Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Bird by Bird: Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott

9 reviews

likeagilmoregirl's review against another edition

informative fast-paced

1.5

Several people had recommended this to me to help with my writing journey as it had helped them with theirs. I’m really glad this book was useful for them, but it was definitely not for me. Unfortunately, reading through this was a miserable experience for me. Overall, I felt like I got maybe two good pointers from this book.

I think that the points the author was trying to make would have come across just as well, if not better, had they been listed out in a small blog post. It felt that a majority of the book was filler; nonsensical and sometimes borderline cringey or distasteful jokes that the author threw in to be “funny”. It was full of self-depreciation and unnecessary analogies that really distracted from the overall point of the writing.

I hope others will give this book a chance and possibly find it useful for them. Sadly. It was not a match for me.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child death, Death of parent, Cancer, Death, and Ableism

amaezone's review against another edition

emotional funny informative inspiring

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Child death, and Death

kquixotic's review against another edition

funny informative inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

3.0

The edition I read is outdated, and includes some language and perspectives that I haven’t aged well. But, as someone who isn’t a writer but has a sense of being filled with stories that don’t know how to make their way to a page, I found Bird by Bird to include helpful inspiration. And beyond writing, there are, indeed, many helpful lessons on how to simply survive the cruel world we live in. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death of parent and Child death

caitlancole's review against another edition

funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Death of parent, and Terminal illness

loxeletters's review

funny informative inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Child death, Death, Cancer, and Mental illness

ahudd's review against another edition

informative lighthearted medium-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Death of parent, Body shaming, and Death

becksusername's review against another edition

funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

I feel so inspired to start writing again, and even have a better idea of how to actually make a habit of it

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child death, Death of parent, Fatphobia, and Terminal illness

purecomedy's review

funny informative inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

5.0

This book is like sitting down with a friend who gives you a lot of no-nonsense advice about writing. It both celebrates the process of putting the words down and honestly talks about the tricky parts of creative work. I'll definitely keep returning to some of the insights while working on my own writing.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child death, Death, Death of parent, and Terminal illness

tenten's review against another edition

informative inspiring medium-paced

4.0

i loved this book! along with On Writing by Stephen King, this is definitely a book that i will return to time and time again as i try to push down all my anxious, self-deprecating voices so that i can write without fear. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, and Death of parent

Minor: Child death