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vaykay's review
challenging
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
3.5
Received this book in a giveaway.
I liked it; I don't know if I needed to read it. It felt comforting in some ways because I have felt similarly in very different situations, but my heart also hurt for Pittard and the years she spent with a shitty best friend and a shitty husband. Maybe she was shitty to them too; I guess she tries to raise awareness to that in the book... but I am not fully convinced that her supposed shitty-ness somehow balances the scales with their shitty-ness. At least I found Pittard's concluding remarks inspiring; sometimes I struggle to recognize that time is a construct and you can find happiness and worth even when you spent n years doing something or a submerged in a situation that you regretted or hated or felt was totally wasted or wasteful. A book like this from Pittard was one of those happy reminders that there's no such thing as wasted life, even when the time spent is sad to look upon.
I liked it; I don't know if I needed to read it. It felt comforting in some ways because I have felt similarly in very different situations, but my heart also hurt for Pittard and the years she spent with a shitty best friend and a shitty husband. Maybe she was shitty to them too; I guess she tries to raise awareness to that in the book... but I am not fully convinced that her supposed shitty-ness somehow balances the scales with their shitty-ness. At least I found Pittard's concluding remarks inspiring; sometimes I struggle to recognize that time is a construct and you can find happiness and worth even when you spent n years doing something or a submerged in a situation that you regretted or hated or felt was totally wasted or wasteful. A book like this from Pittard was one of those happy reminders that there's no such thing as wasted life, even when the time spent is sad to look upon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Medical content, and Pregnancy
savvylit's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
We Are Too Many is a searingly honest dissection of all three forces in the divorce: Hannah, Patrick, & Trish. Pittard gives readers a non-chronological glimpse into the relationships she had with both of the other forces. The most refreshing and astounding thing about this memoir is its lack of blame. Pittard never points a finger specifically at Patrick or Trish for the dissolution of her marriage. In fact, she's just as honest about her own flaws as she is about theirs. Rather than blaming one person, Hannah reflects on the multitude of signs that pointed to ruination.
Another remarkable aspect of this memoir lies in its unusual form and structure. Part One is recalled conversations that are written like a screenplay. Part Two is a discussion with her ex-husband that never happened. Part Three is a personal reckoning with the aftermath of losing Patrick and Trish.
Ultimately, We Are Too Many offers a unique and memorable perspective on divorce and relationships. I was particularly impressed by Pittard's ability to reflect upon herself and her own flaws. Towards the memoir's end, there are some truly beautiful passages where Pittard laments her tendency towards passivity and the misogynistic ideas about relationships that she internalized as a child.
Thank you @henryholtbooks for this gifted copy of We Are Too Many in exchange for my honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Another remarkable aspect of this memoir lies in its unusual form and structure. Part One is recalled conversations that are written like a screenplay. Part Two is a discussion with her ex-husband that never happened. Part Three is a personal reckoning with the aftermath of losing Patrick and Trish.
Ultimately, We Are Too Many offers a unique and memorable perspective on divorce and relationships. I was particularly impressed by Pittard's ability to reflect upon herself and her own flaws. Towards the memoir's end, there are some truly beautiful passages where Pittard laments her tendency towards passivity and the misogynistic ideas about relationships that she internalized as a child.
Thank you @henryholtbooks for this gifted copy of We Are Too Many in exchange for my honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Drug abuse