The Madhouse of Love Peter G Mackie Book
by Peter G Mackie

Book Comments & Discussion

UnknownAUTHORAug 2012

I wrote this book at the age of 17 based on my own experiences as a teenager in a psychiatric unit. My favourite chapter is the first chapter. What I learned from writing this book was that I was able to express my feelings. I believe that this book would be of interest to anyone who wishes to read an honest, true-life account of a teenager growing up and also to anyone who has had experience of psychiatry or mental health problems. As I believe this book to be unique, I don't believe that any books are directly comparable to it. Perhaps the nearest would be The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. It is different from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nestin that it was written by an ex-patient.

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Storyline

Description

Written at the age of 17, "The Madhouse of Love" is the story of a 12-year-old who is kept in a psychiatric unit for 2½ years in Scotland in the late 1960s due to a misunderstanding.

During his stay in the hospital, he falls in love with a girl who is also a patient, but their relationship is put a stop to by the authorities, leading them both to contemplate suicide.

Eventually, Tony manages to discharge himself by using a great deal of tact and persuasion but eventually ends up homeless in London at the age of 16.

About the Author

Peter G. Mackie was born in Perth, Scotland in 1957 and, as a teenager, spent 2½ years in an Adolescent Unit, causing him to lapse into depression.

In the 1970s and '80s, he spent several years living and working abroad, which helped him see a more positive side of life.

However, in recent years, his depression has returned, along with panic attacks.

He is currently attending Redhall Walled Garden, a project in Edinburgh run by the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH), where he is doing a computer course.