Review of The College Shrink

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Sam Ibeh
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Review of The College Shrink

Post by Sam Ibeh »

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The College Shrink" by William Haylon.]
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3 out of 4 stars
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In The College Shrink by William Haylon, Doctor Emily Metcalf was a college therapist and had worked at the college for years. Emily, a mother of two, had over the years taken up rowing to calm herself. After her marriage of more than two decades had ended on a terrible note, Emily dedicated herself to her work. Her life began to change when Jelly came into her office with her boyfriend, Seth. Then, there was Mana, an impoverished student from Nepal battling with guilt. Finally, there came a renowned professor of English, Henry Rosenstein. The lives of these three people with their peculiar issues became connected and even more intertwined by an unfortunate incident. As Emily tried to provide safe succor for her young clients, she must also find a way to work through her issues and past hurts, even if it meant submitting herself to an unexpected therapist.

The author's narrative technique was not only remarkable but also enthralling. The storytelling seeped the story in an aura of intrigue and anticipation as the narrator gave us intimate details about the characters and predictions of their fate. These predictions built suspense and captured my interest enough to see the story to the end. While the author's language was simple, it had a distinct flow that added to the book's overall appeal. One thing that stood out from the book's first pages was the author's use of sarcastic, satirical, but salient statements that hinted at the shortcomings in the political and educational system. These somewhat veiled truths were thought-provoking and significant narratives that should be addressed. For instance, the author hinted at how the academic environment had merely become a facade for good publicity with no genuine concern about the student's mental state.

Readers would quickly develop a bond with the book's characters. The characters were all so unique in their personalities and troubles. Emily's character would make readers pray that there were more people like her to make the world a better place. Professor Henry's character was heartwarming and would get readers ruminating on their mortality. Mana's character was heart-wrenching but endearingly because of his gentleness and purity of nature. However, readers would connect more with Jelly's character. Her persistent kindness and humor might make her readers' favorite.

The College Shrink showcased the ever-demanding need for attention to mental health. With the increasing societal demands, individuals, especially the young ones, are under a lot of pressure that negatively affects their mental state. These mental issues could be latent but volatile, like in the case of the character, Marionette. Reading this book felt like being in an actual therapy session; for some readers, it could serve as a free one.

The book was a good read, though it could do with some more editing. I loved reading it and didn't stop till the end. This book would be appreciated by readers interested in mental health. There were no negative aspects to the book's content. However, due to the number of errors, I'd rate The College Shrink three out of four stars.

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The College Shrink
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Summer Henrietta
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Post by Summer Henrietta »

Mental health is one of the many issues that are underrated in the world today. This book is a good read.
abstactlemon
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Post by abstactlemon »

I usually am not a fan of seeing the author's hand while reading the story, but the way you describes it led me to think I might enjoy this book. Great review.
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Austin Debby
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Post by Austin Debby »

Mental health has made more sense in this generation where almost any and everything poses a threat to it. Insightful review
Luchris Curtis
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Post by Luchris Curtis »

Emily is a therapist who has work to solve the issues of her clients while keeping her own life in shape. I'd love to know if she was able to succeed. Thanks for your honest review.
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