[Partless]

Hi, I have PTSD as some of you might know, and my T is on yet another vacation but her replacement told me today why don't I consider reading literature about guilt, survivor guilt in particular. Anything that deals with psychology of guilt in a character, so I can find my experiences in another person, and be able to both find validation and yet a kind of distancing. I thought that's a pretty good idea!

I looked online and saw a few recommendations for "Crime and Punishment" but that seems to involve an actual crime (mine is family trauma) and not be about survivor guilt. Yet in terms of general guilt apparently it does a very good job so I'll look into it. But there are barely other recommendations, and it surprises me given how common trauma and guilt feelings are. Perhaps there are books but rarely an author can do a great job with delving deep into the psychology of it, maybe it's painful to put to words.

In any event, I'd much appreciate it if you could make recommendations or help me find good novels to read on psychology of guilt in general or survivor guilt. I like the idea of using literature, maybe by the time my T comes back I'll have some new things to talk about, things I've been running away from.

It's been awhile since I read it, but Wally Lamb's The Hour I First Believed comes to mind. I really like his books; they are all rather psychological. This one tells the story of a teacher dealing with PTSD following Columbine. It's a good read and rather interesting. It is a novel, not a factual account.

[atisketatasket]

Not totally sure this fits what you are looking for, but what came to mind when I read your post was Ian McEwan, Atonement.

Actually I just Googled "novels about survivor guilt" and there are several lists out there.

And, of course, Sophie's Choice by William Styron.

Those are great novels also. Good suggestions, atat.

A couple others that come to mind:

The Joy Luck Club - Amy Tan
Prince of Tides - Pat Conroy

I'll keep thinking.

[unaluna]

The way of all flesh by samuel butler

[Favorite Jeans]

The way the crow flies by Ann-Marie MacDonald

Lotsa guilt. Also kind of depressing. But a great book.

[lucozader]

There are some pretty strong themes of survivor's guilt in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer.