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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
2.5 stars!
So many people have recommended Jenny Lawson's first book Let's Pretend This Never Happened to me, and although I've had every intention of reading it because it really does look super funny, I was even more excited for Furiously Happy because I'd heard just as many good things about it, the cover is sparkly, and it's about mental illness, depression, and anxiety.
The book started out fine, and I felt the format was fine, but towards the end of the book, I really started feeling that Jenny was just scrounging up stories in attempt to be funny. I think there is still such a necessity for this book, and I am so pleased I read it and feel like FINALLY SOMEONE UNDERSTANDS THAT MENTAL ILLNESS IS SERIOUS and not something that should be considered a "weakness". And it's undeniable that Jenny would be hilarious to be around and would want to be around, but the best part of the book is her writing about mental illness, but so much of the book is supposed to be funny, and I just didn't love those parts as much or feel they were as necessary. But the parts about depression and anxiety were so good, and no truer words have ever been spoken about living with a mental illness.
So many people have recommended Jenny Lawson's first book Let's Pretend This Never Happened to me, and although I've had every intention of reading it because it really does look super funny, I was even more excited for Furiously Happy because I'd heard just as many good things about it, the cover is sparkly, and it's about mental illness, depression, and anxiety.
The book started out fine, and I felt the format was fine, but towards the end of the book, I really started feeling that Jenny was just scrounging up stories in attempt to be funny. I think there is still such a necessity for this book, and I am so pleased I read it and feel like FINALLY SOMEONE UNDERSTANDS THAT MENTAL ILLNESS IS SERIOUS and not something that should be considered a "weakness". And it's undeniable that Jenny would be hilarious to be around and would want to be around, but the best part of the book is her writing about mental illness, but so much of the book is supposed to be funny, and I just didn't love those parts as much or feel they were as necessary. But the parts about depression and anxiety were so good, and no truer words have ever been spoken about living with a mental illness.
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
A little dated at this point, but Jenny’s humor and perspective on mental health is a balm to my mentally ill soul.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content
Minor: Animal death, Chronic illness, Alcohol
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
I find myself very torn about the book Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson. On one hand, there were some sentences that were so funny I struggled to hide the laughter-tears from my family as I was reading. (Most of these were in the first half of the book.) I also appreciate how honest she was about the struggles she faces with mental illness. On the other hand, I was very uncomfortable with quite a few aspects of the writing: both the subject and the manner in which it was written. For example, 90% of scenes that take place involving her husband are incredibly negative: she is arguing with him; he is annoyed with her; they don't understand each other, etc. The relationship seems toxic through the course of the book, which is the opposite of the way the author seems to portray the rest of her life ("Furiously Happy" like the title). So, anything involving her husband really didn't seem to fit in tone or substance. Also, a lot of the free-form, train-of-thought, head-off-on-tangents-then-apologize writing style was just too over the top for me to enjoy. I do not know the author personally. But, if the book had been written by one of my friends, my reaction would have been that she was trying WAY too hard and was obviously trying to cover up something with all of her might. So, it was more grating than entertaining. I leave it up to you whether you will find the book wildly funny or not.
funny
medium-paced
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
This book was so enjoyable. I honestly did duel reading (did the audiobook while following along witht eh physical book) this made it so much more enjoyable. Have the narrator be the author honestly made the book even more funny. She talks truth about mental illness and how it effects everyone differently. She also talks about the crazy stories and things she's done that just make you feel like "okay I guess im not as crazy as I think I am. This lady is definitely crazier"
I love her writing. It's funny. It's different. It makes you laugh and realize you aren't alone in the crazy and you can honestly be okay with living Furiously Happy despite how you feel today or even yesterday.
I love her writing. It's funny. It's different. It makes you laugh and realize you aren't alone in the crazy and you can honestly be okay with living Furiously Happy despite how you feel today or even yesterday.
funny
sad
medium-paced
Challenge #19 A book based on a true story (popsugar reading challenge 2015)
I read this for the holiday booktubeathon! It was fantastic!
I read this for the holiday booktubeathon! It was fantastic!
There were moments that felt like she was trying too hard to be funny/off the wall, but overall, I laughed a lot reading this. It also felt really good to read a book that was written a lot like the ping pong thoughts in my head sound. Her thought process (that would seem crazy to some) made complete sense to me or anyone with ADHD or depression and anxiety.