CPTSD-oriented novels?

[woodsgnome]

I'm a voracious reader, an activity that defines a huge chunk of my life. I'm often reading multiple titles simultaneously.

Most of my reads are non-fiction and cover a vast array of subjects. Of course I've a huge section on cptsd-related material. But I'm curious as to whether anyone here has run across a good fictional tale that touches on cptsd. There's a few titles described in reviews as dealing with ptsd, but I found none covering the cptsd variety.

Mind you, there's lots of psychology in all sorts of novels. But I was just curious if anyone has read any fiction that does a good job weaving some of the cptsd-specific issues into the story. It might at least provide a useful companion to the growing body of scholarly non-fictional material that's finally lifted the veil on the topic.

Thanks.

[smg]

Hi Woodsgnome,

I really like your question. I do know a novel that seems to me to show a protagonist dealing with CPTSD. Parts of the story are triggering, and it wasn't a peaceful read for me. That said, I've read it twice.

The author does a really good job writing internal dialogue that highlights the inner critic at work. Also, I found it validating that the cause of the protagonist's cptsd is presented as not the big-T-Traumatic event, but her family's gaslighting her about it.

The book is Once a Hero by Elizabeth Moon (published by Baen in 1997). It's science fiction. You may have to do some hunting to find it. (My copy is a library discard.)

smg

[Jdog]

Hi-

I've just finished reading the new novel by Paula Hawkins, The Girl on the Train.  It is suspenseful, and it seems to me that the protagonist is surely a cptsd survivor.  Much gaslighting in this one as well.  But you should have no trouble finding it.  May be triggering for some.

[steamy]

Both books are available from Amazon for the kindle app.

I have just bought them it will be interesting to see if my own experiences tally. I am looking forward to seeing a person like me in a novel

Many thanks

[Shadowlight]

It occurred to me that one novel that resonated with me in some ways was a Sci-Fi novel called Rite Of Passage by Alexei Panshin (sp?).

[Wattlebird]

Hi woodsgnome
I know this an old old post but books are never too old, your post about cptsd fiction captured my interest I have often thought the fictional characters should have cptsd or at least Ptsd but seem to cope with trauma after trauma with little more than a few nightmares.
Harry Potter should be utterly traumatised lol, anyway I love reading and a few books I thought of were
The girl with a dragon tattoo series (very triggering)
The hunger games series
I try to think of others