{"product_id":"the-monster-and-the-mirror-mental-illness-magic-and-the-stories-we-tell-9781770417083","title":"The Monster and the Mirror: Mental Illness, Magic, and the Stories We Tell","description":"\u003cb\u003eRevelatory memoir and cultural criticism that connects popular fantasy and our perceptions of mental illness to offer an empathetic path to compassionate care\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eGrowing up, K.J. Aiello was fascinated by magical stories of dragons, wizards, and fantasy, where monsters were not what they seemed and anything was possible. These books and films were both a balm and an escape, a safe space where Aiello's struggle with mental illness transformed from a burden into a strength that could win battles and vanquish villains. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eA unique blend of memoir, research, and cultural criticism, \u003ci\u003eThe Monster and the Mirror\u003c\/i\u003e charts Aiello's life as they try to understand their own mental illness using \u003ci\u003eThe Lord of the Rings\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eGame of Thrones\u003c\/i\u003e, and other stories as both guides to heroism and agency and cautionary tales of how mental illness is easily stereotyped as bad and violent. Aiello questions who is allowed to be \"mad\" versus \"sane,\" \"good\" versus \"evil,\" and \"weak\" versus \"strong,\" and who is allowed to tell their own stories. \u003ci\u003eThe Monster and the Mirror\u003c\/i\u003e explores our perceptions of mental illness in a way that is challenging and tender, empathetic and knowledgeable, and offers a path to deeper understanding and compassionate care.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eK.J. Aiello\u003c\/b\u003e is a mentally ill, award-winning writer based in Toronto, ON. Their work has appeared in the\u003ci\u003e Globe and Mail\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003e Toronto Life\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003e Chatelaine\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Walrus\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eThis Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e. They are still waiting for their very own dragon. Sadly, this has not happened, so their cats will have to suffice.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"ECW Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50878152081682,"sku":"9781770417083","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_ec7bc785-bf80-4ea1-8477-d72d9a974a4d.jpg?v=1738175154","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-monster-and-the-mirror-mental-illness-magic-and-the-stories-we-tell-9781770417083","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}