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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
First, this is a completely biased review (those who know, know). Second, if you want to spend time with a new, innovative and compelling voice put down whatever you are reading and read this book now.
The Golden Ticket is for everyone who is a Daughter, Wife, Mother, Son, Husband, and/or Father* The author skillfully shares her story with honesty and humor to illustrate that life is imperfect, resilience comes in many forms and it is OK to not have it figured out.
*It is for everyone!
The Golden Ticket is for everyone who is a Daughter, Wife, Mother, Son, Husband, and/or Father* The author skillfully shares her story with honesty and humor to illustrate that life is imperfect, resilience comes in many forms and it is OK to not have it figured out.
*It is for everyone!
funny
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
emotional
inspiring
reflective
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
fast-paced
I would have never picked up this book off a shelf. Reading (therefore stressing) about college admissions essays - No thank you! Been there done that for myself and I’d like to hide in a hole about the impending essays my children will have to write much sooner than I’d like to think about.
Reading about someone with relatable struggles who has the right amount of snark, yes please.
I picked this up after I met the author at a book event. This is a satrical memoir that goes so much deeper than college admissions essays. I think the recommendation sweet spot for this book is any parent who has a kid that is OR is not college bound. I also think anyone who wants to read about being an immigrant, dealing with depression, neurodivergence, ADHD, therapy, suicide, and/or struggling to achieve the “American dream”, would enjoy this read as well. And there are indeed tips about writing the perfect college essay - but that’s not the point - which IS the point. Just read it.
Reading about someone with relatable struggles who has the right amount of snark, yes please.
I picked this up after I met the author at a book event. This is a satrical memoir that goes so much deeper than college admissions essays. I think the recommendation sweet spot for this book is any parent who has a kid that is OR is not college bound. I also think anyone who wants to read about being an immigrant, dealing with depression, neurodivergence, ADHD, therapy, suicide, and/or struggling to achieve the “American dream”, would enjoy this read as well. And there are indeed tips about writing the perfect college essay - but that’s not the point - which IS the point. Just read it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Genocide, Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Death of parent, Pandemic/Epidemic
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Strangely not really about college admissions but about this woman, the children she flat out says she has second thoughts about having and sending them to “therapeutic” wilderness camps because they are autistic, using drugs and she doesn’t share why for the last child. It was honestly kind of disturbing. She can be funny at times but the way they dealt with the children and she talked about them, particularly her son is autistic was horrifying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Irena is my cousin, so I have known what an amazing storyteller she is for most of my life. I am so excited that she has now shared this talent with so many others. The Golden Ticket contributes to an important societal conversation about college, parenting, and the systems that are deeply harming our teens and young adults. Irena makes the case that the pressure for affluent families to send their children to highly rejective colleges not only contributes to growing inequality, but creates tremendous suffering for the kids being pushed through this process. And she does it in a funny, poignant, and incredibly brave way. I could not recommend this book more highly.