Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Reviews of But Inside I'm Screaming

But Inside I'm Screaming
But Inside I'm Screaming
Author: Elizabeth Flock
ISBN-13: 9780778322108
ISBN-10: 0778322106
Publication Date: 9/1/2005
Pages: 320
Rating:
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 190

3.6 stars, based on 190 ratings
Publisher: Mira
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

50 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

bookaddict avatar reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on
Helpful Score: 12
Ugh. I found this book deeply annoying, shallow, self-indulgent, and derivative. Just a hair more so than Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen, so if you liked that book, don't listen to me about this one. I just wanted to smack the main character here.
reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 10 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 8
It was OK. Not great, but interesting enough to keep reading & find out what happens @ the end.
reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 22 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
I really enjoyed this book! This is the sceond book that I have read by Elizabeth Flock and both were great! It was a quick and captivating read that I finished in 2 days!
reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 23 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
This one was hard to put down.. a very riveting fast-paced tale.
reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 146 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
I really liked this book. Even with the subject matter I was laughing throughout the whole book.
k9kutter64 avatar reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 167 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
This story reminded me so much of Girl Interrupted, which I loved. A great story of overcoming depression and finding your true self...I loved it!
reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 13 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
An engrossing story about one woman's struggle to face reality and find herself after a breakdown. A very good read!
reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 31 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Interesting fictional account of a successful woman's mental breakdown, the circumstances leading to it, and the treatments,other patients, goings on, inside a mental health institute. Never dry or boring.
sfc95 avatar reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 686 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
This is a tough book for me to review. At the beginning, I found the book slow and full of what I would say was unnecessary description, but then toward the middle of the book, I enjoyed the story lines that were developing, I felt connected to the characters, but the end fell flat for me. THere was no closure, I needed closure, I needed to know more about what was going on and I didn't get it. I nkow it is unfair to compare this book to her other book, Me and Emma, but that book was amazing and this...was not. It is a quick read, the story has some good points, but it leaves you needing more.
reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 36 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
An interesting story of recovery and hope.
tashajean avatar reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 146 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
A great read about finding oneself!
reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 95 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Wonderful book. Very truthful.
reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 28 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I enjoyed this book although it isn't one of my favorites. It was still a good read though.
busygram07 avatar reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 9 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This is about a women with mental illness. It had an inside idea of what a person was thinking when they were really confused and mentally disturbed. It has the look of what it is like inside a institution & what some of the rules are, All the therapy and group meetings they have. I thought it was a very good insight of mental illness. In this world how crazy life gets and your mind can only take so much for so long before it really needs a vacation.
merede3 avatar reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 14 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
loved me & emma and everything must go, but this one was a big let down, very hard to get into, her other two were awesome
reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 69 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Meet Isabel: successful international broadcast journalist, loving wife, perfect daughter, suicidal.

After freezing up on national television while trying to cover the breaking news of Princess Diana's car crash, Isabel finds herself at Three Breezes, a top of the line psychiatric hospital. She has no idea why she's there. Maybe it's the two suicide attempts? The meltdown on live TV? The point is, she isn't like any of those other patients who are seriously crazy. She just wants to be released so she can leave and kill herself.

The writing style is lovely in its honesty, which is at times extremely painful. The chapters take turns showing time in the present at Three Breezes and then a moment from Isabel's past that has led her to the hospital. The group therapy sessions are at times horrifying, but can also be morbidly amusing, much like the other residents.

Isabel is forced through a series of treatments that she rebels against, but slowly finds herself facing the things in her life that have taken over. As the reader, I found myself wanting her to face up and admit her problems at some moments, and then at other times totally understanding why she was making the choices she was and feeling like I could easily be in the room next to hers.

This is not a retelling of Wally Lamb's "She's Come Undone", but if you liked that book, you'll probably like this one.
reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on
Helpful Score: 1
If you have ever battled depression or mental illness of any kind, you will relate to the character in this book. Very realistic look inside a mental health facility. I loved the other characters in the book and how they compared/contrasted with Isabelle. Great book - quick read.
reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 32 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Flock is a wonderful writer that takes you inside of the metal hospital and a woman's complete breakdown on live TV.
Yoni avatar reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 327 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Very readable book about a woman's climb up from mental illness. I liked it, it kept me turning the pages.
StacyJ avatar reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 87 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Wonderful book! A news reporter has a melt-down on air and ends up in a mental institution. I thought it was a wonderful story. Sad at times, but enough funny to make it worth reading.
reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This was a quick read. The people are very interetsing that the main character meets in the crazy ward.
reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 6 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Kind of a sad read, but very intriguing. The author has a great style of writing that makes you want to read the book in one sitting. If you have the time, you'll read it fast!
miss-zuzu avatar reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 15 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
It was ok, didn't blow me out of the water, but it kept my interest! I found myself needing to know how it all ended more so than anything else...after a while the story line seemed to turn into this girl's pity-party and whine fest lol It just seemed like another version of Girl Interrupted, to me, and I was hoping to stear clear of that!! On the other hand...if you enjoyed Girl Interrupted than you'll LOVE this :) Personally, I would like to see something a little different for a change!!
angelatres avatar reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 72 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I couldnt get into this, gave up about halfway through.
lovelle74 avatar reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 18 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This was a very good story. The character in the book overcame depression, spousal abuse and panic attacks. It gives a perspective on why some people have these types of problems. However, in the end, people can heal if they are just willing.
reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on
Helpful Score: 1
Good, not great. I liked it enough to finish it but I didn't really like the main character which made me not really care about her in the end. Quick read.
reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 6 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
What a great book. Very quick and easy read but a well established storyline with good character building. Anybody who has had any experience with mental illness should read this book.
reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 28 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Fast, entertaining reading. Short chapters make it great to read on the beach or while traveling.
mitzilsg avatar reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 60 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
great book. It goes into the story of a news reporter that loses it on the air and she goes into a mental institution and it goes thru her story and several other stories. Interesting look inside of others.
Froggie avatar reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 55 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I just could not get into this book. THe beginning part just dragged on and on.
reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 129 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This book was just okay. I was able to keep reading it, but it was hard at times because it just wasn't that interesting.
reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 4 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
a slightly analytical account of a woman's journey to mental health after she has a nervous breakdown.
silentrob avatar reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on
Helpful Score: 1
A moving, at times witty, story of a woman's breakdown and her road to recovery. A quick read.
reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on
Helpful Score: 1
Reminded me of Girl, Interrupted. Very easy read.
punkinbean avatar reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 37 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Good read, but I thought the ending was abrupt.
23dollars avatar reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 432 more book reviews
BUT INSIDE I'M SCREAMING was the December 2013 pick in my online book club, The Reading Cove. I don't think it was a good choice for this time of year.

The main character Isabel is seriously troubled and you get to spend the entire book in her head, mired in all the madness. It effectively killed any holiday spirit you felt the second you even thought about picking it up.

I will say that while it was well-written, it just wasn't my cuppa. C+
reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 32 more book reviews
Extremely sympathetic main character. Very easy to read and deeply moving at times. You journey with Isabel as her life falls apart and she slowly puts it back together. You discover her back story in bits and pieces as she confronts those "demons". Very enjoyable.
reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 23 more book reviews
A great read!
short-angry14 avatar reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 79 more book reviews
Tried to get into this book, but couldn't seem to make it past the first fifty pages. Kept having visions of a bad remake of Girl, Interrupted in my head, and finally gave up.
reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 30 more book reviews
While breaking the hottest news story of the year,broadcast journalist Isabel Murphy falls apart on live television in front of an audience of millions.She lands at Three Breezes a four star psychiatric hospital where she begins the painful process of recovering the life everyone thought she had.
This is a good read
reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 15 more book reviews
Journalist Isabel Murphy loses it on national television and lands in the 4 star "nut hut" and has to learn to deal with the fact that she is indeed one of the patients and how to mend her fractured life.
reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 75 more book reviews
In all honesty I was not thrilled about this book. I found it to be predictable and the perspective was a bit confusing to follow.
reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 22 more book reviews
One womans' journey in a mental hospital
staceyreader avatar reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 56 more book reviews
This was a really good book. It kept my interest and I finished it rather quickly.
reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on
I liked it but it won't be put on my top 10 list.
reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 272 more book reviews
It was okay. I think I was just a little let down, after reading Me & emma first. I loved that! This was an easy read but, I missed a twist.
beekers24 avatar reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 26 more book reviews
I did not care for this book. It was very boring. I can't believe I read the whole thing :) However, I loved "Emma & Me" by the same author which is what made me decide to read this novel. You might like it...I did not!.
reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 37 more book reviews
Broadcast journalist, Isabel Murphy, falls apart on the air in front of an audience of millions, and ends up at Three Breezes, a psychiatric hospital nicknamed the "nut hut."
reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on
While breaking the hottest news story of the year, broadcast journalist Isabel Murphy falls apart on live television in front of an audience of millions. She lands at Three Breezes, a four-star psychiatric hospital nicknamed the "nut hut", where she begins the painful process of recovering the life everyone thought she had.

But accepting her place among her fellow patients proves difficult. Isabel struggles to reconcile the fact that she is, indeed, one of them, and faces the reality that in order to mend her painfully fractured life she must rely solely on herself.
reviewed But Inside I'm Screaming on + 20 more book reviews
Great read, good condition, corners are a little bent but not anything terrible