discoveringpeace's review against another edition
1.0
DNF
Rough. Terrible writing. Trying too hard with too little takeaway.
Rough. Terrible writing. Trying too hard with too little takeaway.
editrix's review against another edition
These pieces were hit and miss for me, and a lot of them felt like nothing more than observation, without any of the personal reflection or critical analysis that would make them valuable. The topics she covers are all interesting and worthy, but too often it seemed like her end points were the same places where better essays/essayists would jump off from into deeper waters.
plusque's review against another edition
5.0
There is something about her writing that makes me feel calm and think more. It's almost easy to read, in the sense that I read it fast because I liked it, but also clever and smart but never talking down.
autumn_dannay's review against another edition
4.0
This essay collection challenged modern American culture, proposing: what if this were enough?
I found that I agreed with Havrilesky on the majority of the subjects she touches on in her book. It is full of good advice, especially if you begin to read between the lines. Fortunately, the author does not have a bloated ego, so she speaks frankly about the nature of her life & experiences without sounding condescending. In fact, the majority of this book reads as if you are sharing a conversation with Havrilesky rather than listening to a lecture.
This book is good. Read it, let it make you think.
I found that I agreed with Havrilesky on the majority of the subjects she touches on in her book. It is full of good advice, especially if you begin to read between the lines. Fortunately, the author does not have a bloated ego, so she speaks frankly about the nature of her life & experiences without sounding condescending. In fact, the majority of this book reads as if you are sharing a conversation with Havrilesky rather than listening to a lecture.
This book is good. Read it, let it make you think.
ejmiddleton's review against another edition
4.0
This was the perfect accompaniment to strep - I knew I was getting better when I wanted to underline something and send it to people.
playm8z's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
sarah_toast's review against another edition
4.0
"We are called to view our actions as important... We are called to tell people that we already matter...
Here is how we will start, you will recognize that you are not heading for some imaginary finish line,
not some made up state of bestness. You will see you are as much of a miracle as Motzart was.
Somewhere deep inside you - hidden by all sorts of fears, worries, and petty little thoughts is a
clean pure being, made of radiant colors. You will feel this and know it in your heart and pass it on to the people around you. You will breath in this moment, this imperfect, uncertain, not quiet right, heavenly moment. You will say to yourself, this is enough - and it will be."
I listened to the audio book version of this book. It is read by the author and her passion for what she is saying is clear. I think that made me like it more than I might have if I had only read it, but maybe not as well. I think that everyone could probably relate to at least one of her stories, whether because it reminds you of someone you know or she references something you are well aware of. Of course, that means there will be some that don't relate to you and you find a little boring, or at least I did. My personal favorites were Delusion at the Gastro Pub, Running on Empty, The Popularity Contest, True Romance, and To Infinity and Beyond - either because I found them relatable or just simply really funny. Overall a good listen!
Here is how we will start, you will recognize that you are not heading for some imaginary finish line,
not some made up state of bestness. You will see you are as much of a miracle as Motzart was.
Somewhere deep inside you - hidden by all sorts of fears, worries, and petty little thoughts is a
clean pure being, made of radiant colors. You will feel this and know it in your heart and pass it on to the people around you. You will breath in this moment, this imperfect, uncertain, not quiet right, heavenly moment. You will say to yourself, this is enough - and it will be."
I listened to the audio book version of this book. It is read by the author and her passion for what she is saying is clear. I think that made me like it more than I might have if I had only read it, but maybe not as well. I think that everyone could probably relate to at least one of her stories, whether because it reminds you of someone you know or she references something you are well aware of. Of course, that means there will be some that don't relate to you and you find a little boring, or at least I did. My personal favorites were Delusion at the Gastro Pub, Running on Empty, The Popularity Contest, True Romance, and To Infinity and Beyond - either because I found them relatable or just simply really funny. Overall a good listen!
renatasnacks's review against another edition
DNF after a few chapters. I was willing to give this a chance after her weird library Twitter kerfuffle--I do generally like Ask Polly--but the first few essays were soo very "remember what it was like before we all used our PHONES so much?" that I felt free to just nope on out of this and return it to the library from whence it came.
the last essay I read before I quit was about how she used to be very grumpy about the concept of Disneyland because it's so fake, but then she took their kids there and had a good time, but then she was grumpy again afterward because it was so fake. okay Heather! cool story I guess!
the last essay I read before I quit was about how she used to be very grumpy about the concept of Disneyland because it's so fake, but then she took their kids there and had a good time, but then she was grumpy again afterward because it was so fake. okay Heather! cool story I guess!