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drollgorg's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
So embarrassing to be reading books about writing and nodding along with recognition
But Anne Lamott is very good at writing in a way that makes me (metaphorically, given that I'm reading a book and not actually talking to anyone) nod along, and she really does capture so much of the experience of trying to put words down on a page in a way that also gives me a chance at learning something on the way. I have often bemoaned and muttered about how much writers are obsessed with writing as a noble struggle and it can come to become an overinflated part of the conflicts that they are able to portray. Even if if I was miserable enough to level that complaint at a memoir and book of advice about writing, Lamott is very well aware of all the idiosyncracies of writers, and she strikes a gentle balance between humorous self-awareness and real commitment to the importance of writing. Her sense of humor is great too. I wonder what she has to say about the Internet.
But Anne Lamott is very good at writing in a way that makes me (metaphorically, given that I'm reading a book and not actually talking to anyone) nod along, and she really does capture so much of the experience of trying to put words down on a page in a way that also gives me a chance at learning something on the way. I have often bemoaned and muttered about how much writers are obsessed with writing as a noble struggle and it can come to become an overinflated part of the conflicts that they are able to portray. Even if if I was miserable enough to level that complaint at a memoir and book of advice about writing, Lamott is very well aware of all the idiosyncracies of writers, and she strikes a gentle balance between humorous self-awareness and real commitment to the importance of writing. Her sense of humor is great too. I wonder what she has to say about the Internet.
libraryam's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a huge fan of Anne Lamott's esssays (a little less so her fiction). Reading her is like reconnecting with an old friend you haven't seen in years but immediately fall back in sync with. She makes it okay not only to write "shitty first drafts" but also to live them because her work-in-progress optimism is so infectious.
starfleeting's review against another edition
3.0
The advice given in this book is, for the most part, good, practical advice. Especially for people starting out or people that need a good push to keep going when they get discouraged. There are also some truly funny passages.
However, there are times when the book feels like a genuine slog to get through. Not just because of what feels like endless run-on sentences that can make a person feel breathless as they read it but the own writer's tendency to be a little too open with everything. Most writers - and artists in general - can have self-confidence issues or neuroses of their own to varying degrees (I say this as a writer myself) but Lamott seems to let hers bleed too much into the writing and examples to where one wonders if she actually enjoys writing. And while there are some parts of the book that come off encouraging, other parts seem to sound incredibly discouraging. Or even downright 'eh, you won't really be happy even if you do get published' which... leaves a lot to be desired to say the least.
I don't doubt Lamott has good intentions in everything she's written in this book. But there are times when emotional whiplash can occur and mixed signals keep popping up.
However, there are times when the book feels like a genuine slog to get through. Not just because of what feels like endless run-on sentences that can make a person feel breathless as they read it but the own writer's tendency to be a little too open with everything. Most writers - and artists in general - can have self-confidence issues or neuroses of their own to varying degrees (I say this as a writer myself) but Lamott seems to let hers bleed too much into the writing and examples to where one wonders if she actually enjoys writing. And while there are some parts of the book that come off encouraging, other parts seem to sound incredibly discouraging. Or even downright 'eh, you won't really be happy even if you do get published' which... leaves a lot to be desired to say the least.
I don't doubt Lamott has good intentions in everything she's written in this book. But there are times when emotional whiplash can occur and mixed signals keep popping up.
abaugher's review against another edition
5.0
Great book! I think I'll need to re-audio-read it to get more out of it, but it has definitely encouraged me to write, and given me ideas of how to even start.
j3r3's review against another edition
4.0
Great read
This is an excellent book. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to be a writer or thought about writing yourself read this book!
This is an excellent book. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to be a writer or thought about writing yourself read this book!
backpackfullofbooks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
medium-paced
3.5
anetherealpursuit's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.5
bedwinnjamin's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.25
A very quaint book on how to put together a story, and everything that goes on between and around that attempt. I really enjoyed it, it's been very nice to collect different people's experience of writing and trying to get published, or if that even is the goal. Having an author literally ask the reader questions and then give their own life experience. Thank you for your teachings Anne Lamott
sage3's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Ok yummmm
Don't want to be a writer but was good
Idk
Read it pretty quick too
Don't want to be a writer but was good
Idk
Read it pretty quick too