It is quite well understood that a clinically depressed person will show little, if any, interest in constructive activity concerning future events or outcomes. In this respect, Simon has only flirted with depression in its definitive or clinical form. But if that is all that depression required, then I could say without much hesitation that Simon has always been, other than for short periods, too involved in things to be clinically depressed. William really knows very little about what’s on his son’s mind. What he and many people don’t understand is that there is more to depression than a sometimes overwhelming feeling of inadequacy and hopelessness and profound sadness. When people are depressed they are sometimes very, very angry. They are not just quietly miserable. They can be filled with great passion.
Seven Types of Ambiguity by Elliot Perlman, page 6.
This is my favorite Australian (and Melbourne based, no less,) novel. It’s beautiful.
(via aduelwillsettlethis)
This passage certainly awoke my interest.
(Even tho’ I’m currently looking for more, ehm, up-beat reading material.)
Thoughts?