I saw the movie before reading the book, something I hate doing. It didn't seem to matter with this book, I loved it all the more for having Edward Norton's voice in my head. The thing I love most about this book is the narrators complete submersion in his insanity. I have always held the idea that mental illness, the complete breakdown of ones sanity is so freeing, in a way that those who have a firm grip on reality can never understand. The freedom to just let go, to 'slide' as it were is the most powerful message that I got from this book. Having a mental illness myself it poses many questions and makes me wonder just how far I would go if I could truly let go and slide.