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Content snapshot
Flag an inaccuracy →What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.
Violence
Barely any
No significant violence
Language
Barely any
Mild language in the literary fiction register
Sexual Content
Some
Adult romantic content; Madeleine and Leonard's relationship is adult
Substance Use
Some
Drinking; Leonard's medications, including lithium, are central
Emotional Intensity
A lot
Bipolar disorder, psychiatric hospitalization, and the relationship dynamics created by severe mental illness are the novel's sustained psychological subject — handled with intelligence and honesty
What this book is about
Jeffrey Eugenides's third novel follows Madeleine, Leonard, and Mitchell through graduation and the years that follow — Madeleine in love with Leonard despite his severe bipolar disorder, Mitchell following her across Europe hoping she'll turn to him. Eugenides writes about mental illness with precision and empathy; Leonard's manic and depressive episodes are depicted with clinical and emotional honesty. Adult content; the exploration of bipolar disorder and lithium's effects is among the most accurate in literary fiction.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
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