Mod 9: Poetry, Humor, and New Media – It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini.

Jenny Phengdara

Dr. Patricia Watson

LS 5623.20

5 August 2014

Mod 9: Poetry, Humor, and New Media – It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini.

1.  Vizzini, Ned. It's Kind of a Funny Story: a novel. New York: Hyperion, 2007. Print.

2. Plot summary – After working diligently to gain entry into an elite school, Craig Gilner finds that it’s not what he expected. His friends attend the same school and make everything seem simple, while Craig must struggle to maintain his grades. This becomes the cause of his depression and not to mention losing his crush to his best friend. He admits himself into psychiatric care where he meets a myriad of personalities with different struggles. Only here does he begin to realize that everyone suffers from one thing or another. Some just hide it better than most.

3. Critical Analysis – It’s Kind of a Funny Story is a popular young adult novel that has recently been made into a feature film. The novel is on the Barnes and Nobles bestsellers list and reviews mainly focus on Vizzini’s writing. For example, a Booklist review mentioned, “What’s terrific about the book is Craig’s voice – intimate, real, funny, ironic, and one kids will come closer to hear. Many readers will be familiar with drugs, the sexual experimentation, the language, and, yes, the depression – or they’ll know someone who is” (2007). This is one of the main highlights of the novel. Vizzini is able to connect with young adults and is not afraid to discuss sensitive subjects.

Another highlight is that Vizzini is able to find humor through serious topics. “These are the first calls I’ve made not on the cell phone in a long time – and type in 1-800-SUICIDE. It’s really convenient that suicide has seven letters, I think” (Vizzini 2007). Most readers may just realize this coincidence and find humor in a topic such as suicide. This type of humor is subtle and smattered across the story, but when it does appear, it makes a big impact. As stated by Literature for Today’s Young Adults, “The greater the contrast between the rest of the book and the humor, then the bigger the surprise and the more pleasure it will bring to the reader” (Nilsen, Blasingame, Donelson, and Nilsen 209).

One of the qualms I have with this book is that it didn’t seem as if much happened in the novel. It’s only until about half-way through the novel do we see Craig be admitted into psychiatric care, which is the main conflict of the story. Even then, it didn’t seem as if there were many large events in the story. Most of the time, Craig attempting to get a date with different girls and making phone calls. What readers can take away from this story is Craig’s realization that he did not need to please anyone. “I don’t owe people anything, and I don’t have to talk to them any more than I feel I need to” (Vizzini 2007). Young adults may relate to that line because they may feel subjected to heavy social pressures in their lives.

Another facet of the novel that seemed a bit farfetched is that Craig recovered from his depression in five days. It may have readers wonder if he was truly depressed at all and needed to be admitted to psychiatric care or just continue his medication. As mentioned by Lain, a Goodreads reviewer, “Smoothly written with a strong voice, "Funny Story" is full of vivid, real characters. What rings less true is Craig's almost-miraculous recovery and ability to gain a new lease on life after only five days” (2007). I agree with the commenter because not only does Craig find new meaning, he also gives just about everyone at the care center new meaning as well in only five days.

Overall, I found this novel humorous. It was entertaining, but I could not connect with Craig’s depression and recovery. As the story progressed, readers learn that most of Craig’s friends are “depressed” as well and even wish to be admitted into psychiatric care. In a way, it seems as if Vizzini is finding humor in the idea that teenagers are melodramatic and can’t handle pressure of life. However, at the end of the book, Vizzini confesses that he was admitted to psychiatric care as well so it’s difficult to understand what his true intentions are with this story. I would recommend it for young adults who are struggling with depression, but they should understand that it is not typical for someone to be cured in less than a week.

Works Cited

"It's Kind of a Funny Story." Goodreads, 1 Dec. 2007. Web. 1 Aug. 2014.

<https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/248704.It_s_Kind_of_a_Funny_Story?from_search=true>.

Nilsen, Alleen Pace, James Blasingame, Kenneth L. Donelson, and Don L.F. Nilsen. Literature

for Today's Young Adults. 9th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2013. Print.

Vizzini, Ned. It's Kind of a Funny Story: a novel. New York: Hyperion, 2007. Print.

Vizzini, Ned. "It's Kind of a Funny Story." Booklist, 3 Apr. 2007. Web. 1 Aug. 2014.

<http://www.amazon.com/Its-Kind-Funny-Story- Vizzini/dp/078685197X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406851075&sr=8-1&keywords=it%27s+kind+of+a+funny+story>.