I Hate Myself and I Want to Die

Eight years ago, when Elizabeth Wurtzel began writing her memoir about being depressed at Harvard University, she wasn’t trying to be the poster child for glumness in America. But in the few months since her book has been out, that’s exactly what she’s become. Love it or hate it, people are freaking out over Prozac Nation. Critics say Wurtzel is overly self-involved and whiny, and they don’t get why anyone would want to read 300 pages of a privileged college girl histrionically complaining about how much her life sucks. Fans say it is an extremely detailed and realistic depiction of what it’s like to suffer from depression and that it should be required reading for psychiatric professionals and anyone who has ever battled with the disease or had antidepressants prescribed to them. We just think it’s fun to read about crazy teenagers being crazy.

And now we’re hearing rumors of Prozac Nation being optioned for a movie. Wouldn’t Winona Ryder be perfect for it? Maybe we’ll finally get to see her boobs!

Vice: You were one of the first people to ever go on Prozac, right?

Elizabeth Wurtzel:

Dallas Morning News

That seems to be what most people have latched onto about the book. The title makes it seems like it’s a sociological study, rather than the personal story it is.

Generation X

I Hate Myself and I Want to Die

You started writing Prozac Nation almost ten years ago, in 1986. How does it feel now that it’s finally come out?

What have people been saying about it?

Times

Times Book Review

You yourself have been getting a lot of attention as a Prozac poster child. What has that been like?

Was writing Prozac Nation a cathartic experience?

Clerks

Funny!

Did you keep a journal or did you write it all from memory?

Even though they’ve told you it’s accurate, how do people in the book feel about their portrayals?

He’s the guy you met your freshman year of college and who you drove around England with, right?

How do you feel about being labeled as part of the Generation X phenomenon? Has that also brought attention to your story?

Saturday Night Live

Are you worried that people are expecting you to keep writing about your depression?

What do you think you’ll be doing in, say, 15 years?

But will you still be writing?