Yeah, this book is much better written (the opening still stuns me) but Hangsaman is more....emotional? Subjective? I love the way Jackson plays around with narrative voice in this, the shifting POVs (and Elizabeth's shifting POVs!) and letters and memories and the doctor's narrative, but it does create a certain distance. Which was clearly what she wanted, partly due to the subject matter -- probably just a book of wild stream-of-consciousness wouldn't work (altho, again, Merricat). Robin is a HORRIFIC villain, clearly abusing and manipulating Betsy, and her mother seems absolutely careless. Morgen's comments about how Elizabeth wouldn't let her sing to her and other details were absolutely heartbreaking.

My favourite personalities scene is the one with the bath. It's so absurd, but also so domestic and homey but chilling. Pure Jackson. Or the fight scene ("Suddenly it was ridiculous to be madly clinging to Elizabeth's arm," since Elizabeth is no more than a walking headache).

The doc and Beth are like RIGHT out of pseudo-Freudian writeups of psychoanalysts and young girls, it's fucking hilarious. I love Betsy calling him Dr Wrong and tricking him, and how he and Morgen come to depend on her (I do not have a bad girl thing). I love the little glints of Betsy we get in Morgen/Victoria at the end. And how she's not sane, exactly, but she's fine. I was much more convinced in her recovery and ability to go on than Natalie's.