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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Frank and hilarious collection of essays! I’ve been meaning to read this forever and it only took me 10+ years, but I’ll definitely be checking out her other books. The audiobook is read by the author which is what I usually prefer for nonfiction.
I'm a regular attendee at the Sam Irby-hosted Guts & Glory, and I sneak her blog at work so often that sometimes it shows up in my Most Visited Websites home screen. The topics here are similar to Bitches Gotta Eat--lots of waxing (not always so poetically) about dating, fucking, eating, pooping. Irby has a strong unapologetically casual voice (because I've seen her read at so many live lit shows, I had her actual voice in my sad as I read--a nice touch). I tore through the book pretty quickly, and when I left it sitting out on my coffee table other people would inevitably pick it up, page through it, and end up reading a chapter or two.
But my beef with the book is, ironically, what I like about Irby's blog. I don't like hyper-casual voices and internet syntax (pluralization with Z's, bleh) in my paperbacks. This is probably an example of some deep-rooted snobbery of my own, but I usually go for a physical book when I want to take a break from internet banter. I felt the same way about Jenny Lawson's Let's Pretend This Never Happened--writers I devour on the internet just didn't do it in essay collections, for me. But even with that complaint, I will definitely read whatever Sam Irby releases next.
But my beef with the book is, ironically, what I like about Irby's blog. I don't like hyper-casual voices and internet syntax (pluralization with Z's, bleh) in my paperbacks. This is probably an example of some deep-rooted snobbery of my own, but I usually go for a physical book when I want to take a break from internet banter. I felt the same way about Jenny Lawson's Let's Pretend This Never Happened--writers I devour on the internet just didn't do it in essay collections, for me. But even with that complaint, I will definitely read whatever Sam Irby releases next.
While this is listed as humor, Irby’s collection of essays has a broad range - from stories of heartbreaking childhood trauma to adult observations of relationships. Yes, it is funny. But it is definitely deeper than that.
There’s also a ton of insight into Chron’s Disease that I had no idea about. If you have someone in your life with Chron’s, it is worth reading this book to learn more about the struggle and how you can support them.
Odd aside - there are recipes sprinkled throughout this paperback book that I actually made (thanks quarantine!) and they are really good. Make the egg thing that she opens with - it’s delicious.
I picked this up book up and paid full price for it at some little bookshop while traveling. That’s not my normal MO but the little blurb I read while thumbing through it was just too good to put down. I’m giving my copy to a friend and would encourage you to buy a copy for yourself.
There’s also a ton of insight into Chron’s Disease that I had no idea about. If you have someone in your life with Chron’s, it is worth reading this book to learn more about the struggle and how you can support them.
Odd aside - there are recipes sprinkled throughout this paperback book that I actually made (thanks quarantine!) and they are really good. Make the egg thing that she opens with - it’s delicious.
I picked this up book up and paid full price for it at some little bookshop while traveling. That’s not my normal MO but the little blurb I read while thumbing through it was just too good to put down. I’m giving my copy to a friend and would encourage you to buy a copy for yourself.
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Samantha is hilarious! This book of essays is relatable for all women. She’s really real the whole time, and sometimes it can be a lot.
funny
medium-paced
"Did you have a great childhood or are you just really funny?" Samantha Irby is really funny. She broke my heart but she also made me snort laugh out loud. A delightful audio book (but I did skip through some of the recipes).
I didn't like this one as much as Wow. No Thank you., but that is not to say I did not enjoy it...
I love Samantha Irby's writing. She is one of the rare authors who can make me laugh out loud. But, not all these essays are about the perils of dating and the issues of irritable bowel. She also made me cry with some of the earlier essays about her mother and early life. While this is the second book I read by Irby (and I believe the second one published, at least by Vintage), the timeline actually seems to put this book before her first. It is more about dating (no mention of her wife yet) and Helen Keller, the cat, is still around quite a bit. I believe that these were previously published elsewhere and then re-assembled by Vintage. Anyway, it really does not matter if you read this book after We Are Never Meeting in Real Life, just a little note about the chronology.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced