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A review by ashlightgrayson
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
This book coul not have a more eye catching and fitting title. Mccurdy adds a light hearted sense of humor to the more tragic and upsetting recollections of her childhood experiences. At times the tone is almost childish, reminding the reader that she experienced all of this trauma as a child. Her abusive mother is an overbearing presence in Jennette's life. Her influence lingers even after her death, affecting Jennette's self-esteem and how she engages in romantic relationships in her life.
Jennette had a very traumatic background, both because of her upbringing with her mother and her experiences in the professional acting industry. Thankfully, she was able to find help through therapy and carved out her own identity separate from the one her mother created for her. Part of what made it difficult for Jennette to form her own identity is that she was forced into the identity her mother carved out for her. Acting was her mother's dream, not Jennette's. Her eating disorder plays a large part in how she copes with her trauma through adulthood. I was very happy to see how supportive and understanding her therapist was considering what an odd experiece growing up as a child star is. I appreciated that the way she describes the progression of her eating disorder is not a straight chronological path to recovery. It's clear that mental illness, including eating disorders, ebb and flow. She relapses plenty, and that is the norm for mental illness and eating disorders. She also details aspects of her obsessive compulsive disorder that still manifest for her today. These mental health patterns are not harmful or intrusive in the way they were before she got help, but they are still very much a part of her.
She is raw in her exploration of the work and hurt that it took to a much healthier place. I feel this will be healing to anyone who has been subject to abuse, especially by a parent. One of the best reads of the year for me. I listened the audiobook partially and also think it's a good one.
Jennette had a very traumatic background, both because of her upbringing with her mother and her experiences in the professional acting industry. Thankfully, she was able to find help through therapy and carved out her own identity separate from the one her mother created for her. Part of what made it difficult for Jennette to form her own identity is that she was forced into the identity her mother carved out for her. Acting was her mother's dream, not Jennette's. Her eating disorder plays a large part in how she copes with her trauma through adulthood. I was very happy to see how supportive and understanding her therapist was considering what an odd experiece growing up as a child star is. I appreciated that the way she describes the progression of her eating disorder is not a straight chronological path to recovery. It's clear that mental illness, including eating disorders, ebb and flow. She relapses plenty, and that is the norm for mental illness and eating disorders. She also details aspects of her obsessive compulsive disorder that still manifest for her today. These mental health patterns are not harmful or intrusive in the way they were before she got help, but they are still very much a part of her.
She is raw in her exploration of the work and hurt that it took to a much healthier place. I feel this will be healing to anyone who has been subject to abuse, especially by a parent. One of the best reads of the year for me. I listened the audiobook partially and also think it's a good one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment