I have to start by saying that this book left me a little confused. To be fair, Ms Novak was very clear from the start about what the book was, and what it was not: Her little disclaimer in the beginning states:
What This Book Will Not Provide:
Useful exercises
Insights of lasting value
Relief from depression
Help of any kind
And indeed, it did not provide any of those things.
What the book was meant to be was a funny, irreverent look at depression from someone who was deep within its trenches. It was meant to offer a sort of camaraderie from someone who understands. And it was those things.... kind of... but for much of the book it left me feeling more depressed than when I started.
As someone who's struggled with depression for most of my adult life, I'm definitely not above looking at it through a lighthearted lens. Jenny Lawson's book, Furiously Happy, was one of the funniest things I've ever read. This book though, didn't leave me with the same reaction, and I'm not sure why. Jacqueline Novak is a great writer, and describes the depths and complexities and layers of depression well. It's entirely possible that it just took me awhile to really "get" her sense of humor, and that by the time I had, the book was nearly over. Perhaps if your sense of humor is different than mine, you might love this book.
One word of caution is that it's one to skip if you are offended/bothered by profanity and sexual references, both of which Novak uses liberally. Otherwise, check it out to see if it's your style, but definitely heed the author's own disclaimer at the beginning.
*I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*
No comments:
Post a Comment