Banana Kiss

By Bonnie Rozanski

Robin Farber lives in a psychiatric institution. In her mind, she creates the world by looking at it: a quantum theory-world where matter pops in and out of existence as she observes it, a world where... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0889842760
• ISBN13: 9780889842762
• Release Date: September 2005
• Publisher: Porcupine's Quill
• Length: 236 Pages
• Weight: 0.93 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.6" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

Derek. Derek. Bo-berrick. Banana-fana-fo Ferek. Mi-my-mo Merrick. Derek.

Having been introduced to the facile writing of Bonnie Rozanski in reading her second novel, the very successful study of autism and other variations of normal called BORDERLINE, picking up BANANA KISS to invest time and thought in Rozanski's meticulous, sensitive ability to explore yet another aspect of the atypical aspect of life at large was at once daunting and exhilarating. Finishing this 'first novel' this reader is left with the conviction that Bonnie Rozanski is a brave and challenging and very gifted writer. Not to frighten away potential readers fearing that such praise may suggest a novelist so off center that she is difficult to read- quite the opposite. The exciting discovery and reinforcement is just how easily Rozanski writes about difficult issues, difficult personalities and is able to inhabit her strange characters so completely that we almost metamorphose into them. By novel's end the fact that the main character and narrator (in BANANA KISS) is a schizophrenic young girl - one Robin Farber - whose chaotic world is reorganized by her own quantum mechanics of her mind that she seems the entirely normal heroine. Robin lives in Berkshire, a psychiatric institution where her associates include other atypical characters (Beverly, Roz, Derek) whose illnesses keep them from joining the outside world despite the use of drugs and ongoing therapy by the psychiatrist 'Whitecoat' (Dr. Mankiewicz) whose own life and mind have variations from the norm and who overcomes his role as the 'ugly other' for the patients to gain our complete compassion. The story is relayed completely from the viewpoint (and the very intricately accurate language) of the schizophrenic Robin, and it is through her eyes and voices that we learn about her twisted family, her ex-lover Max now marrying her sister Melissa, her copeless mother and her distant stepfather, the marriage of Max and Melissa, and Robin's liaisons with the manic depressive Derek. From her vantage we gain a unique viewpoint of life on the outside, communal living, institutional living, the use and misuse of pharmacological therapy, finding work as a maladaptive persona, and in general the at times thin line that divides the normal from the paranormal/abnormal personality. Rozanski has created a finely drawn cast of characters, demonstrating once again how she is able to climb into these strange people's minds and manner of communication (has she studied the mentally ill population as closely as this book suggests or is she simply that talented a writer?), and at the same time finds that balance between hilarious descriptions of incidents and responses and moments of gentle tenderness and specks of light that gleam like little joys in a dark world. Read this book, read BORDERLINE, and get to know the skill of a very gifted writer. Bonnie Rozanski takes her reader places beyond imagination, and the getting there is thoroughly entertaining. Grady Harp, October 09

A journey - Into the mind

This is a very well written book, 236 pages, written in 2005. I was hooked immediately, on the first page. There is something about the way Bonnie has Robin Farber (the primary character) dialog with you that makes you feel that you are right there with her, maybe even inside of her head. I felt like I heard what Robin heard and felt what Robin felt and it was a very interesting experience. I could feel Robin's ups and downs, her excitement and her fear, and everything in between. The story begins with Robin at her temporary "home" in Berkshire, a psychiatric institution. She is strapped to the bed because she has been "bad" again. Robin hears voices in her head pretty much all of the time. Some are nurturing and encouraging, while others are mean, insulting and even crude. At times, they are loud and insistent. Robin longs to feel "normal" and not be doped up on medicines. Sometimes Robin flushes her meds down the toilet. That's usually when she gets into trouble, sometimes bites one of the attendants, and wakes up tied down until the shot kicks in. You are constantly with Robin as she goes about her day-to-day adventures in a journey toward normalcy. You also meet her friends and relatives. Early on in the story, you meet Derek, a young man who also resides at Berkshire. Derek bounces between mania and depression and he is crazy about Robin right from the beginning. His parents have money and it seems like his father doesn't really like him very much. You also meet Robin's mother and step-father Howard. Robin's mother seems to worry about her all the time and says "oh, Robin" so much that it might as well be part of Robin's name. Howard seems to be an unexciting but a caring man. Robin's father was a sailor who died when she was a baby, but he visits her in her head frequently, from ports around the world. "Well, gotta go now. I'm off to Zanzibar!" (or wherever). Robin's former boyfriend, Max, whom she had hoped to marry one day, was stolen away by her sister Melissa, so there are obviously some relationship difficulties there for Robin. Oh, and let's not forget Dr. Mankiewiz, the resident shrink, whom Robin calls "Whitecoat" in her mind. Her meds are dispensed to her by caretakers Martin and Alex. She has bitten Martin several times so I think he is a little leery of her. The meds are to tone down the voices in her head. She is taking Clozaril now. "Thorazine was much worse. . .I walk normal, not like the old schizes, who did the Thorazine shuffle. Thorazine soaked up ALL their dopamine. . ." Oh, and there is also her friend Roz, whom she talks to and eats lunch with at Berkshire. Of course, you meet other characters throughout the story. Robin is confused, psychotic, funny and compassionate. She wants love but she fears it because she has been hurt deeply in the past by Max. And Whitecoat's questions get on her nerves. Quantum science theories are interwoven into the story line. Robin believes that she

A HAUNTING STORY AND OH MY, SO WELL WRITTEN -

Wow. It is difficult to believe that this is a first novel for this author. I admit to approaching this work with some trepidations as it is not my usual cup of tea; in fact I sort of fought it and kept putting it off. Finally I sat down in my reading chair, opened it and began reading. My goodness was I taken for a unique trip. Let me state right here that Bonnie Rozanski can write! I am one of those readers that live for syntax; I absolutely lose myself in an author's word pattern, and I tell you, I was sucked into this work instantly. The plot of this work has been very well addressed by other reviewers so I will be brief. Our central character in this unique work; the character who is telling her own story, is Robin Farber, a psychiatric patient with a diagnosis of schizophrenia who resides in a mental institution. Robin's entire world is this institution and the employees; her physician (Whitecoat), other patients and visiting family members. But is this all? Oh my no! Robin's world is inhabited by a plethora of voices; voices that give her commands, talk to her, reason with her, advise her, amuse her, contradict and agree, and all are as real as the real people who inhabit her world. This novel is Robin's story. I found this work to stand out is so many different areas. Of course there is first and above all the wonderful writing ability of the author which I have already mentioned. Ms. Rozanski is truly a gifted individual. It does not end here though. The author has enabled her characters to absolutely pull you into their lives, especially Robin, and make you feel, and feel deeply for them. I actually felt myself aching not only for Robin but with Robin. This is a writing skill that is not easy to come by. There was not one character in this book, including the ones inside our heroine's head, haunting her, that was not absolutely believable. You note that I referred to Robin as a "heroine?" Well this is indeed what she is in so many ways. Despite life being absolutely stacked against her, despite the fact that there is really no "happy fairy tale ending," nor can there be, and despite the fact that Robin is aware of this on so many levels, still she lives, fights and never really looses hope. I cannot remember a character in any novel that I have read where the author has taken such detailed care in presenting her or him. I feel that the author loves Robin in a very special way and this shows in her written words. I cannot overly emphasis this aspect of this work; it is an absolute marvel! I have spent quite a number of years working with and around persons in Robin's situation and have observed first hand their trials and tribulations; reactions and the consequences of their actions. This author has this aspect of the story, and the characters that inhabit her story nailed perfectly, and I mean absolutely nailed. The reader will find it impossible not to feel a deep empathy for Robin. The reader will find th

The Loneliness of Outsiders

When Bonnie Rozanski's debut novel opens, her central character and narrator Robin Farber is strapped down in her bed in Berkshire, a mental institution in Canada, a position she will find herself in many more times before her story concludes since she, a very young woman who has been diagnosed with schizophenia, often flushes her medicine-- that keeps her somewhat balanced-- down the toilet. Her narrow world is inhabited by her best friend at Berkshire, Roz; her roommate Beverly; her mother and stepfather Howard; her-- in her eyes-- wicked sister Melissa who has stolen her boyfriend Max from her; her bipolar fellow inmate Derek, who is in love with her; assorted assistants with whom she spars from time to time; and Dr. Mankiewicz, whom she usually calls "Whitecoat" and who ultimately holds her fate in his hands. While this first novel is not perfect, it is terrifically good and one that should be the envy of many more seasoned writers. Ms. Rozanski is nothing if not courageous in telling her story through the eyes of the mentally ill, no easy endeavor and a feat that she achieves with considerable aplomb. In a word, Robin is totally believable. Troubled by voices that sometimes come to her via her dental fillings-- in particular the voice of her long dead father who long ago committed suicide-- Robin takes the reader inside her mind as she confronts daily the demons that threaten to destroy her. Kaleidoscopically she goes hither and yon as she quotes cliches: she's not in Kanas anymore, you can't go home again, you can fool all the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time, s--- happens, etc., etc. We root for Robin and care about her desperately although we are fairly certain that she is not going to live happily ever after and ride out into the sunset-- speaking of cliches-- with Derek in his Miata since she is cursed with an incurable illness. She does have some bright moments, however, in an otherwise bleak existence. Her employment as a "dummy dresser" at the local All Mart where her sister also works is rewarding for her and provides humor as well. And she is loved by Derek. Her most important relationship though is the one with her psychiatrist Dr. Mankiewicz who turns out to be the most sympathetic of characters. (I am well aware that many professional critics tell us that characters do not have to be sympathetic to be effective and quote Iago as the best example. On the other hand, I like to like the people I read about.) The difficult road that Robin travels with "Whitecoat" has some heartwrenching though beautiful moments: "'Robin, I loved Derek as if he were my own son,'" Dr. Mankiewicz tells her in a particularly moving passage. Reading a good novel often reminds me of other good fiction as well as my own life experiences. When I finished BANANA KISS-- a very clever title-- I thought of Kazuo Ishiguro's brilliant NEVER LET ME GO and Joyce Carol Oates' characters in the school for "students with special needs" i

A mesmerizing story that stays with you

Robin is the reason I love this book. At first, I found her intensely frustrating. Her desire to be off her medication and allow her condition to take over her thoughts and functions made me angry with her. But then there was a shift. I think it happened when she and Derek escaped and found their way to the Dairy Queen. I found myself pulling for her and hoping that she would find a happier existence, but at the same time being able hold on to a piece of herself that maybe wasn't so healthy, but that was real nonetheless. I was fascinated by the dynamics of her relationships, with her sister and her ex-boyfriend. However, her most significant relationship was with Dr. Mankiewicz, Robin's true champion and quiet hero. If you're interested in being swept away with a story that explores very unique experiences and a mesmerizing frame of mind with a sprinkling of humor, I strongly recommend Banana Kiss.