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sarahetc's review
2.0
This started strong, a genuine, forthright and funny voice confronting a major life change, knowing she was unprepared. It gradually devolved until all that was left was travelogues and oh by the way and a swing-and-a-miss attempt at wrapping it all up in a nice bow. While there are obvious limitations to the memoir genre, "a diary of my son's first son" implies that this is a memoir about grandmothering a baby and mothering a set of new parents. It is that, but only occasionally. Mostly it's about Anne and how she's trying pretty hard not to be herself, vis a vis new family constructions while also taking trips and living life. She should just publish her journal every year and call it Anne Lamott's Journey and Minorly Scarcastic Thoughts, vols. 1 to Infinity.
meginsanity's review
2.0
While I read this book I kept thinking it would be so cringeworthy to have a memoir written with you as a character in it. You'd be reading it and your toes would curl and your hands would grip the book really, really hard, because it would be very uncomfortable. And at times I felt bad for Sam and Amy. They were in a very vulnerable position throughout this book as young parents in a rocky relationship, and I don't know how anybody would come off very well if a book was written about them in that situation.
Anne Lamott's writing can't be faulted except it is almost too pretty and poetic and flowery. All of her friends and even her son are (portrayed as) very eloquent, which felt unrealistic. It makes everyone feel very much like a stock character full of wisdom rather than an actual person somebody might interact with.
I didn't mind the God stuff very much. She gets across her own beliefs pretty well and doesn't do too much slamming of others. I guess her hippieness contributes to that.
My other problem with the book was it felt very thrown-together. It didn't feel like an actual journal. It felt very much like she and Sam intended to write this book from the very beginning, but they didn't commit very much to structuring it, so it ended up being a tossed-together jumble of "interviews," emails, a travel diary, and a little bit of journaling.
Anne Lamott's writing can't be faulted except it is almost too pretty and poetic and flowery. All of her friends and even her son are (portrayed as) very eloquent, which felt unrealistic. It makes everyone feel very much like a stock character full of wisdom rather than an actual person somebody might interact with.
I didn't mind the God stuff very much. She gets across her own beliefs pretty well and doesn't do too much slamming of others. I guess her hippieness contributes to that.
My other problem with the book was it felt very thrown-together. It didn't feel like an actual journal. It felt very much like she and Sam intended to write this book from the very beginning, but they didn't commit very much to structuring it, so it ended up being a tossed-together jumble of "interviews," emails, a travel diary, and a little bit of journaling.
stephaniesteen73's review
2.0
I wrote this review once and lost it....here it is re-created...all for you, Emily Wilson!
I had such high hopes for this book as I absolutely LOVED Operating Instructions - the journal of Lamott's first year with her son Sam. So it seemed like a perfect idea to chronicle the first year of Sam's first son, Jax. While Lamott was a single mom from the get-go, circumstances were somewhat similar as Sam and his girlfriend found out they were expecting Jax at age 19.
Maybe because I'm closer to newborns than to grandchildren, but I felt the whole tone of the book was wrong. The majority of entries seem to be complaints: she doesn't see Jax enough, the parents aren't doing things correctly, they come over and stay too long, etc. If I was Jax's mom, I'd run away once reading this (even though the book is dedicated to her, and apparently she was OK with it all). She's got a lot more patience and understanding than I would! Particularly offensive were the sections where Lamott gripes that the child's mother should get a job...and she details every single time she gives them money (for groceries, for clothes), etc. More than one she frets about supporting them.
Especially in the sections where Lamott travels to India, the book felt like "Eat. Pray. Love" (or as a friend dubbed it, "Me. Me. Me.") This is best reflected in the section where Lamott asks her son to write a summary of his uncle's wedding. She asks something to the effect of "did you mention how thin and beautiful I looked?" and he responds, wisely, "Mom, is it OK if the wedding is about the people getting married and not about you?"
There were still lots of witticisms and profound spiritual insights here. Lamott is a gifted writer and knows she is completely neurotic. It wasn't an unenjoyable experience, but it could have been so much more. The positive thing is that Jax is in good hands with two loving parents, and a loving grandmother who loves him in her own, all-consuming way.
I had such high hopes for this book as I absolutely LOVED Operating Instructions - the journal of Lamott's first year with her son Sam. So it seemed like a perfect idea to chronicle the first year of Sam's first son, Jax. While Lamott was a single mom from the get-go, circumstances were somewhat similar as Sam and his girlfriend found out they were expecting Jax at age 19.
Maybe because I'm closer to newborns than to grandchildren, but I felt the whole tone of the book was wrong. The majority of entries seem to be complaints: she doesn't see Jax enough, the parents aren't doing things correctly, they come over and stay too long, etc. If I was Jax's mom, I'd run away once reading this (even though the book is dedicated to her, and apparently she was OK with it all). She's got a lot more patience and understanding than I would! Particularly offensive were the sections where Lamott gripes that the child's mother should get a job...and she details every single time she gives them money (for groceries, for clothes), etc. More than one she frets about supporting them.
Especially in the sections where Lamott travels to India, the book felt like "Eat. Pray. Love" (or as a friend dubbed it, "Me. Me. Me.") This is best reflected in the section where Lamott asks her son to write a summary of his uncle's wedding. She asks something to the effect of "did you mention how thin and beautiful I looked?" and he responds, wisely, "Mom, is it OK if the wedding is about the people getting married and not about you?"
There were still lots of witticisms and profound spiritual insights here. Lamott is a gifted writer and knows she is completely neurotic. It wasn't an unenjoyable experience, but it could have been so much more. The positive thing is that Jax is in good hands with two loving parents, and a loving grandmother who loves him in her own, all-consuming way.
hinesight's review
4.0
I read this over one day on the way home from New England - Anne Lamott never disappoints, and as a grandma, I can appreciate her endless worries and pretty much endless powerlessness. Charming, quick and fun to read.
freckleduck's review
4.0
I was recommended this by a librarian today because I have not read Anne Lamott, I was unsure what to expect. I had heard of her but never read anything written by her. I appreciated the honesty of this book and the pacing. It was written in short snippets making it easy to digest and want to continue reading. I was able to read it in a day so it was not super intense. I found it similar to Waiting for Birdy by Catherine Newman, but a generation removed. I appreciated Lamott's honest reflections on her experiences both good and bad. I feel like this humanistic perspective helps others including me feel more comfortable with our humanity. This book made me want to document my future children's role in my life and how I am coping with that.
laila4343's review
3.0
I do *so* enjoy Anne Lamott. But reading this reminded me that I am so glad she is NOT my mother-in-law. If my mother-in-law is as needy as Lamott, she really hides it well, for which I am eternally grateful. That said, this is a sweet, life-affirming book mostly about the birth of her first grandchild and the wonderful effect he has on the whole family. Not as good as some of her other non-fiction, but a good, heartfelt little read.
shirleytupperfreeman's review
3.0
I like Anne Lamott's nonfiction much better than her fiction, but this wasn't my favorite. When Anne's son, Sam, was 19, his girlfriend became pregnant and decided to keep the baby. This is a journal of the first year of life for Anne's grandson, Jax. There are some funny moments and some poignant moments but some of the time I just felt like it was 'too much information' about life in one family. It would probably be a nice read for someone who is facing the prospect of grandparent-hood before they, or their children, are ready.
asurges's review
3.0
I liked this because I almost always like Anne Lamott, and there's some good, funny stuff in here. I felt, though, it was harder for me to connect because I'm not a grandmother, so stuff went over my head emotionally. :-) Also, I HATED the parts where she had emails from her son or her son's baby mama or interviews with her son. All three sections like that read as though they were being forced, which is in complete opposition to Lamott's own, very easy voice.
bahfox's review
4.0
I almost quit reading about 75 pages in. I'm so glad I didn't. The bickering between the young parents was annoying but that was the way it was. Anne Lamott's writing is chock a block full of great quotes.