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heidihaverkamp's review against another edition
3.0
A fun book about a woman who built herself a tiny house on wheels. She's a childlike sort of person. I could never figure out how to do something like this, and it's fun to look over her shoulder as she tries to figure it out, making fun of herself as she goes. She also details what it's been like living in the backyard of friends, both the ups and downs.
mschrock8's review against another edition
3.0
A sweet story of a woman and her adventures building, moving and living in a tiny house.
Never have I heard so many mentions of pee and peeing your pants.
Borrowed on Hoopla through JCPL.
Listening length six hr, 39 min
Never have I heard so many mentions of pee and peeing your pants.
Borrowed on Hoopla through JCPL.
Listening length six hr, 39 min
justicepirate's review against another edition
3.0
Dee is adorable, for sure.
This book is about a woman who was inspired to build a tiny house and to move out of the nice large house she had been living in with roommates. She talks about the struggles she faced with a heart condition, what her life was like during the time, a little about her family, and what the process was like for her to build her tiny house.
As the book shares the completion of her tiny house, she moves in and talks about life moving around to friends' backyards and what things were like for her regarding interactions with the community and more.
This book was very well written and I give it 3.25 stars. I took longer reading this than I anticipated, but it was good. I wasn't wowed or anything, but it was cute, just like Dee seems to be. She does talk about her skivvies and swears here and there too. I guess I didn't like those parts, but I did my best to ignore all the language and to not laugh too hard picturing her running out of her tiny house in superhero panties during an emergency.
This book is about a woman who was inspired to build a tiny house and to move out of the nice large house she had been living in with roommates. She talks about the struggles she faced with a heart condition, what her life was like during the time, a little about her family, and what the process was like for her to build her tiny house.
As the book shares the completion of her tiny house, she moves in and talks about life moving around to friends' backyards and what things were like for her regarding interactions with the community and more.
This book was very well written and I give it 3.25 stars. I took longer reading this than I anticipated, but it was good. I wasn't wowed or anything, but it was cute, just like Dee seems to be. She does talk about her skivvies and swears here and there too. I guess I didn't like those parts, but I did my best to ignore all the language and to not laugh too hard picturing her running out of her tiny house in superhero panties during an emergency.
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
4.0
Very similar to Wild but Dee Williams's life is slightly less f'd up than Cheryl Strayed's. Really interesting life choice to live in a tiny house. I respect the downsizing elements but I wanted her to live in her tiny house out in the boonies, rather than her friend's backyard where she had access to real life anytime she needed. Seemed less authentic that way. Fascinating read though and a fast one. Recommend it.
alexasaltzman's review against another edition
4.0
I’m surprised to have enjoyed this book as much as I did. Dee is a phenomenal writer, bringing in humor, relatability and humanity I didn’t expect for a book on the topic of Tiny House building and living. I was shocked to be near tears and laughing out loud throughout the book. A great read, regardless of your interest in tiny houses!
sammishgirl's review against another edition
4.0
I don't usually read memoirs, so I was a little surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. It wasn't a straight, to the point, book about exactly how to build a tiny house and here are the nitty gritty details of what it's like to live in one. Instead, I learned about the author's life before the house, how she dealt with her medical crisis, the importance she placed on people and relationships, her stubbornness, and how her current life has allowed her to slow down and be more present.
simplymary's review against another edition
4.0
I really grew to love this quirky author. She thinks differently than anyone I've ever come across, and has unique metaphors, examples, and crazy stories. She's a pioneer in the tiny house world and the best writer I've found to describe it. She doesn't hide the hard stuff, and lets you know the nitty gritty of downsizing to a 84-sq-ft house (that doesn't even include a shower). Some language.
justiceofkalr's review against another edition
3.0
This is a strong three stars. The only reason I didn't bump it up to four stars is that I really wanted to know more about the house and how things functioned and worked in it. She talks a little about it, but really just enough to make me even more curious.
gasoline_allie's review against another edition
3.0
This is not a how-to guide for tiny house construction or even a practical guide to tiny house living, and no one should expect it to be. Just as it says in the tin, this is a memoir by a woman who chose to build and live in a tiny house after being diagnosed with congestive heart failure.
I feel somewhat conflicted. I liked a lot of what she had to say, such as how easy it is to be so wrapped up in making a living that we forget to live, how there is joy in minimalism (but getting rid of your books hurts!), and that everyday things, from the sunrise to frost on the window, are small miracles meant to be noticed and treasured. I was envious how things that are real issues in alternative housing—such as finding a place to build her house, finding a place to park it, and dealing with local zoning laws that are not tiny-house friendly—were barely concerns for her at all, but that didn’t diminish my enjoyment. It just made me think about how many of us lack a community of friends and neighbors.
It’s the distance that bugged me. Memoirs invite intimacy, don’t they? I expect to feel like I really know someone. Despite Williams sharing her illness, her sense of her own mortality, and her grief, I always felt like she was holding herself at a great distance from her readers. Because of this, her humor often felt forced, and anecdotes from her life felt fictionalized. Not saying they were, mind you. Just that they felt that way. And, no, people don’t have to share their inner selves with strangers. I certainly wouldn’t…but that means I wouldn’t write a memoir.
I’d give this 3.25 stars, if goodreads allowed that level of nuance.
I feel somewhat conflicted. I liked a lot of what she had to say, such as how easy it is to be so wrapped up in making a living that we forget to live, how there is joy in minimalism (but getting rid of your books hurts!), and that everyday things, from the sunrise to frost on the window, are small miracles meant to be noticed and treasured. I was envious how things that are real issues in alternative housing—such as finding a place to build her house, finding a place to park it, and dealing with local zoning laws that are not tiny-house friendly—were barely concerns for her at all, but that didn’t diminish my enjoyment. It just made me think about how many of us lack a community of friends and neighbors.
It’s the distance that bugged me. Memoirs invite intimacy, don’t they? I expect to feel like I really know someone. Despite Williams sharing her illness, her sense of her own mortality, and her grief, I always felt like she was holding herself at a great distance from her readers. Because of this, her humor often felt forced, and anecdotes from her life felt fictionalized. Not saying they were, mind you. Just that they felt that way. And, no, people don’t have to share their inner selves with strangers. I certainly wouldn’t…but that means I wouldn’t write a memoir.
I’d give this 3.25 stars, if goodreads allowed that level of nuance.