You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
Jessi Klein is one of the few writers who I'd listen to, regardless of topic. She's that funny. This was a great book, though not as in my experience wheelhouse as the first. I love her and loved this look into her world.
Funny and touching
I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy this book. I felt like I lived in a different world than Klein, I had no night nurse, I do not have a nanny... But the more I read, the more I felt that moms anywhere can relate to the anxiety of motherhood as described by Klein. We're all just trying to do the best we can to raise tiny humans.
I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy this book. I felt like I lived in a different world than Klein, I had no night nurse, I do not have a nanny... But the more I read, the more I felt that moms anywhere can relate to the anxiety of motherhood as described by Klein. We're all just trying to do the best we can to raise tiny humans.
Some laugh out loud points, but not enough of them. I found myself speed reading the last third.
I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of essays by Jessi Klein. We're right around the same age, so a lot of what she wrote about felt extremely relevant to me, and she is HILARIOUS. A few essays really stood out for me: Bad News, In Defense of Drinking, The Car Seat, and My Future Lesbian Wife.
But "Underwear Sandwich" was my absolute favorite and should be required reading for anyone who is pregnant or will ever think about maybe becoming pregnant or impregnating someone.
"...even though I never heard a whisper about the brass tack details of what happens to the female body during and after birth, I know for certain I was taught MULTIPLE times over, in different health classes throughout NYC public junior high and high school, that boys have "nocturnal emissions"... but why did I need to know this? Why did I, a teenage girl, need to be instructed REPEATEDLY that teenage boys have fantastically vivid sex dreams that end with them [redacted] in their sheets... and yet none of us needed to learn about the details of birth that bring us into this world? Why is so much of this knowledge made to feel like a dirty secret that can only be unearthed at the exact moment it's needed?"
YES. WHY?!?!?! Not a single person told me anything about what would happen to my body and my emotions after I had my first kid -- I was given instructions about what to do with the baby (kind of), but absolutely zero information about the physical and emotional horrorshow that is the aftermath of birth. Yes it's gross and awful and not fun to read about (though arguably less gross and more relevant than reading about what's going on with teenage boys and their boners), but literally EVERY SINGLE PERSON EVER BORN came from a woman's body in one way or another, so maybe share that information somewhere along the way?! aagh. fucking patriarchy.
Anyway, this was a great essay collection that made me laugh a lot and get a little teary-eyed a few times. Read it.
* thank you to Harper for the NetGalley review copy. The quote was taken from an uncorrected proof and may change prior to publication (but I hope it doesn't). I'll Show Myself Out publishes April 26th!
But "Underwear Sandwich" was my absolute favorite and should be required reading for anyone who is pregnant or will ever think about maybe becoming pregnant or impregnating someone.
"...even though I never heard a whisper about the brass tack details of what happens to the female body during and after birth, I know for certain I was taught MULTIPLE times over, in different health classes throughout NYC public junior high and high school, that boys have "nocturnal emissions"... but why did I need to know this? Why did I, a teenage girl, need to be instructed REPEATEDLY that teenage boys have fantastically vivid sex dreams that end with them [redacted] in their sheets... and yet none of us needed to learn about the details of birth that bring us into this world? Why is so much of this knowledge made to feel like a dirty secret that can only be unearthed at the exact moment it's needed?"
YES. WHY?!?!?! Not a single person told me anything about what would happen to my body and my emotions after I had my first kid -- I was given instructions about what to do with the baby (kind of), but absolutely zero information about the physical and emotional horrorshow that is the aftermath of birth. Yes it's gross and awful and not fun to read about (though arguably less gross and more relevant than reading about what's going on with teenage boys and their boners), but literally EVERY SINGLE PERSON EVER BORN came from a woman's body in one way or another, so maybe share that information somewhere along the way?! aagh. fucking patriarchy.
Anyway, this was a great essay collection that made me laugh a lot and get a little teary-eyed a few times. Read it.
* thank you to Harper for the NetGalley review copy. The quote was taken from an uncorrected proof and may change prior to publication (but I hope it doesn't). I'll Show Myself Out publishes April 26th!
Loved, she made me laugh, made me think, made me laugh, made me think….on and on and on. So good!
Parts of this books were funny, parts were a little slow. But the whole thing was incredibly relatable.
This book is straight, unfiltered thoughts every mom has had. Hilarious in a We’re In This Together kind of way.
While I am not a mom to very young kids anymore, this book took me back to the really hard days of potty training and big changes that can't be discussed with a 2 year old. I listened to it and was glad I was alone when I would start to laugh out loud. I highly suggest this read to moms...especially moms of small kids, moms in their 40's, moms who like to laugh, and moms who just appreciate hearing stories that make you feel like you aren't totally alone in the trenches of motherhood.
