Scan barcode
morgybritt's review
5.0
Struggling with anxiety and depression myself this book really connected with me. It had me laughing so hard I would cry. I really connected to her humor. Definitely a must read for people struggling with mental illness.
rballenger's review against another edition
5.0
Type of read: Commuter (listened to and from work)
What made me pick it up: Suggested book in one of the lists I receive (library or Goodreads) and the cover art.
Overall rating: "I'm just broken, but in a way that makes me...me."
If you have ever felt alone in your mental, emotional, or physical struggles…or let’s be honest, just like copious references to tiny taxidermied rodents in super fun poses…you need to read Furiously Happy. I’ve said it before, but I’m a cover girl. If there’s a good cover, more often than not I’ll pick up the book. And that’s one of the things that lured me in with Furiously Happy. Lawson’s relatability, honesty, and genuine bonkersness (yes, we’re pretending that’s a real word) is what kept me reading. To anyone who saw me cackling or bawling in the last week as I was driving down the highway on my commute, it was because I was listening to this book and feeling completely seen and unalone.
With all of that said, I fully recognize that Furiously Happy is not for everyone. While there are overarching themes to the book, it's a random conglomeration of thoughts, opinions, and stories from the author sprinkled with comedy and many of the questions that you ask yourself when you're alone but may not have the guts to say out loud (whether it be about your own feelings or really wondering why that one thing is the way it is).
What made me pick it up: Suggested book in one of the lists I receive (library or Goodreads) and the cover art.
Overall rating: "I'm just broken, but in a way that makes me...me."
If you have ever felt alone in your mental, emotional, or physical struggles…or let’s be honest, just like copious references to tiny taxidermied rodents in super fun poses…you need to read Furiously Happy. I’ve said it before, but I’m a cover girl. If there’s a good cover, more often than not I’ll pick up the book. And that’s one of the things that lured me in with Furiously Happy. Lawson’s relatability, honesty, and genuine bonkersness (yes, we’re pretending that’s a real word) is what kept me reading. To anyone who saw me cackling or bawling in the last week as I was driving down the highway on my commute, it was because I was listening to this book and feeling completely seen and unalone.
With all of that said, I fully recognize that Furiously Happy is not for everyone. While there are overarching themes to the book, it's a random conglomeration of thoughts, opinions, and stories from the author sprinkled with comedy and many of the questions that you ask yourself when you're alone but may not have the guts to say out loud (whether it be about your own feelings or really wondering why that one thing is the way it is).
cypriaturge's review
4.0
This is way, way, not a book I want to spend a huge about of time criticizing, so I'll keep this short:
The humor fell flat for me about 1/4 of the way through. It actually started to grate by the end.
But the humor is one side of this book's coin. The other side is dark and weathered, all about mental illness and struggling to uphold the basic urge to stay alive. In that context, humor is fucking vital. This book gets exactly as dark as it does bright, and I was moved to tears multiple times while listening to it.
There are things that will stick with me forever here. Here is the most important thing:
This book has helped me change the way I think of my illness. When you are struggling with Depression or Anxiety, Jenny Lawson is your friend, and she says you are fighting a fucking war and if you come out of that alive? You deserve a medal.
This is a must read for anyone who deals with mental illness, or is close to someone who does.
The humor fell flat for me about 1/4 of the way through. It actually started to grate by the end.
But the humor is one side of this book's coin. The other side is dark and weathered, all about mental illness and struggling to uphold the basic urge to stay alive. In that context, humor is fucking vital. This book gets exactly as dark as it does bright, and I was moved to tears multiple times while listening to it.
There are things that will stick with me forever here. Here is the most important thing:
This book has helped me change the way I think of my illness. When you are struggling with Depression or Anxiety, Jenny Lawson is your friend, and she says you are fighting a fucking war and if you come out of that alive? You deserve a medal.
This is a must read for anyone who deals with mental illness, or is close to someone who does.
laurenstrick's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.25
briesespieces's review
4.0
Jenny Lawson has a new die hard fan now and that's me . She freaking had me at : 1. Lick David Tennant's face . Like she did not even have to try . Her Doctor Who references had me salivating in nostalgic ecstasy . I have a feeling I might grow up to be exactly like her in future and although that may have its ups and downs, I DO NOT EVEN MIND . I wish I were related to her in some way because she is one brave and cool lady! The book was funny as hell as it got to the middle and beyond . I am absolutely glad I stuck with it and finished it . I learnt a lot and now I know it is totally okay to feel lonely or not to want to be with people all the time . And the most important , I am not the only one who feels like this . It is nice to know . Would have given it five stars but I rate novels more tightly than I rate graphic novels . And well I think the Australian part was way too long.
ktaylorhurley's review
4.0
This book sat on my shelf for years, until I heard Jenny Lawson on a podcast and realized I had been missing out. It was, at times, laugh-out-loud funny, and then it would be so perfectly touching that I legally took pictures of pages so I can go back to them wherever I want.
dersedragon's review against another edition
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.75
ginnylt's review
5.0
It’s absurd but once you accept that it is absurd it is quite enjoyable, in my opinion. Granted it did take two tries to make it through but in the end, I’m glad I did. I think she makes important points about people struggling with anxiety, depression and other varieties of mental illness. I also think it’s helpful for those who love people with mental illness. Bottom line — it is absurd but it’ll make you laugh out loud and to remind you of important things.
k80anne's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to like this book. I deal with depression and anxiety and other things I've avoided getting diagnosed. There were some very poignant and vulnerable moments I liked, and her description of her symptoms were sometimes heartbreaking, but a lot of the book is her attributing mental illness to her just being obnoxious. She has conversations with her husband and other people that come straight from her mind and then acts frustrated when they don't understand what she's saying. I hope to God she's lying about this for comedic value.
The entire audiobook is read by the author who ends most sentence as if she's asking a question. This valley-girl intonation is grating and makes her sound ditzy. This audiobook was a struggle for me.
The entire audiobook is read by the author who ends most sentence as if she's asking a question. This valley-girl intonation is grating and makes her sound ditzy. This audiobook was a struggle for me.