twilliams1987's review against another edition
1.0
I listened to this audiobook because I really enjoyed Zailckas’s first memoir “Smashed” about her struggle with alcoholism, something I found interesting from the young female perspective. I hoped this book would be similar to that in structure: a storyline scattered with self-reflection and sprinkled with academic research. Instead it was more like an indulgent diary about her dysfunctional family padded with tons of dry academic quotes to seemingly just fill out the pages. It felt really self-indulgent and I didn’t get much out of it.
jhslib27's review against another edition
1.0
I really wanted to like this book but I had a lot of trouble getting through it. The author had some interesting insights but just when I’d be intrigued, she’d fall off and go another direction. She mentioned many times feeling rushed to write this book and I think it’s very obvious. The “idea” of this book was interesting but I felt like I was reading a collection of blurbs from other research studies but they weren’t really matching with her own personal stories. Koren is an excellent writer no doubt but the pressure to finish this book really interfered with its overall quality.
dommdy's review against another edition
1.0
Boo boo. What a whiny, entitled, privileged author. There was not much in the way of “fury” to my mind, as a survivor of multigenerational incest with CPTSD. Her book Smashed was good, but not this garbage.
ballinnnnnn's review against another edition
3.0
I have no idea how I ended up with this book in my collection, but I kind of wish I had read her first memoir, Smashed, before I tackled Fury. I wasn’t familiar with Ms. Zailckas’ writing style, but to me, the first third to half read much more like a research paper, but then it transitioned into something I’m much more familiar with. The interesting part of Fury is that in Ms. Zailckas taking us through her journey of anger and therapy kind of forces you to look at your own. There are definitely some things in here that I’ll be thinking about in the months to come.
jcm's review against another edition
2.0
Was very much intrigued to read a book about anger from the author of the well-regarded Smashed (which I am about to read). Being an alcoholic myself with anger issues I wanted to see what she had to say. Unfortunately it felt more like a diary where she complained endlessly about a break-up and not being able to write this book. She came off as whiny and impetuous and kept reminding us she never wanted to resort to violence. As if that were something she should be commended for. There were never any moments where she acknowledged her own wrong doing, or really great insight. Yes, her mother does sound pretty narcissistic, but she brings that up way too late in the book for any real examination of what that means. The book felt like one long research paper with herself as the subject, with zero self-awareness other than the "I don't want to be like her".
I hope Smashed is better, and will give me more insight into her life. I held off reading Smashed because I didn't put much stock into a 23 year old writing a memoir, but a book about anger compelled me to pick it up. I don't think Zailckas had the maturity or self-awareness to write yet another memoir.
I hope Smashed is better, and will give me more insight into her life. I held off reading Smashed because I didn't put much stock into a 23 year old writing a memoir, but a book about anger compelled me to pick it up. I don't think Zailckas had the maturity or self-awareness to write yet another memoir.
jbyers2's review against another edition
5.0
Brilliantly written, creating empathy, insight and hope while entertaining. One of many memorable passages, this one referring to a feared house mouse: "He's piddling and innocuous, like all phobias finally glanced at close-up."
kellyhager's review
4.0
You might know Koren Zailckas from her earlier memoir, Smashed. I didn't read that, but my best friend Jen did and said it was (a) very good and (b) featured Ocean City, where I have spent many a summer day.
But we're not here to talk about Smashed, binge drinking or Ocean City.
After Smashed, she wanted to write a book about anger, but it just wasn't working. Then, after a breakup (a really bad breakup) with someone she calls the Lark, she moves back in with her parents (her apartment is being subletted) and seeks therapy. Her family dynamic is one where anger isn't really expressed. Instead, huge things are glossed over and minor irritations (being cut off in traffic; dinner being late) are treated as major infractions.
This book is so amazing! I don't normally read non-fiction, but this is exactly the kind I do like: it sort of reads like a novel and the "heroine" is completely relatable. It also reminds me of Odd Girl Out, which I read for my book club. The idea behind that is that teenage girls become bitchy and passive-aggressive because it's the only way we're taught that we can express anger. This book deals with that theme as well (obviously, I guess, in a book called Fury).
And also, I want to hire her to ghostwrite all my emails and blog posts from now on.
This is part of an email she sent to the Lark: "...as for the question of memories, I can't answer it right now Not the fact that this ended, but the way in which it ended tarnished so many memories I would've liked to keep."
Who hasn't felt that way about a relationship?
And there's this:
"My hunt for a shrink is not what you might call an informed search. I don't seek out recommendations. I don't ask for referrals. I select a woman on the sole basis that her practice is located three blocks from my apartment, which, in the death grip of depression, is the farthest commute I can undertake."
So in case you're like me and you tend to avoid nonfiction because it's usually dry and boring, know that this is the exact opposite of that. Koren is the kind of person we all wish we were friends with. :)
But we're not here to talk about Smashed, binge drinking or Ocean City.
After Smashed, she wanted to write a book about anger, but it just wasn't working. Then, after a breakup (a really bad breakup) with someone she calls the Lark, she moves back in with her parents (her apartment is being subletted) and seeks therapy. Her family dynamic is one where anger isn't really expressed. Instead, huge things are glossed over and minor irritations (being cut off in traffic; dinner being late) are treated as major infractions.
This book is so amazing! I don't normally read non-fiction, but this is exactly the kind I do like: it sort of reads like a novel and the "heroine" is completely relatable. It also reminds me of Odd Girl Out, which I read for my book club. The idea behind that is that teenage girls become bitchy and passive-aggressive because it's the only way we're taught that we can express anger. This book deals with that theme as well (obviously, I guess, in a book called Fury).
And also, I want to hire her to ghostwrite all my emails and blog posts from now on.
This is part of an email she sent to the Lark: "...as for the question of memories, I can't answer it right now Not the fact that this ended, but the way in which it ended tarnished so many memories I would've liked to keep."
Who hasn't felt that way about a relationship?
And there's this:
"My hunt for a shrink is not what you might call an informed search. I don't seek out recommendations. I don't ask for referrals. I select a woman on the sole basis that her practice is located three blocks from my apartment, which, in the death grip of depression, is the farthest commute I can undertake."
So in case you're like me and you tend to avoid nonfiction because it's usually dry and boring, know that this is the exact opposite of that. Koren is the kind of person we all wish we were friends with. :)
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