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goobdiddy's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a little biased towards Auntie Sara because I'm a fan of her comedy, having read her column on Wonkette for a while, then watched her awesome Youtube vids, so I'm not sure how objective I can be about the book.
I definitely have to give her props for exposing such personal information like this. I had heard some of it before in her act, and always assumed it was exaggerated, or just a story told for comic effect, but nope, actual crazy here! Hopefully people who are going through similar things can gain some inspiration from this and see someone was able to power through the crappiness.
The book itself is a little uneven, with some of the chapters being real page turners, and others feeling a bit rushed, but I never was bored while reading. This is truly saying a lot in my case, because I RARELY read non-fiction for fun. I feel like I know one of my favorite internet personalities a bit better now, and I hope she keeps on producing. And writing. Definitely writing.
I definitely have to give her props for exposing such personal information like this. I had heard some of it before in her act, and always assumed it was exaggerated, or just a story told for comic effect, but nope, actual crazy here! Hopefully people who are going through similar things can gain some inspiration from this and see someone was able to power through the crappiness.
The book itself is a little uneven, with some of the chapters being real page turners, and others feeling a bit rushed, but I never was bored while reading. This is truly saying a lot in my case, because I RARELY read non-fiction for fun. I feel like I know one of my favorite internet personalities a bit better now, and I hope she keeps on producing. And writing. Definitely writing.
foofers1622's review against another edition
5.0
If you have ever had to deal with anxiety or depression this memoir is for you. There were so many times where I felt exactly as Sara did. It was so refreshing to know I wasn't alone experiencing these feelings!
90sinmyheart's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting story about overcoming anxiety issues. Lots of cursing, which I LOVED.
bunrab's review against another edition
4.0
When one browses the "new books" shelves at the library regularly and grabs anything with an odd title on the notion that it might be an odd book and therefore interesting, one winds up with, well, odd books. This is an odd, but funny, memoir about agoraphobia, depression, and eating disorders.
jecinwv's review against another edition
4.0
Sara mixes humor and tragedy into one. This is the funny memoir of a journey through panic attacks, agoraphobia, and eating disorders (if you go through those things too). Sara is witty, interesting, and a fabulous story teller. Each chapter covers a unique story ranging from high school study abroad trips, teaching in Texas, entering graduate school, and having to visit the ER for suicidal thoughts. This book was easy to read in one sitting. Some of the stories were so relatable for me. I think that made it more hilarious. If you have struggled with your mental health and are looking for something to read that makes you feel seen this is a good choice. Sara is unapologetic-ally feminist in her writing and paints beautiful pictures of the humans in her life.
ja3m3's review against another edition
3.0
Agorafabulous!: Dispatches from My Bedroom is a funny, honest, and heart-felt look at mental illness and the courage and strength (and good drugs) it takes to control it. This is the first book that I've read about mental illness that made mental illness understandable and human. Sara Benincasa doesn't mess around and tells it like it is. If you are someone who doesn't like profanity, this book may not be for you - Benincasa drops a lot of f-bombs. This is a book of hope for anyone who struggles with the demons of anxiexy and depression.
meghan111's review against another edition
3.0
If you liked [b:Bossypants|9418327|Bossypants|Tina Fey|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327926050s/9418327.jpg|14302659] by Tina Fey, check this out! Entertaining, funny tales of humiliation by a lady comedian, plus some graphic information about how when you can't leave your bedroom to go to the bathroom, and (naturally) start peeing in bowls and storing them under the bed, how one's urine changes over time. It's a disturbing detail.
kristinisreading's review against another edition
5.0
I think the title Agorafabulous is misleading. It makes the book sound like a lightweight romp of someone who, sure, has Agoraphobia but manages to stay trendy and chic the same time. It would also be misleading to think of this is a humor book. It's a memoir written by a comedian and it is often funny, but it is raw and deeply revealing.
There's a Henry Wadsworth Longfellow quote that I like that goes, "If we could read the secret history of our enemies we should find in each man's life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility." This book is a reminder that people walk around with lives hidden from view that we can scarcely imagine. In the introduction there was a juxtaposition that set the tone for the book. In one paragraph the author is detailing an explicit, slightly raunchy adolescent moment, and two paragraphs down describes a situation so tragic it takes your breath away.
I admit I like memoirs written by smart, neurotic, sarcastic women, and this certainly fits. Even more it's a wonderful portrait of a person living with mental illness. It reveals that the illness does not fully define a person. I really liked this book and would recommend it.
There's a Henry Wadsworth Longfellow quote that I like that goes, "If we could read the secret history of our enemies we should find in each man's life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility." This book is a reminder that people walk around with lives hidden from view that we can scarcely imagine. In the introduction there was a juxtaposition that set the tone for the book. In one paragraph the author is detailing an explicit, slightly raunchy adolescent moment, and two paragraphs down describes a situation so tragic it takes your breath away.
I admit I like memoirs written by smart, neurotic, sarcastic women, and this certainly fits. Even more it's a wonderful portrait of a person living with mental illness. It reveals that the illness does not fully define a person. I really liked this book and would recommend it.