TBR: “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger and the Hypocrisy of the World Seen Through Young Holden’s Eyes

An In-Depth Psychological and Social Read on Mental Health, Alienation and Emotional Struggles As a nurse, I’ve often found myself dealing with human behaviors and emotional reactions in high-stress, difficult situations. These themes, which I face daily, deeply resonate with me in J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye. First …

What Lies Beneath (2000): A Psychological Thriller that Digs Into Crime, the Mind and Inner Ghosts

Somewhere between the calm of a fading day and a still lake, something unsettling begins to sway What Lies Beneath is a psychological thriller that ventures beyond traditional horror tropes, weaving together suspense, emotional trauma, and a chilling exploration of manipulation within intimate relationships. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, best known …

The Nicholas Green Case: Organ Donation and Cultural Change in Italy

In September 1994, a seven-year-old American boy, Nicholas Green, was fatally injured during a robbery attempt while traveling with his family in southern Italy. In the days that followed, his name became closely associated with a significant increase in public awareness about organ donation in Italy. Before this event assumed …

Surviving in the Obscurity: Susy’s Resilience in Wait Until Dark (1967)

A neuropsychological dive into the Audrey Hepburn thriller—where disability, trauma and strategy collide. When the lights go out, something clicks on There’s a moment in Wait Until Dark (1967), Terence Young’s claustrophobic thriller, when Susy Hendrix, the blind protagonist, turns off every light in her apartment. Simple move, right? But …

The Deadly Glow: The Untold Story of the Radium Girls

How a group of young women exposed a hidden truth—and changed labor rights forever. Back in the 1920s, right in the heart of the U.S., a group of young women—initially totally unknown but destined to become icons of both courage and suffering—started working in what seemed like a solid career …

TBR: When Summer Turns Dark and The Uneasy Truths of “Dandelion Wine”

With his novel, Ray Bradbury peels back the golden haze of childhood to reveal what quietly haunts it. Dandelion Wine isn’t just a story of childhood. It’s a novel about trauma — without ever using the word. It talks about death — without being obsessed with darkness. It speaks of …

Through a Nurse’s Eyes: Mental Health in Amadeus

Uncovering the fine line between artistic brilliance and psychological decline. As a nurse and a film enthusiast, I’m always fascinated by how certain movies can capture the complexity of the human mind more effectively than any academic text. Amadeus is one of those films. It’s not just the story of …

The Clown That’s Lost It(s) Smile

Let’s explore the origin of the fear of clowns, from childhood traumas to cultural iconography and the myth of Pennywise. For many, the clown is a symbol of joy: colorful, clumsy, funny—the star of circuses and children’s parties. Yet, for others, that same painted face is a source of unease, …

Alfredino Rampi (1981): The Case, the Rescue Effortsand and the Impact on Emergency Systems

On April 11, 2025, Alfredino Rampi would have turned 49. His story remains one of the most significant events in contemporary Italian history, not only because of the dramatic nature of the events, but also due to the social, media-related, and technical consequences that followed. The Disappearance and the Beginning …