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wellington299's review
3.0
The book made me re-think grudges I've had. And that's it's greatest services. Because grudges have a horrible reputation. Grudges are not all bad.
For example, Michael Jordan had a grudge against a high school basketball coach for cutting him from the varsity basketball team. Grudges can be a great motivator. It takes people with a tremendous grudges to push through years of court to win a trial or rebel against King George III ( and found the USA),
This how to book is written by a crime novelist. She is not a professional; she's a person with a lot of experience with grudges. Her advice comes across as amateurish ... and honest. On the grudge topic, she can be on the neurotic side (and I'm afraid she'll hold a grudge against me in this review). However, I do appreciate that she took a stab at a new topic (grudge) opening the door for more discussion.
The book does ride on Sophie's sense of humor and neurosis, which I can understand people being turned off on her style.
leguma's review
3.0
I enjoyed it once I adjusted my expectations. It's more a memoire, not a psychology book.
m_lalli's review
2.0
I wanted so badly to love this book and for the first few chapters I thought I might, but man, this went downhill quickly. I spent the last two-thirds of this really just wishing the author would grow up - most of these things are not that serious. Why would you be excited to hold a grudge against someone?
I thought that at the very least, this would explore the psychological reasons for why grudges are okay, but it didn't have that either.
If you want to read 200+ pages of overdramatic complaints, you'll love this! I only gave this two stars because I did enjoy about 30 pages at the beginning, and the formatting was fun and unique.
I thought that at the very least, this would explore the psychological reasons for why grudges are okay, but it didn't have that either.
If you want to read 200+ pages of overdramatic complaints, you'll love this! I only gave this two stars because I did enjoy about 30 pages at the beginning, and the formatting was fun and unique.
bibliokris's review
4.0
Boy was this a fun book. Really funny, insightful and inspiring about grudges. Helps the reader to think about what is most important in her life and stand up for that, and in so doing, protecting one’s self. A 4.5 out of 5 stars. This would be a great book club book.
melissafirman's review
This wasn't what I was expecting -- which was a book on how to resolve grudges and, if that's not possible, to make peace with the perceived wrongdoings of others. As others have mentioned, Sophie Hannah admits that she is not a psychotherapist or a mental health professional. Rather, she comes to the topic of holding grudges as someone who is good at -- well, holding grudges. (She's also a novelist, but I haven't read any of her other work.) That's the premise of this book.
It opens with a long-standing grudge Hannah's had against someone named Michael; when she was a overnight guest in his home, he came in her room during the night to ... look for his dog who he thought was under the bed. Hannah spends an inordinate amount of time recounting this and while I don't want to minimize her experience or how she was treated (yes, her host should have apologized, but he didn't), the harping on this seemed a bit much (and somewhat petty).
I abandoned this audio at this point because I didn't think this was going to help me resolve or make peace with any grudges I may or may not have.
It opens with a long-standing grudge Hannah's had against someone named Michael; when she was a overnight guest in his home, he came in her room during the night to ... look for his dog who he thought was under the bed. Hannah spends an inordinate amount of time recounting this and while I don't want to minimize her experience or how she was treated (yes, her host should have apologized, but he didn't), the harping on this seemed a bit much (and somewhat petty).
I abandoned this audio at this point because I didn't think this was going to help me resolve or make peace with any grudges I may or may not have.