Scan barcode
A review by deathmetalheron
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
3.5
Memoir/biographies I find the least interesting--one person is usually not particularly worth focusing on, especially if it's biographical. Memoirs only really work if I'm interested in the person writing it.
This works in this case. In addition to its spicy and enticing title, I am very aware of Jennette McCurdy as I watched plenty of episodes of iCarly growing up. The more details I found out about her actual career, the more sad I got. It's easy to use television as an escape without realizing that the actors themselves are not characters and are real people.
I'm Glad My Mom Died reads very quickly, the action cutting from chapter to chapter flashing through McCurdy's life from a young 4 all the way to near present day. It recounts different stories that highlight primarily her relationship with her mother but also some of the effects of mental illness and expectations she gained through her mother's treatment, most notably disordered eating. The book pulls no punches and more or less make a damning case for McCurdy's mother being truly problematic and hard to sympathize with.
The most profound moments of the book are McCurdy's recounting of her childhood days--her inner monologue is retold from her child's perspective with no analysis, so the events are seen through her eyes. Any adult reading it will instantly pick up on the behaviors exhibited by McCurdy's mother and the effect they will have in the future, and it compounds the innocence loss that McCurdy will eventually experience. The book gets a little bit less insightful as time goes on, and the ending lacks a bit of insight. I understand this might be the point but McCurdy is an effective writer and I would've loved to see her reflect on the experience a bit more. Additionally, this book targeted me VERY directly as a parent. It was odd to read a book where for most of my life I would put myself in Jennette's shoes but reading this I also saw myself as a future parent and how the choices I made as a father would eventually affect my own daughter's self perception. Definitely a thinker.
This works in this case. In addition to its spicy and enticing title, I am very aware of Jennette McCurdy as I watched plenty of episodes of iCarly growing up. The more details I found out about her actual career, the more sad I got. It's easy to use television as an escape without realizing that the actors themselves are not characters and are real people.
I'm Glad My Mom Died reads very quickly, the action cutting from chapter to chapter flashing through McCurdy's life from a young 4 all the way to near present day. It recounts different stories that highlight primarily her relationship with her mother but also some of the effects of mental illness and expectations she gained through her mother's treatment, most notably disordered eating. The book pulls no punches and more or less make a damning case for McCurdy's mother being truly problematic and hard to sympathize with.
The most profound moments of the book are McCurdy's recounting of her childhood days--her inner monologue is retold from her child's perspective with no analysis, so the events are seen through her eyes. Any adult reading it will instantly pick up on the behaviors exhibited by McCurdy's mother and the effect they will have in the future, and it compounds the innocence loss that McCurdy will eventually experience. The book gets a little bit less insightful as time goes on, and the ending lacks a bit of insight. I understand this might be the point but McCurdy is an effective writer and I would've loved to see her reflect on the experience a bit more. Additionally, this book targeted me VERY directly as a parent. It was odd to read a book where for most of my life I would put myself in Jennette's shoes but reading this I also saw myself as a future parent and how the choices I made as a father would eventually affect my own daughter's self perception. Definitely a thinker.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Vomit, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Body shaming, Mental illness, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, and Gaslighting
Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Bullying, Medical content, and Dementia