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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
For my full review, follow the link: https://lizzieinthecity.wordpress.com/2017/11/20/the-rules-do-not-apply-honest-eloquent-simplicity/
Levy must give up the idea of perfection and the modern feminist goal of being everything in life. The characters in books we know and love have everything and do everything, but these are just characters. What Levy permits herself to be and her readers to see is an actual person: flawed, basic, entitled, honest and real. "Now admitting it seems like the obvious and essential work of growing up. Everybody doesn't get everything: as natural and unavoidable as mortality."
Levy must give up the idea of perfection and the modern feminist goal of being everything in life. The characters in books we know and love have everything and do everything, but these are just characters. What Levy permits herself to be and her readers to see is an actual person: flawed, basic, entitled, honest and real. "Now admitting it seems like the obvious and essential work of growing up. Everybody doesn't get everything: as natural and unavoidable as mortality."
Ariel Levy’s memoir is about her relationship with her pregnancy and her relationship with her spouse. She wrote a shorter version of this time in her life as an article for The New Yorker and decided to expand it into a book. I picked up this book because David Sedaris recommended it. Whenever he goes on tour he recommends a book that he thinks his fans should read.
I didn’t find Levy very relatable but then again, I have never been in the situations she has. The level of denial she had about her partner’s alcoholism was astounding to me. And it was hard for me not to blame her just a little for choosing to travel to a third world country while pregnant. My heart still ached for her though. Losing a child is just about the worst thing that can happen to a person. I still liked the book – I don’t need to agree with a person to enjoy learning about them and their life and to sympathize with them. Enjoy doesn’t really sound like the right word since this book was so sad but I’m not sure what word to use instead.
The Rules Do Not Apply is the kind of book that would be good to read when you need a good cry. It’s relatively short so you can read it all at once for a cathartic experience.
I didn’t find Levy very relatable but then again, I have never been in the situations she has. The level of denial she had about her partner’s alcoholism was astounding to me. And it was hard for me not to blame her just a little for choosing to travel to a third world country while pregnant. My heart still ached for her though. Losing a child is just about the worst thing that can happen to a person. I still liked the book – I don’t need to agree with a person to enjoy learning about them and their life and to sympathize with them. Enjoy doesn’t really sound like the right word since this book was so sad but I’m not sure what word to use instead.
The Rules Do Not Apply is the kind of book that would be good to read when you need a good cry. It’s relatively short so you can read it all at once for a cathartic experience.
While I found the tone occasionally off, all in all I was really floored by this memoir of losing your family. A lovely read, even when harsh.
So many moments of true brilliance and insight, but the ending sections were uneven and I couldn't get past the transphobic treatment of one character
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
This book was so beautifully written. Ariel’s writing style had me captivated and I finished this book in under two hours. Her life is painted so magically and so tragically and somehow she struck a perfect balance in writing both.
Fascinating, profound, and poignant memoir and exploration of grief – as well as of life and the unexpected twists and turns it takes.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced