You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
I never bail on books. Rightly or wrongly I always see it as a failing in myself if I can't give the book enough of a chance to finish it. And maybe this is my fault, but this book felt very self-aggrandizing to me. Like a bad MFA thesis that thought too much of itself. If Mary Louis-Parker wasn't famous, I'm not sure this book ever gets published.
This is less a review of the book than a review of the blurbs on the book. First, this was a wonderful read. It was poignant and heartfelt, and I enjoyed it very much. However, it is NOT "funny" (Mary Karr's and Colin McCann's descriptions), nor was it "often hilarious"(according to Leslie Jamison). Describing a memoir that has some, and I repeat, only some amusing paragraphs as funny and hilarious discourages me from reading the reviewer's own books. If the reviewers laughed out loud to any part of this book, then I am sure that their books are not the kind that I would enjoy reading.
However, Ms. Parker's book was lovely and heartfelt, and it did bring tears to my eyes, and joy to my heart.
However, Ms. Parker's book was lovely and heartfelt, and it did bring tears to my eyes, and joy to my heart.
I loved that this audiobook was read by Parker! I am going to go back and read it though- it is that terrific! I have always enjoyed her acting roles, but she is a great writer and storyteller. The letters, addressed to different men in her life, are heartfelt, raw, beautiful, caring, angry, etc. they are not kiss and tell type letters, but true letters evoking real emotion.
This is definitely worth a read or listen to -especially if you aren't looking for a Hollywood gossip book.
This is definitely worth a read or listen to -especially if you aren't looking for a Hollywood gossip book.
I had lots of mixed feelings about this book. Most of the stories were interesting and well-written, but she has a tendency towards sentimentality and I could tell that she looks at the world in a completely different way than I do. Which is fine and good. I loved her story about the man that showed them how to do things when they moved to the country, like following bees back to the hive. I loved learning about oysters and her story about her infamous cab ride was pretty hysterical. Cerebus was very good and explored some exes that weren't exactly Mr. Right. Mary Louise Parker can be so hilarious and heart-breaking at the same time, and these little stories fluctuated between the two, or did neither. They all tried to have a positive message. That's all I have to say about it.
I simply could not connect to this book enough to care about most of the stories. I didn't find them all that entertaining. Sad because I really like the author as an actress!
I fell like such a heel. I didn't like this book. I don't know why because I love Ms. Parker. Just wasn't my cup of tea.
So much to love. Dear Oyster Picker, Dear Future Man Who Loves My Daughter, Dear Doctor, and Dear Uncle are everything.