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lily1304's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Cursing, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Lots of uncomfortably detailed descriptions of feces because she talks nonstop about her Crohn's Diseasesasstronaut's review against another edition
1.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Chronic illness, Cursing, Sexual content, Excrement, Medical content, and Death of parent
whatthekatdraggedin's review against another edition
2.75
Graphic: Chronic illness, Fatphobia, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Alcohol
skudiklier's review against another edition
3.25
But I liked it less and less the longer it went on. A lot of the humor felt repetitive--like, I can only read so much about making fun of the all the men she's been with before I get tired of it. By the end I was pretty uninterested and just waiting for it to be over.
I did read the first edition, and she re-ordered the essays for the later editions. Maybe the new order would have kept my interest more. But idk, I just felt like some of the essays were doing/saying the same things as previous ones, and it wasn't funny enough for that to be worth it.
Also there were some things that have not aged well--lots of fatphobia and internalized fatphobia, as well as internalized sexism. Also some things about the environment that I don't feel like she would say ten years later--at least, I hope not.
Anyway I'm giving this four stars because I did like it for a while, and I'm trying not to let my "meh" feelings at the end change my whole thoughts on the book. I don't think I'd recommend it, but maybe I'd try reading some of her later books.
Update: I changed this to 3.25 stars. I was trying to not let the parts I didn't like affect my rating too much, but the more time passes the less I think I'd recommend this. I did like a couple essays and I didn't hate this book or anything, but I no longer think I'd try reading some of her later books even. Just not for me.
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Fatphobia, Sexism, Excrement, and Death of parent
Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Drug abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Sexual harassment
graphic: parentification, diet culture, internalized fatphobia, internalized sexismnotartgarfunkel's review against another edition
4.0
As indicated by the title, one connection between these essays is Irby’s lived experience of her body. She discusses sex, chronic illness, race, fatness, mental health, and gender, among other things. There are also accounts of her mother’s illness and death. I really appreciate Irby’s irreverent approach to these hard topics. I laughed a lot, but I was also struck by how much she has had to survive.
Some of these essays were hard for me to read (thanks, OCD!), but I’m glad I did. I can’t wait to get to her later collections and see how her life and writing have changed. She’s a real gem.
Graphic: Chronic illness, Mental illness, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism, Fatphobia, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug abuse
sophie_paterson's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Chronic illness, Excrement, and Death of parent
rbacon's review against another edition
Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Excrement, and Death of parent
paigeno's review against another edition
3.25
Graphic: Body shaming, Chronic illness, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Mental illness, Self harm, and Grief
d0505's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Chronic illness, Cursing, and Excrement
Moderate: Death of parent
foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Excrement, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail