightful and utterly authentic...this is an important book."[6] However, some critics suggested that It's Kind of a Funny Story is a funny but sometimes dull story. Kirkus Reviews stated, "while these thoughts are truthful, it does not make them interesting".[7] They also added, "what results in a slow start to an easy, occasionally long-winded novel".[7] Despite the occasional dullness, they also praised the book to be "humorously poignant".[7] Another critic, Jennifer Brabander from The Horn Book Magazine, also praised Vizzini, stating "despite the serious topic, Vizzini again manages to be quite funny".[8]

Background

In It's Kind of a Funny Story, most critics agreed that the book is believable and seems real. It is mostly based on the author, Ned Vizzini's, own experience in an adult psychiatric hospital. Jennifer Brabander, an author in The Horn Book Magazine, stated, " A bulk of this novel (which is based in part on Vizzini's own experience) remains believable."[8] Ned Vizzini also agreed with this statement when James Blasingame interviewed him. Vizzini stated, "It's Kind of a Funny Story was based on my real life and is 85% true."[9] Vizzini stated in his interview, "I put Craig in adult psychiatric because I actually went into adult psychiatric in November 2004."[9] Brabander also agreed when she wrote, "Vizzini spent 5 days himself in a psychiatric hospital, which inspired him to write this book."[8]

Film adaptation
Main article: It's Kind of a Funny Story (film)

In 2010, Focus Features released a film adaptation directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck. The film starred Keir Gilchrist as Craig, along with Zach Galifianakis, Emma Roberts, Zoë Kravitz, and Lauren Graham.

Musical adaptation

As of 2017, NBC Theatrical is developing a stage musical version of It's Kind of a Funny Story with music composed by Drew Gasparini, book by Alex Brightman and orchestrations by Justin Goldner.[10] This will mark the second musical adaptation of one of Vizzini’s novels, the first being Be More Chill.

gollark: What did you find out? I'm unclear on how trustworthy introspection actually is.
gollark: People do talk about studies saying it's good in some way, but I forgot what ways and also people are very good at misinterpreting these things in support of whatever they want.
gollark: I have never seriously tried it. It was too boring to continue for a substantial amount of time.
gollark: The optical properties of water probably come from how its bonds are arranged or something like that, and you can hardly change that or the underlying electromagnetism things without breaking all life.
gollark: I don't think you can easily get rid of rainbows and nothing else with a patch to physics which doesn't just special-case some particular scenario though.

References
  1. "It's Kind of a Funny Story - Hardcover". Ned Vizzini official website. Archived from the original on June 12, 2010. Retrieved June 12, 2010.
  2. Yardley, William (2013-12-20). "Ned Vizzini, 32, Dies; Wrote Teenage Novels". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-11-13.
  3. American Library Association (2007). "2007 Best Books for Young Adults". Archived from the original on 2011-02-13. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
  4. Vizzini, Ned (August 17, 2010). "Quick Update: IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY: Poster and New, **Wider** Release Date (October 8, 2010)". Ned Vizzini. Archived from the original on August 23, 2010. Retrieved August 17, 2010.
  5. "It's Kind of a Funny Story". Kirkus Reviews. 74 (5). 1 March 2006. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  6. Stone, Tanya Lee (18 June 2006). "'It's Kind of a Funny Story,' by Ned Vizzini" – via www.nytimes.com.
  7. "Vizzini, Ned: It's Kind of a Funny Story". Kirkus Reviews. 74 (7): 358. 1 April 2006. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  8. Brebander, Jennifer (May–June 2006). "Ned Vizzini: It's Kind of a Funny Story". The Horn Book Magazine. 82 (3): 336. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  9. Blasingame, James (April 2007). "Interview with Ned Vizzini". Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy. 50 (7): 607. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  10. Drew Gasparini (2017-03-24), Colton Ryan & Cast - "WHERE I'M AT" - by Drew Gasparini, retrieved 2018-04-08
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