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A review by thisbookbelongstosk
The New One: Painfully True Stories from a Reluctant Dad by Mike Birbiglia
5.0
I saw Mike Birbiglia's one man show of the same name (and have been a fan of his comedy for a long time), so I knew what I was in for with this book, and yet I'm still coming away from it sobbing.
It's not a sad book. It's hopeful and joyful and honest and beautiful, especially in its more painful and heart wrenching moments. And right now, being the hormonal wreck that I am, I can't stress enough how perfect this book is (and how essential the one man show is as a companion piece).
There is quite a bit of overlap between the book and the show, and still I embraced the moments and stories I knew were coming (like seeing the world through baby's eyes).
I laughed out loud a lot, and felt silent tears slip down my cheeks just as much.
I think Jen's poems really add such a wonderfully whole and realized look at their journey. At one point, he says that anything he writes isn't the real story, because it's only from his perspective, and I think the same can be said about Jen's poems, but having them both together, juxtaposing each other, felt so true to life and relationships and the way two people process the same thing in different ways (in this case, her pregnancy and the arrival of their daughter).
This book came to me (from my library holds list) at the perfect time, and for that reason, it's entirely possible that my 5 star rating is lousy with bias (not to mention the fact that I'm a Birbiglia fan to begin with). But I remember feeling so deeply moved by the show, that regardless of where my head is currently at, I think this would have received 5 stars from me no matter what.
I want to say more, but I won't yet. Maybe I'll edit this review soon to add a bit more. But for now, I'll just hold onto this feeling and be grateful.
It's not a sad book. It's hopeful and joyful and honest and beautiful, especially in its more painful and heart wrenching moments. And right now, being the hormonal wreck that I am, I can't stress enough how perfect this book is (and how essential the one man show is as a companion piece).
There is quite a bit of overlap between the book and the show, and still I embraced the moments and stories I knew were coming (like seeing the world through baby's eyes).
I laughed out loud a lot, and felt silent tears slip down my cheeks just as much.
I think Jen's poems really add such a wonderfully whole and realized look at their journey. At one point, he says that anything he writes isn't the real story, because it's only from his perspective, and I think the same can be said about Jen's poems, but having them both together, juxtaposing each other, felt so true to life and relationships and the way two people process the same thing in different ways (in this case, her pregnancy and the arrival of their daughter).
This book came to me (from my library holds list) at the perfect time, and for that reason, it's entirely possible that my 5 star rating is lousy with bias (not to mention the fact that I'm a Birbiglia fan to begin with). But I remember feeling so deeply moved by the show, that regardless of where my head is currently at, I think this would have received 5 stars from me no matter what.
I want to say more, but I won't yet. Maybe I'll edit this review soon to add a bit more. But for now, I'll just hold onto this feeling and be grateful.