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_readwithash's review against another edition
2.0
There were some really good tips for writing in this book, however they are buried beneath extremely judgmental observations. This perspective could be because I listened to the audiobook for most of my reading experience, but Lamott herself narrates it, and I was incredibly put off by the whole thing.
jaredor's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
3.5
The lessons taught are via anecdotes, so you get one writer's wisdom in an experiential narrative. You could almost call this "confessional how-to" but the darkest parts, like that of a drinking problem, are only touched upon in passing, so this is not as exploitative as that label would seem.
This book is often mentioned when creativity comes up and I agree with that: The author took a creative approach to writing a how-to-be-writer book. It was first published in 1994, so it was not just a drop in the flood of first person exposition we have in general nonfiction today, but rather part of the rivulet that first carved the course of that genre.
The previous sentence I wrote was verging on being too precious and I feel that a lot of the book is in a similar spot. The book is chockablock with imagery, but sometimes seems to exist in service to itself. This gives the impression, sometimes, that the culminating emotional punch to drive home the point of the chapter lands a bit off center.
I totally get you if you think this book is five stars. For me, it wasn't.
This book is often mentioned when creativity comes up and I agree with that: The author took a creative approach to writing a how-to-be-writer book. It was first published in 1994, so it was not just a drop in the flood of first person exposition we have in general nonfiction today, but rather part of the rivulet that first carved the course of that genre.
The previous sentence I wrote was verging on being too precious and I feel that a lot of the book is in a similar spot. The book is chockablock with imagery, but sometimes seems to exist in service to itself. This gives the impression, sometimes, that the culminating emotional punch to drive home the point of the chapter lands a bit off center.
I totally get you if you think this book is five stars. For me, it wasn't.
athousandgreatbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Anne Lamott - A gem of a soul discovered. In this somewhat instructional, somewhat inspirational book, we see the life of a writer, what such a one should expect (just give up on stuff like fame and money), and what ultimately one has to go through.
A writer pays through the nose for the joys that the literary life affords: disappointments, rejections, dejections, neuroses, and a whole lot of drama that doesn't go away upon publication, that is IF one ever gets there.
A writer has to take it step by step, word by word, and grind through the daily tasks of having written something every day. Freedom is found in discipline and that alone. The book is a breeze, written with a voice that I think I can identify anywhere, easy on the eyes, funny, and true.
So what should you do to get the writer in you writing - remember your childhood, observe the present, and write the truth, no matter how embarrassing it may be. Be sensitive and don't forget your pen and pad when you leave the house, and try to maintain an impenetrable hide.
A writer pays through the nose for the joys that the literary life affords: disappointments, rejections, dejections, neuroses, and a whole lot of drama that doesn't go away upon publication, that is IF one ever gets there.
A writer has to take it step by step, word by word, and grind through the daily tasks of having written something every day. Freedom is found in discipline and that alone. The book is a breeze, written with a voice that I think I can identify anywhere, easy on the eyes, funny, and true.
So what should you do to get the writer in you writing - remember your childhood, observe the present, and write the truth, no matter how embarrassing it may be. Be sensitive and don't forget your pen and pad when you leave the house, and try to maintain an impenetrable hide.
fundays1106's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.75
While Bird by Bird is an incredibly helpful instructional manual on how to write, it is so much more than that. Anne Lamott not only shares her wisdom on writing, she shares her wisdom on life. She uses both humorous and heart-breaking stories to teach us, her students, these lessons on writing and life. I never read a book before that made me laugh out loud and then cry a few paragraphs later. She is a masterful writer. I can't recommend this book highly enough, even to those who don't have any desire to write.
clairevoyants's review against another edition
2.0
i feel bad because this was a very sweet and well-intended gift from my mom. there were some kernels of writing wisdom in this but man, i could not get past how unlikeable i found the author. her ego is insufferable. the chapter about seeking therapy for jealousy over her fellow writers — and even wishing illness on her successful writing friends — was particularly appalling. a few times she spoke about cutting out writer friends who she was either spiteful toward or jealous of. literally the CIA would have to waterboard that out of me. including some of the most egregious passages below:
"It can wreak just the tiniest bit of havoc with your self-esteem to find that you are hoping for small bad things to happen to this [writer] friend — for, say, her head to blow up. Or for him to wake up one morning with a pain in his prostate."
"I went through a bad bout of jealousy last year when someone with whom I am (or rather was) friendly with did extremely well. It felt like every few days she'd have more good news about how well her book was doing (...) It threw me for a loop. I'm a better writer than she is. (...) I would sit listening to her discuss her latest successes over the phone, praying I could get off the line before I started barking. I was literally oozing unhappiness, like a sump."
"I actually have one writer friend — whom I think I will probably be getting rid of soon — who said to me recently that if you don't remember it when you get home, it probably wasn't that important. And I felt eight years old again, with something important to say (...) while an adult nearby was saying priggishly, 'Well! It must not have been very important then.'"
(on waiting to receive edits from friends) "Then I'll think about all the things I don't like about either of [my friends], how much in fact I hate them both, how it is no wonder that neither of them has many friends."
(on receiving criticism from friends) "My first thought is, 'Well. I'm sorry, but I can't be friends with you anymore, because you have too many problems. And you have a bad personality. And a bad character.'"
(on sending a manuscript to friends) "It can't have even arrived and already I'm feeling bitter and resentful about what cold, lazy, sadistic slime I'm surrounded by. (...) and then you go on a massive eating binge and think about what phonies most of your friends are."
girl i hope all of these so-called friends lost your number after you published this???? get help please
there were a few instances of ableism and subtle racism that i found really distasteful. (comparing south and central american literature to primitive art?? + the entire special olympics chapter jfc.) i was also extremely annoyed by the contemptuous, condescending way she spoke about her students who had dreams of publishing. ultimately i've just enjoyed other writers' meditation on the craft way more.
"It can wreak just the tiniest bit of havoc with your self-esteem to find that you are hoping for small bad things to happen to this [writer] friend — for, say, her head to blow up. Or for him to wake up one morning with a pain in his prostate."
"I went through a bad bout of jealousy last year when someone with whom I am (or rather was) friendly with did extremely well. It felt like every few days she'd have more good news about how well her book was doing (...) It threw me for a loop. I'm a better writer than she is. (...) I would sit listening to her discuss her latest successes over the phone, praying I could get off the line before I started barking. I was literally oozing unhappiness, like a sump."
"I actually have one writer friend — whom I think I will probably be getting rid of soon — who said to me recently that if you don't remember it when you get home, it probably wasn't that important. And I felt eight years old again, with something important to say (...) while an adult nearby was saying priggishly, 'Well! It must not have been very important then.'"
(on waiting to receive edits from friends) "Then I'll think about all the things I don't like about either of [my friends], how much in fact I hate them both, how it is no wonder that neither of them has many friends."
(on receiving criticism from friends) "My first thought is, 'Well. I'm sorry, but I can't be friends with you anymore, because you have too many problems. And you have a bad personality. And a bad character.'"
(on sending a manuscript to friends) "It can't have even arrived and already I'm feeling bitter and resentful about what cold, lazy, sadistic slime I'm surrounded by. (...) and then you go on a massive eating binge and think about what phonies most of your friends are."
girl i hope all of these so-called friends lost your number after you published this???? get help please
there were a few instances of ableism and subtle racism that i found really distasteful. (comparing south and central american literature to primitive art?? + the entire special olympics chapter jfc.) i was also extremely annoyed by the contemptuous, condescending way she spoke about her students who had dreams of publishing. ultimately i've just enjoyed other writers' meditation on the craft way more.
faizastra's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
4.5
itsmeleila's review
Besides the writing advice being quite basic, the way she referred to non-white people and disabled people gave me the ick
gracethefishy's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
fast-paced
4.0
As someone who is neck deep in dissertation writing, this was an excellent read to help me find the motivation to write and make a plan to help me get through the worst of it.