Angela Character Analysis in Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness

Angela is Susannah's best friend at the New York Post. She's a few years older than Susannah, and Susannah says that she often jokes that she'd love it if a future daughter were just like Angela. Angela is one of the Post's most talented reporters, and she often spends her Friday nights writing several different stories on multiple screens. After Susannah returns to work, Angela surreptitiously helps Susannah with her articles.

Angela Character Timeline in Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness

The timeline below shows where the character Angela appears in Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...alcohol. Today, however, the room is subdued and silent. Susannah slides into her seat beside Angela, one of her best friends, and quietly asks if she knows anything about bedbug bites. (full context)

Storytelling, Memory, and Emotion Theme Icon

Responsibility and the Medical System Theme Icon

Angela scoots away from Susannah with a smile. As Susannah tries to show Angela her arm,... (full context)

...She calls Stephen, who suggests she see a doctor. Susannah laughs this off and asks Angela for a second opinion. Another nearby reporter suggests that Susannah see a doctor. (full context)

The next day, Susannah tells Angela that her hand is still numb and tingly, and she doesn't feel like herself. Susannah... (full context)

...have a job change and financial success. When Susannah returns to her desk, she finds Angela looking depressed and discovers that a fellow reporter had just died from melanoma. The funeral... (full context)

Conspiratorially, Susannah whispers to Angela that she's seeing bright colors that hurt her eyes. Angela looks worried as Susannah elaborates... (full context)

Angela asks Susannah if she wants to go for a walk, but Susannah just continues crying.... (full context)

...her life, though she realizes her happiness is tenuous and won't last. Susannah announces to Angela that everything will be great, and she asks Paul to go smoke with her outside.... (full context)

After ten minutes, Paul heads inside and calls Angela. He insists they need to call Susannah's mom because something is very wrong. Susannah stays... (full context)

Angela gets permission from Paul to take Susannah for a drink, with the hope of piecing... (full context)

...home that night, later than usual, Stephen is already there cooking dinner. Rather than take Angela's advice and tell Stephen the truth, Susannah lies about where she's been. When she tells... (full context)

Next, Angela and Julie come to visit. Hannah is already there, and Julie hops onto the bed... (full context)

Angela begins asking Susannah questions. Susannah is very concerned about what people at work are saying... (full context)

...plasma is replaced with protein-rich fluid. Several of Susannah's friends visit during this stay. When Angela visits, she's startled by Susannah's appearance. She later emails Paul and says that Susannah is... (full context)

...and must record interviews because she can't write as fast as she once could. Both Angela and Paul discreetly help her. (full context)

...NYU. Susannah, Mom, Allen, and Stephen are late and slip into the lecture behind Dad, Angela, and another friend. Dr. Najjar lists tests that came back clean for a patient he... (full context)

At the Post later that day, Angela mentions to Steve and Paul where they'd been. Steve asks Susannah to write a first-person... (full context)