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heathercottledillon's review against another edition
3.0
Abrahams is a stand-up comedian, so I expected this book to be entertaining, and it was (to me). Sometimes it seemed like she was trying too hard to be funny, though. I also would have liked to hear more about how she felt about the serious aspects of her life as a Jehovah's Witness. She mentions some deep stuff like mental illness, coming to terms with her dysfunctional family, questioning her religious beliefs and spirituality, and drugs, but she doesn't delve into it like I would like her to. However, it is entertaining and provides an interesting glimpse of the culture and beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses.
nderiley's review against another edition
3.0
A really entertaining read! I wish the author had delved a bit more into reflections on the belief system now that (i'm pretty sure?) they're outside of it.
labunnywtf's review against another edition
5.0
The best part about reading this book was meeting up with the best friend Laura afterwards and confirming with her all the crazy shit the JWs believe in. I actually expected her to tell me these were exaggerations. I was horrified to find out that Kyria Abrahams is pretty much spot on with the insanity these people believe in.
This is a seriously hilarious book. It got dark towards the middle, but with an upbringing like she had, I would expect no less. And to be honest, my experience with "stumbled" JWs tells me this isn't all that uncommon!
Kyria writes with a wonderful sassy wit, and I can imagine how much fun she had putting these stories together into novel form. I don't have nearly this many great stories from a Catholic upbringing, but my family wasn't very good at it. These people were hardcore.
Despite the fact that she turned into a brat once the opportunity to get married came up (and after that), my heart really did hurt for her. She wasn't prepared properly for real life ("Fuck real life, we're going to live forever!"), and she kind of got bitch slapped with it.
The whole point of reading this book, though, is to get a peek at what the life of a JW is really like. I can't wait until Laura reads this and can tell me more clearly how much is accurate and if she left anything out.
Laura couldn't watch The Smurfs. She did go to huge JW conventions. Her family had a nice dinner sometime in November for no reason whatsoever. Voting for Obama was a huge thing for her, because she'd never saluted the flag before. And she would give "talks", though she wasn't allowed to do it by herself because she wasn't allowed to preach to the menfolk. Men are above women.
Jehovah's Witnesses make me want to sin. A lot. But then again, I'm wordly, so what do I know?
This is a seriously hilarious book. It got dark towards the middle, but with an upbringing like she had, I would expect no less. And to be honest, my experience with "stumbled" JWs tells me this isn't all that uncommon!
Kyria writes with a wonderful sassy wit, and I can imagine how much fun she had putting these stories together into novel form. I don't have nearly this many great stories from a Catholic upbringing, but my family wasn't very good at it. These people were hardcore.
Despite the fact that she turned into a brat once the opportunity to get married came up (and after that), my heart really did hurt for her. She wasn't prepared properly for real life ("Fuck real life, we're going to live forever!"), and she kind of got bitch slapped with it.
The whole point of reading this book, though, is to get a peek at what the life of a JW is really like. I can't wait until Laura reads this and can tell me more clearly how much is accurate and if she left anything out.
Laura couldn't watch The Smurfs. She did go to huge JW conventions. Her family had a nice dinner sometime in November for no reason whatsoever. Voting for Obama was a huge thing for her, because she'd never saluted the flag before. And she would give "talks", though she wasn't allowed to do it by herself because she wasn't allowed to preach to the menfolk. Men are above women.
Jehovah's Witnesses make me want to sin. A lot. But then again, I'm wordly, so what do I know?
angmsmith1's review against another edition
5.0
OK, so this is likely not to have as much an impact on you unless you're familiar with the Jehovah's Witness theology or have had some exposure to the religion. I found this book to be fantastic - it was funny, irreverent, but spot-on. I felt like this woman had followed me around and written this book about me- it was frightening how much I could relate. Further proof that when you leave the religion, your entire world does not come tumbling down, you do not become a drug-addicted prostitute, and the sun continues to shine.
ashaolson722's review against another edition
funny
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
cvlitt's review against another edition
3.0
Absolutely hilarious storyteller, and the first half of the book was exactly what I was looking for from this book. The stories about her childhood as a Jehovahs Witness were so heavily tinged with sarcasm and zippy one liners that I was dying laughing. It was so darkly funny.
While I think the later chapters were important with their reflections on how her religion crippled her ability to have any sort of meaningful relationships, it wasn’t as well thought out or focused as the initial chapters.
Also less use of the r word would have been preferred.
While I think the later chapters were important with their reflections on how her religion crippled her ability to have any sort of meaningful relationships, it wasn’t as well thought out or focused as the initial chapters.
Also less use of the r word would have been preferred.
19paws's review against another edition
4.0
Fascinating peek behind the scenes of the Jehovah's Witness culture, and very funny.
blessedbookworm's review against another edition
2.0
Ugh. The first part was a bit interesting, but then it turned ugly. Kyrie is raised as a Jehovah's Witness from birth and was a believer. As she got to her term years, she started acting out with cries for attention. This included marrying at age 17 along with many other terrible decisions that followed. She never takes responsibility for her actions; she blames everyone else and continually threatens to harm or kill herself to get her way. It was annoying to see her self- destruct in that way.