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lovelymisanthrope 's review for:
Once I Was Cool: Personal Essays
by Megan Stielstra
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
I picked up a copy of this on a trip to Chicago a couple years ago and I finally made the time to read it now.
"Once I Was Cool" is a collection of personal essays from Megan Stielstra. Megan has lived an incredible life and has learned some hard lessons along the way. Writing has always been vitally important to her, and this collection highlights some of her powerful words. Some of these essays have been published or performed in other outlets, but together they paint a vivid picture of a woman trying to find that thing that makes life worth living.
I really loved every second of this collection. Megan and I have lived different lives, but her thoughts, feelings, and views on the world felt like they were my own articulated to me in a beautiful prose. Megan is unapologetic in her delivery and has learned how to find her voice in a sea of writers who are all looking to do the same.
I really enjoyed how this collection was formatted. The essays do not go in chronological order, but every essay seems to weave into the next seamlessly. There is a perfect balance of personal experience with experiences she witnessed from those around her. Additionally, she shared some of the hardest times in her life without coming across as "woe is me". She owns her decisions, and she seems to be genuinely happy with how her life has turned out (up to the point of these essays).
My favorite essays were the ones that highlighted life as a writer and how important writing is to life. America has completely lost sight of teaching the joys of learning and focuses way too heavily on standardized testing. Writing is an expression of your innermost thoughts and needs to be shared. It can help you to understand the world around you and make sense of what you want out of life. I wish the focus was on how to write for the beauty of writing.
I feel so inspired by Megan's words, and I want to devour more from her, as well as indulge in some more personal essays (which this book recommends heavily).
"Once I Was Cool" is a collection of personal essays from Megan Stielstra. Megan has lived an incredible life and has learned some hard lessons along the way. Writing has always been vitally important to her, and this collection highlights some of her powerful words. Some of these essays have been published or performed in other outlets, but together they paint a vivid picture of a woman trying to find that thing that makes life worth living.
I really loved every second of this collection. Megan and I have lived different lives, but her thoughts, feelings, and views on the world felt like they were my own articulated to me in a beautiful prose. Megan is unapologetic in her delivery and has learned how to find her voice in a sea of writers who are all looking to do the same.
I really enjoyed how this collection was formatted. The essays do not go in chronological order, but every essay seems to weave into the next seamlessly. There is a perfect balance of personal experience with experiences she witnessed from those around her. Additionally, she shared some of the hardest times in her life without coming across as "woe is me". She owns her decisions, and she seems to be genuinely happy with how her life has turned out (up to the point of these essays).
My favorite essays were the ones that highlighted life as a writer and how important writing is to life. America has completely lost sight of teaching the joys of learning and focuses way too heavily on standardized testing. Writing is an expression of your innermost thoughts and needs to be shared. It can help you to understand the world around you and make sense of what you want out of life. I wish the focus was on how to write for the beauty of writing.
I feel so inspired by Megan's words, and I want to devour more from her, as well as indulge in some more personal essays (which this book recommends heavily).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Bullying, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Gaslighting
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault