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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, it was like a perfect time capsule of the 2010’s! I loved how raw and honest it was, but a lot of the self deprecation came off as just sad and not funny. And there were quite a few times where I was rolling my eyes at the internalized misogyny and “not like other girls” moments that popped up. Particularly the shame around body hair and “ugh don’t bitches talk way too much”. It was simultaneously not ashamed about anything- she owned it all, the hair, the poop, the general weirdness of bodies but there was still an underlying tone of “these aren’t the “right way” to perform woman hood so I will be alone forever” which I think is just the perfect epitome of mainstream feminism in the 2010’s.
Added note that I just can’t stop thinking about:
The story with her mother and how her mother became her baby, I found so heart breaking. One because of the obvious tragedy of having to take on that burden at such a young age and deal with that trauma, but also because of the language she used talking about it all these years later. So desperately I wanted her to just acknowledge for a moment that nothing in that story was her fault, one of should’ve been put on the shoulders of a nine year old. I completely understand how that is the thought process she would have about it as a kid and while it was happening. But every time she claimed something as her fault or a responsibility that she needed to take on, I ached for a moment of reflection to acknowledge that she was a child and it was terrible circumstances and a failing system at fault.
Added note that I just can’t stop thinking about:
The story with her mother and how her mother became her baby, I found so heart breaking. One because of the obvious tragedy of having to take on that burden at such a young age and deal with that trauma, but also because of the language she used talking about it all these years later. So desperately I wanted her to just acknowledge for a moment that nothing in that story was her fault, one of should’ve been put on the shoulders of a nine year old. I completely understand how that is the thought process she would have about it as a kid and while it was happening. But every time she claimed something as her fault or a responsibility that she needed to take on, I ached for a moment of reflection to acknowledge that she was a child and it was terrible circumstances and a failing system at fault.
There was way more diarrhea than I expected, but even so Samantha Irby is fun to read. You can see the seeds of greatness here in her first book that really come to fruition in the later books.
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Irby holds absolutely nothing back in this essay collection, and while I can't relate to all of it, there were many parts were I definitely related in the same way you feel seen when you watch a TikTok video and someone else does the same weird shit as you.
The recipes sprinkled throughout didn't really do much for me on audio, and I also wish the audiobook had chapter/essay designations rather than just being broken into three veryyyy long parts.
***quotes***
"When survival is your imperative, what you look like while doing so becomes of increasingly diminishing importance." (3:19:10)
***quotes***
"When survival is your imperative, what you look like while doing so becomes of increasingly diminishing importance." (3:19:10)
My favourite kind of girl is the kind that isn't afraid to be real. I mean, perfection is highly overrated in my opinion. Unattainable goals and boring-ass cardboard personalities are just so monotonous. I can't relate to perfection, but I can relate to girls like Samantha Irby - girls who aren't afraid to put themselves out there for a laugh. And [a:Samantha Irby|6896957|Samantha Irby|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1511825276p2/6896957.jpg] CAPS-INTENTIONAL GOES THERE. I am intimately familiar with her body, mind and soul even though [b:We Are Never Meeting in Real Life|41729920|We Are Never Meeting in Real Life|Samantha Irby|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1545201914l/41729920._SY75_.jpg|54123625] (see what I did there?).
She's got one the most self-deprecating personalities I've ever read about, which is the exact opposite of a deterrent because she says everything with such exaggerated humour, we're definitely laughing with her. Whether she's telling us about her overactive digestive system due to Crohn's, letting us in on the way men fuck her over (literally and figuratively), or giving us diet tips and bland stomach-friendly recipes, she definitely knows how to laugh at the obstacles in her life.
Strange/disrespectful/cocky men are one of the most prominent obstacles she's had to deal with, as well as some major medical setbacks but, on top of it all, she also had a pretty rough childhood, with both of her parents dying early on in her life. This forced her to figure a lot of things out on her own and the results (including the thumbsucking and blankies) are pretty funny. It's always people who have to deal with the most rough situations but who have perfected the art of laughing at the ridiculous humiliation that is Life that are the funniest.
Samantha Irby is the kind of girl you want in your corner. She's the kind of girl you want to get drunk with. She the kind of girl whose house you want to hang out at (because it literally sounds like it smells delicious and is full of cashmere and comfort foods). She'd keep you laughing from morning till night - or until one of you shits yourself which, if you read this book, you just know is unfortunately bound to happen sooner or later.
Judge the cover: 5/5
She's got one the most self-deprecating personalities I've ever read about, which is the exact opposite of a deterrent because she says everything with such exaggerated humour, we're definitely laughing with her. Whether she's telling us about her overactive digestive system due to Crohn's, letting us in on the way men fuck her over (literally and figuratively), or giving us diet tips and bland stomach-friendly recipes, she definitely knows how to laugh at the obstacles in her life.
Strange/disrespectful/cocky men are one of the most prominent obstacles she's had to deal with, as well as some major medical setbacks but, on top of it all, she also had a pretty rough childhood, with both of her parents dying early on in her life. This forced her to figure a lot of things out on her own and the results (including the thumbsucking and blankies) are pretty funny. It's always people who have to deal with the most rough situations but who have perfected the art of laughing at the ridiculous humiliation that is Life that are the funniest.
Samantha Irby is the kind of girl you want in your corner. She's the kind of girl you want to get drunk with. She the kind of girl whose house you want to hang out at (because it literally sounds like it smells delicious and is full of cashmere and comfort foods). She'd keep you laughing from morning till night - or until one of you shits yourself which, if you read this book, you just know is unfortunately bound to happen sooner or later.
Judge the cover: 5/5
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
so, while this was funny and entertaining, there, to me, is a difference between non-stop self-deprecation and wisdom. there is a middle ground missing in this collection.
I don’t follow Irby‘s blog, so I was unprepared for her style. I appreciated a lot of things about her writing, but it’s just not for me. I gave 2 stars instead of 1 because of her beautiful essay on parenting her dying mother. I kept reading, hoping for more in that vein…I was disappointed…Irby is real and vulnerable and lively. But her style is too over the top for me.
My rating would be even lower, but I can see why people like it and there are some funny lines. Will not be reading her subsequent books.
I laughed out loud reading this book. I laughed out loud re-thinking of the things I read. I laughed out loud telling people about the things I read. Witty, scathing, raw, and honest, a new favorite.