kayla_king's review against another edition
4.0
Another book club read! I liked it more than I expected to. I almost skipped this one but then I saw Patrick Rothfuss' rave review and had to give it a shot.
Not the type of book I normally go for, and it took me time to get into it. The author certainly had a unique voice that I found a little annoying at first.
But she made me laugh out loud several times, and that counts for a lot. I found certain chapters more humorous than others, but overall it was a fun read.
Her raw honesty about her mental illness is inspiring, and there's a couple chapters at the end that get very sappy, but in an empowering way.
Not the type of book I normally go for, and it took me time to get into it. The author certainly had a unique voice that I found a little annoying at first.
But she made me laugh out loud several times, and that counts for a lot. I found certain chapters more humorous than others, but overall it was a fun read.
Her raw honesty about her mental illness is inspiring, and there's a couple chapters at the end that get very sappy, but in an empowering way.
lizard_sarah_96's review against another edition
3.0
I really loved the first chapter of this book, it was hilarious, and I loved the last three chapters, I though that they sent a wonderful message to the readers about mental illness and were very positive about even though there are awful days with struggled that there is always going to be a good day down the road and to hold on to the good days and to keep fighting for them, which is a beautiful message. However all the chapters in between were mediocre at best if not garbled anecdotes that were neither funny nor uplifting but the random thoughts of a person packaged in the manic pixie dream girl esq way but with the understanding that it's mental Illness being shown here not a "cool" girl persona. The book felt random and rushed to me and therefor hard to connect to
mpierce's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
I REALLY enjoyed listening to this book. I stumbled upon Jenny Lawson and she is 100% herself. I laughed out loud, rolled my eyes, and had some great messages! I have already been recommending to friends!
setauuta's review against another edition
5.0
I didn't realize how much I needed this book until I started reading it. I've been in a not-great place the last few weeks, and reading about how the author manages to pull herself out of that same black hole definitely helped me get out of mine. Also, I may or may not have startled Eric by giggling maniacally at certain bits - I admit nothing.
saluki's review against another edition
5.0
Serious subject... MENTAL ILLNESS. And... I cracked up laughing so many times. This is the best pressie I gave myself this year.
I opted for the the audiobook rather than the dead tree format. So glad I did... it felt more intimate and I was connected. Totally connected. Let me explain why. Well, foremost I'm a domestic slut. I abhor housework. It's unpaid, it's boring, it's unappreciated and taken for granted. It doesn't just suck hours out of my life... it sucks effing years out of my life. And, it makes me miserable as I'd rather be reading, talking and playing with my dog or playing games. Cue the invention of audiobooks, that I have come to love belatedly... I'm always late to the game! And housework isn't (quite) the chore it was.
So now I'm hoovering up my beloved ones dead skin cells while laughing crazy with voices in my ear. Frankly, that is normal without the hoover anyway as my internal monologue refuses to let me sleep properly or relax anyway. Hence, the books.
Again... this book is about a serious subject. Mental Health. And Jenny opens herself wide for any manner of speculation and criticism, and I salute her... I salute her honesty, I salute her personality, and I salute her dealing positively with her broken, fucked up, painful and crazy beautiful self.
Mental health issues are part of my family genetics and experiences. My brother is schizophrenic (obviously on lifetime meds) and I want to punch people in the face for thinking he's a total nut job to be avoided because he is one of the sweetest, sensitive and chilled human beings I know.
That Jenny is for all intents and purposes a shut-in, I understand. It's exhausting to wear a veneer of normalcy outside when you'd rather throw in the towel and go home. After the initial crippling stage fright Jenny experiences before major public events or meeting the public she opens her arms to her readers and they hug her back. For good reason.
I'll definately be recommending this read to a couple of people I know as they both need and will benefit greatly from this book. And, they'll laugh. A lot.
My favourite book of 2015. And, Neil Gaiman nearly dropped to second place as favourite author for the first time in two decades but then he writes fiction and Jenny writes autobiographical humour. So I'll put them in joint first. And his advice to Jenny is golden.
Now I need to hear Jenny's first book.
I can't even put into words how much this book has deeply touched me.
ktxx22's review against another edition
4.0
This book was not entirely what I had expected. My book club drew this out of our TBR jar for January and I gotta say I was pleasantly surprised. As a person who does NOT struggle with any sort of mental illness it was an eye opening read. If anything it taught me the correct way you assist my friends and family that do struggle with mental illnesses. It also left me cracking up on multiple occasions, because Jenny Lawson has truly learned how to laugh at herself and al the crazy things that occur in her day to day life. Definitely recommend to anyone who needs a laugh, wants to understand the mind of someone with mental illnesses, and anyone who enjoys a good memoir.
katreadsalot's review against another edition
4.0
After reading this book, I feel like I should do a deep dive on Taxodermy and why I keep hearing about it. When I say I keep hearing about it, this has been the second time in two years, but after going 20+ years without knowing what it was, I think that represents a pretty big shift. Clearly, I need to see what all the hullabaloo is about.
This book was wonderful and funny, if sometimes a little too strange for me. There were parts that made me laugh, some that made me cry, and many that made me feel less alone in this world.
This book was wonderful and funny, if sometimes a little too strange for me. There were parts that made me laugh, some that made me cry, and many that made me feel less alone in this world.