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hollowspine's review
3.0
A funny quick read.
At the start of the book Valerie Frankel receives some bad news from her doctor, and tells her that one of the things she must do to keep a clean bill of health is reduce the stress in her life, get rid of the anger that festers inside her and release the hatred she carries around bottled up inside.
Although she does name a couple studies in the memoir this was mainly based on her own experiences and feelings. I would have loved to hear more about the various trials/case studies that she mentioned, but I also appreciated the fact that this wasn't a book of essays or a research focused work, but instead focused on humor and the reality of her life, growing up with a mother prone to fits of temper, which she realizes that she takes on herself, her freelance writer existence living check to check, kids' illnesses, and career setbacks. It was fun to get a little insight into a family, which in some ways, reminded me a bit of my own. I loved that her mother's bad moods lead to her getting the nickname "Judy Black" and laughed a bit when Frankel likened expressing her hatred as, "releasing the Kraken."
I laughed out loud a couple times while I read, so I guess I must have lowbrow humor just as Frankel assumes she must when reviewers call her books, 'crass.' One of the things I took away from the book is how true it is that if one wants to be a writer a thick skin, basically bullet proof, is necessary. Lucky for her readers Frankel does.
It was awesome to read about how Frankel changed her reactions from internalizing frustration and anger then taking it home and flipping out at her husband at 3 am, to being able to step forward and say, "I will ask you to please get our drinks now." To the waitress who made her and her husband wait 20 minutes to fill their drink order.
I also sympathized with her as a fellow internalizing person, the type of person who would just eat the wrong order rather than complain that I asked for the vegetarian option and instead got a plate full of meat. Or would just keep the tennis skirt I was given as a gift, even though anyone who knew me would know that not only do I not play tennis, but more importantly, do not wear skirts.
Though I am getting better:I had a break-through on vacation when I realized I was about to be over-charged for underwhelming tourist trap food and instead of just shutting up, eating the canned and heated crap I was about to be served at $50 bucks a person, I stood up, and not only cancelled our reservations, but also demanded a refund for the cost of entering the tourist trap and paying for parking at the tourist trap. Which I got. Then I went to another place, had an amazing meal, in a beautiful and historic location and though it was still expensive, felt like every penny I paid was worth the experience. In my family we all still speak of this moment in awe.
For those who are looking for a funny, upbeat book that deals with tough life events, death, career setbacks, and cancer among others and deals with them in a way that should be familiar to those of us with inner haters.
At the start of the book Valerie Frankel receives some bad news from her doctor, and tells her that one of the things she must do to keep a clean bill of health is reduce the stress in her life, get rid of the anger that festers inside her and release the hatred she carries around bottled up inside.
Although she does name a couple studies in the memoir this was mainly based on her own experiences and feelings. I would have loved to hear more about the various trials/case studies that she mentioned, but I also appreciated the fact that this wasn't a book of essays or a research focused work, but instead focused on humor and the reality of her life, growing up with a mother prone to fits of temper, which she realizes that she takes on herself, her freelance writer existence living check to check, kids' illnesses, and career setbacks. It was fun to get a little insight into a family, which in some ways, reminded me a bit of my own. I loved that her mother's bad moods lead to her getting the nickname "Judy Black" and laughed a bit when Frankel likened expressing her hatred as, "releasing the Kraken."
I laughed out loud a couple times while I read, so I guess I must have lowbrow humor just as Frankel assumes she must when reviewers call her books, 'crass.' One of the things I took away from the book is how true it is that if one wants to be a writer a thick skin, basically bullet proof, is necessary. Lucky for her readers Frankel does.
It was awesome to read about how Frankel changed her reactions from internalizing frustration and anger then taking it home and flipping out at her husband at 3 am, to being able to step forward and say, "I will ask you to please get our drinks now." To the waitress who made her and her husband wait 20 minutes to fill their drink order.
I also sympathized with her as a fellow internalizing person, the type of person who would just eat the wrong order rather than complain that I asked for the vegetarian option and instead got a plate full of meat. Or would just keep the tennis skirt I was given as a gift, even though anyone who knew me would know that not only do I not play tennis, but more importantly, do not wear skirts.
Though I am getting better:
For those who are looking for a funny, upbeat book that deals with tough life events, death, career setbacks, and cancer among others and deals with them in a way that should be familiar to those of us with inner haters.
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