Gabrielle Gomez

Carlo
AM Blue
19 October 2015

Just like a mother might hide vegetables in a childs dish, an author hides
technique in their writing. The author, Susannah Cahalan, a young, successful New
York Post journalist, uses technique to describe her month of madness. Susannah
wakes up in a hospital bad with little to no recollection of the turmoil her brain
encountered. In an effort to recapture that month and better understand who
Susannah was, she reclaims that memory by recording, writing, and hosting a
series of interviews. In Brain on Fire, the reader is drawn in by the authors various
subliminal writing techniques such as flashbacks, teaching, and stream of
consciousness.

Susannah uses flashbacks to depict the important emotions felt during her
recovery process. Being the talk of the town made being out in public a vulnerable
situation for Susannah. She writes back on her recovery process in depth to
describe how uncomfortable she felt. Often old friends would stop her and strike
up a conversation expecting the old susannah, but receiving the less functioning
one(144). Susannah also goes back to talk of the times family would recognize
progression in her recovery through what people consider insignificant. When
Susannah sings along to an old song with Stephen in the car, this was an emotional
milestone (171).

Gabrielle Gomez
Carlo
AM Blue
19 October 2015

Teaching the reader allows for a better understanding of how detrimental

Susannah disease was while creating a basic understanding of the origins of her
behavior. Its brought up frequently that Susannah would watch the same movies
daily without any recollection of it. Since Susannah gave the reader background on
what the hippocampus is the reader is able to make a connection between the two
(101). Explanations are also used to demonstrate the worry her family felt for her
recovery. Susannah gave us background information on problems in her right
hemisphere, which creates doubt in her ability to think creatively(198). This helped
the reader understand why Susannahs family was so worried about her ability to
hold a job again and function normally. Susannah consistently include images,
writings, and explanations to help the reader understand which part of her brain
wasn't working correctly and allowed for a better understanding of what was
happening to Susannah.
The illness creates an unstable environment that leaves the reader searching
for more. Susannah uses stream of consciousness to provide an intimate connection
that only herself and the reader would understand. In order to care for Susannah,
you must see the contrast in her behavior before and after the disease. When
Susannah is experiencing psychosis she takes us through for delusions allowing the

Gabrielle Gomez
Carlo
AM Blue
19 October 2015

reader to see her perspective(78). After her recovery Susannah faces large hurdles
in her ability to socialize again. This creates a feeling of awkwardness that
connects Susannah and the reader.
These writing techniques have deeply conveyed Susannahs terrifying
experience. If she had not used these techniques the reader would not have had the
emotional attachment and the new understanding of what it would be like the have
your brain attack your body. Susannahs intentions appeared as if she were to
sharing an experience while actually subliminally giving the reader an experience
in itself.