I very rarely read non-fiction unless I am sitting in front of a computer screen reading news articles or favorite blogs. I can enjoy a good non-fiction read, and will once in a while turn to a book of essays for a change of pace., but I am, at my core, a fiction-lover.
So, despite loving The Bloggess and the writer behind it – Jenny Lawson – I was wary about picking up her book Let’s Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir. I have read books by beloved bloggers before and often find that the book reads like a series of disjointed posts. Heck, if I am a true blog-reading fan, I might have already read most of the book! I want a book to engage me with story, carry me to the end, and inspire me and books by bloggers just have not seemed to do that in the past.
Thankfully, Jenny Lawson seemed to do it right. She carries her blog writing style over to the pages, but expands it to suit the book-form. She pulls blog posts over occasionally but doesn’t fill the book with them. They are well placed and tend to fit within the flow of her story. And of course, her real, raw humour is both laugh-out-loud funny and completely cringe-worthy at times. I had to quell the giggles while reading in bed beside a sleeping husband and figured I probably looked like a goof laughing aloud during my commutes on public transit.
Jenny writes about life in the best possible way. She finds the funny in the funk that we all experience. Chapters about dead animals and social anxiety and infertility are still riddled with laughs for the readers. It is an epic reminder that we are all going through our own brand of crazy and in that, we’re somehow not alone.
“Because you are defined not by life’s imperfect moments, but by your reaction to them. And because there is joy in embracing – rather than running from – the utter absurdity of life.”
I would absolutely recommend Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson to almost everyone. This is an especially fine read for bloggers, mothers, people struggling with mental illness, and those who enjoy humour. And if you don’t fit into one of those categories, then check out Jenny’s blog to try out her story-telling. If that doesn’t convince you to pick up her book, I don’t know what will.
Join us tonight (May 29th) at 9pm Eastern for a MomsReading book club discussion of Let’s Pretend This Never Happened. Discussion will be taking place on Facebook. Make sure you Like MomsReading to participate!
If you want to participate in MomsReading next month, we are reading The Comfort of Lies by Randy Susan Meyers. We will be discussing this on June 26th.
Tune in to our book club discussion tonight to hear the announcement of the book we will be reading in July. (Or, check out the MomsReading webpage tomorrow for the details)
Did you read Let’s Pretend This Never Happened? I’d love to read your review! Leave your link in the comments and grab the button (or link back here) so that others can join us!
I loved the book, as you know. It’s all her, as it’s very close to how she writes her blog. I also love the pictures she included, and that they weren’t touched up or anything. It’s so very her!
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