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ruba0327's review against another edition
4.0
A writer who passed away too young... Her writing reveals the kind of person I would be friends with. This collection of essays touches on family, friendships, bad relationships, illness, death, insecurity, shyness, and chosen solitude. There’s a lot of heart and humor in these well written, easy to read essays. Highly recommended.
lazygal's review
4.0
This was one of those "how did I end up with this book?" reads - I suspect a colleague weeding her collection, possibly grabbed because of the title. However it happened, this is a wonderful selection of essays that will remain in my mind and on my shelves.
Knapp is incredibly honest about her life as an anorexic and alcoholic (both of which are also covered in her two previous books), funny about her problems as a nester and compulsive shopper, open about her reaction to September 11, men named "Dave", girl crushes and other life-related items. I giggled through her "Letter to Corporate America" and the "All-Girl Marine Corps" and hoped I can deal with my parents' eventual deaths and dismembering their house better than she did.
There were essays I want to share with others so I'm definitely going to look for them on-line, but the book stays with me.
Knapp is incredibly honest about her life as an anorexic and alcoholic (both of which are also covered in her two previous books), funny about her problems as a nester and compulsive shopper, open about her reaction to September 11, men named "Dave", girl crushes and other life-related items. I giggled through her "Letter to Corporate America" and the "All-Girl Marine Corps" and hoped I can deal with my parents' eventual deaths and dismembering their house better than she did.
There were essays I want to share with others so I'm definitely going to look for them on-line, but the book stays with me.
jessi_s's review against another edition
3.0
I would like to give this four stars, I really would. I hold back only because there is an entire section about dogs and well, I have a hard time getting excited enough about dogs to read about them, and because--well this is a mishmash of essays and some of them feel uncomfortably dated. Feh.
That out of the way, Caroline Knapp is a gem. The essays about solitude, addiction and friendships stand out the most here. In our age of normalized narcissism and me-moirs, few write with this level of honest self-awareness. Knapp is so refreshingly human.
That out of the way, Caroline Knapp is a gem. The essays about solitude, addiction and friendships stand out the most here. In our age of normalized narcissism and me-moirs, few write with this level of honest self-awareness. Knapp is so refreshingly human.
stestroete's review against another edition
5.0
In my endless pursuit to lighten my load of books, I have been picking up books that have sat on my shelves for years. I am sure I started this book years ago when it was originally purchased, but did not connect with it. On my second attempt I am pleasantly surprised, this is an amazing collection of Caroline Knapp's magazine/newspaper articles. Ms. Knapp's writing is funny, painful, sad, familiar, and personal. I loved this collection. It is sad to lose a great at such a young age.
wannabemensch's review against another edition
3.0
I'm shallow, I guess. I like my serious writers to be serious and my humorous writers to be humorous. Knapp is amazing when she's describing her grief and healing after family death, her struggles with alcoholism and her reconciliation of a childless life. Not so much when she talks about buying shoes.
simsarah79's review against another edition
4.0
haven't finished yet, but will. Just want to spread it out some. love it so far.
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