Scan barcode
A review by dc32
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.0
This book was absolutely heartbreaking. McCurdy is a cutting and reflective writer; this must have taken a massive emotional undertaking to be able to write it and to write it so clearly, with such vivid images, I can't imagine the emotional work it would have taken to do that. Her memory is so clear and she tells the story of her life very well, I have no doubt McCurdy will be able to make a career out of writing which it sounds like is her current goal.
I wish that there were more content warnings in the cultural conversation around this book. I think many people call this book comedic--to me though her inner voice is witty, derisive, and comedic, this book is not comedic at all. It's brutal and I think would be very triggering to many people (as you can see I added a lot of content warnings to my review).
I listened to the audio book and hearing this story in McCurdy's voice added a level of intimacy and vulnerability, especially when her voice breaks while talking about her experience with therapy. It made me cry. I couldn't put it down. The book was very fast paced and I felt myself wanting to ask follow up questions and really dig deeper. She captures a lot of trauma in just a couple of sentences. But then, I feel part of the problem that she's describing, the morbid fascination with her life that is so destructive towards her.
Anyway, clearly this book made me think a lot. It's well-written and deeply vulnerable, but I would be very careful with who I recommended it to because of how graphic and triggering it could be.
I wish that there were more content warnings in the cultural conversation around this book. I think many people call this book comedic--to me though her inner voice is witty, derisive, and comedic, this book is not comedic at all. It's brutal and I think would be very triggering to many people (as you can see I added a lot of content warnings to my review).
I listened to the audio book and hearing this story in McCurdy's voice added a level of intimacy and vulnerability, especially when her voice breaks while talking about her experience with therapy. It made me cry. I couldn't put it down. The book was very fast paced and I felt myself wanting to ask follow up questions and really dig deeper. She captures a lot of trauma in just a couple of sentences. But then, I feel part of the problem that she's describing, the morbid fascination with her life that is so destructive towards her.
Anyway, clearly this book made me think a lot. It's well-written and deeply vulnerable, but I would be very careful with who I recommended it to because of how graphic and triggering it could be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria