Uhoh... I think I like Anne Lamott's non-fiction more than her novels.

But maybe if I read a more recent one, it might change my mind.

Trigger warning for those who will read this. We have alcoholism, drugs, and child abuse.

I didn't expect it to spiral into such dark chapters, but luckily the epilogue saved it.

In the end, this still shows us the power of family and forgiveness, the loving strength and protection of a mom, and the redemption and joy they get from their children.

Anne Lamott's works often explore deep and complex themes, and this one is no exception.

The dark topics she addresses make the story both challenging and thought-provoking.

However, the glimmers of hope and the positive messages about family and love give the book a sense of warmth and redemption.

Despite my initial preference for her non-fiction, I'm still open to giving her novels another chance and seeing if they can capture my heart in a different way.

Maybe the next one will be the one that truly changes my perspective.

Elizabeth Ferguson is gently slipping down the stream of her life. She is usually inebriated as cooking demands good wine to go with it. Her life has no other focus except her daughter Rosie.

This was straightforward when Rosie was little. But now, as she is growing and expanding her world, taking risks that she cannot evaluate without an active parent's assistance. Elizabeth is constantly jolted out of her idyll as Rosie's interactions widen.

Elizabeth realizes that she can't stay one step ahead of Rosie's needs while simply sitting and sipping on the porch and planning another meal. Life has just entered the interesting times.

This story, which is wry and fun, touches on some real issues without resorting to horror stories. It shows the challenges that a single mother like Elizabeth faces as her daughter grows up and the need for her to become more involved in her daughter's life.

Anne Lamott's work is truly enjoyable, but it doesn't hold the top spot as my absolute favorite.

Elizabeth, the main character, starts off as aloof and seemingly without direction. Her husband has passed away, leaving her alone to raise their 4-year-old daughter, Rosie.

Rae and James enter their lives, and gradually, Elizabeth begins to grow and change.

A year after initially reading this, my perspective has shifted. I now appreciate Elizabeth's aimlessness for what it truly is - a significant aspect of her character. Lamott masterfully captures both this trait and Elizabeth's drinking habits with great precision.

Rosie is more than just a charming child; she is like a bright wood sprite - full of love, quick-witted, and clearsighted. Her friendship with Sarah is beautiful and heartwarming, making it all the more painful to witness its end.

I finished reading this for the second time on 10/14/13, and it has left an even deeper impression on me.

I read this book for the first time about 10 years ago, when I first discovered Anne LaMott. I was immediately drawn to her unique sense of humor. I remember loving this book and its sequel, Crooked Little Hearts. So, when I found out she'd written a third novel about Rosie, her mother Elizabeth, and step-father James, I knew I had to re-read Rosie before delving into the new one.

It makes you wish you could have been as hilariously precocious as Rosie when you were 8. One of my favorite passages comes near the end. Later, Grace would say, "Oh, but you weren't a real alcoholic," and Elizabeth would simply shrug. She and James had been going to Alcoholics Anonymous for six months, attending meetings almost every night, taking it one hard day at a time. At the end of the first meeting, when everyone joined hands to say the Lord's Prayer, Elizabeth couldn't remember all the words. She was still resisting; the meetings were both hokey and moving. Although the room reeked of miracles, she couldn't bring herself to believe in "God."

"God is just a word," said James. "It means truth, and you know, the truth shall set you free." "Yeah?" "To face and tell and love the truth is what they mean by 'God.'" "What they mean," said Rae, "is love. Don't let the word get in your way. It's just a convenience. All that God means is love, God is love and love is God." "Don't beam at me like that." "Wull, see," said Rosie. "It's like when you're totally happy, and everything seems so beautiful that you just go '*God.*'

Beautiful, and at times heartbreaking. The intimate struggles of a group of people trying to be a family in the 80's are laid out before us.

Everyone experiences moments of falling apart, being dishonest with themselves. However, they find a way to fight on.

My favorite lines add depth and meaning to the story.

"She was still resisting; the meetings were hokey and moving, and although the room reeked of miracles, she couldn't bring herself to fall for 'God.'"

"God is just a word," said James. "It means truth, and you know, the truth shall set you free." "To face and tell and love the truth is what they mean by 'God.'"

"What they mean," said Rae, "is love. Don't let the word get in your way. It's just a convenience. All that God means is love, God is love and love is God."

"Wull, see," said Rosie. "It's like when you're totally happy, and everything seems so beautiful that you just go 'God.'"

These lines explore the different interpretations and understandings of the concept of God, showing how it can mean different things to different people. They also highlight the importance of love and truth in our lives.

I read this book years ago and it seems that I forgot it completely. So much so that when I picked it up to read again, I only had a little bit of déjà vu.

About a third of the way through, I did realize that this wasn't my first reading. However, I was enjoying it enough that I decided to go ahead and finish it for the second time.

It's a pretty good book with interesting and well-developed characters. These characters are flawed, but still likeable. It provides a unique perspective on parenthood.

I may even pick up the related book, Crooked Little Heart, which follows Rosie as a young adult. I'm curious to see how her story continues and how she grows and changes.

Overall, this book has left a positive impression on me and I'm looking forward to exploring more of the author's work.

I have a great interest in characters who engage in the battle against addiction.

This particular story, however, I found to be rather slow and somewhat rambling. Despite that, I still maintained a certain level of interest.

But then, she introduced a false plot point that seemed to come out of nowhere and lead nowhere. It had the effect of tarnishing the otherwise decent narration that preceded it.

It was a clumsy move on her part, and I have to admit that I resented it.

Nonetheless, I might still give Lamott another chance in the future. I do so in the hopes that her plot will be richer and more engaging, and that she will refrain from resorting to sensationalism to grab the reader's attention.

Only time will tell if she can deliver a more satisfying reading experience.

I made an exceptionally strenuous effort to try and like this book. However, I simply could not.

The main characters led the most distressing, depressing, and pathetic lives throughout the entire tome. Not to mention the excessive portrayal of alcohol and drug scenes.

I continuously waited for something significant to occur. And when it finally did, I felt that it was merely scarcely discussed and left unresolved.

Then, all of a sudden, the ending arrived, and everything was hastily wrapped up in the last five or so pages.

I am relieved that I have finished reading it. I am astonished that I managed to make it through the entire thing. It was a rather disappointing literary experience.

Rosie has managed to carve out a world filled with hope and opportunity for herself, against all the odds. Her mother, although imperfect, treats Rosie much like the other adults in the story, with one notable exception. She is aware that Rosie sees right through her. Rosie is like her mother's good conscience, always meaning well, but her mother's flaws often seem to overshadow her best intentions.

I truly loved this book, yet I was also quite relieved to reach its conclusion. Throughout the entire reading, I wholeheartedly wanted Rosie to succeed. I longed for Rosie to be in a happy place. And you know what? Throughout the story, she always managed to find a way and turn every situation into something manageable. Even when I wanted to see her friend's father suffer for his illness, I simply couldn't muster any compassion for him.

The name of the book is derived from the significant place that Rosie holds within the story. Her mother would not have been able to hold things together as well as she did if it weren't for the responsibility of ensuring that Rosie had a home. Rosie, in turn, decided to do her part to help her flawed mother make that home the best it could possibly be. Her mother maintained the appearance of a well-kept home, and Rosie became the main showpiece, representing the finest things her mother could put on display.

I have delved deep into the works of Anne Lamott by working backwards.

Recently, I read her last novel, "Imperfect Birds (2010)", and then journeyed back in time to her "Traveling Mercies (1999)". Now, I have completed "Rosie (1983)". This novel, at times, was dark and filled with sadness. It provided an honest and raw portrayal of a single mother's arduous battle with alcoholism, the profound loneliness of widowhood, and the challenges of raising a brilliant yet often wayward daughter who is grappling with the consequences of what the mother is dealing with.

I truly wish I had read this one first. It would have served as a prelude, preparing me for Anne Lamott's personal struggle with alcoholism and drugs that is so candidly presented in "Traveling Mercies". Nevertheless, all of the works of hers that I have read thus far have had a profound impact on my heart. They have touched upon themes that are both universal and deeply personal, making me reflect on the human condition and the power of storytelling.

Each of her novels offers a unique perspective and a window into the complex lives of her characters. I look forward to reading more of her works and continuing this literary exploration.

Anne Lamott is an extremely talented writer.

Her work, Rosie, truly showcases her remarkable skills in character development. I, for one, don't usually have a penchant for reading or favoring books that are primarily relationship-based.

However, after delving into Rosie, I was pleasantly surprised.

The characters in the book are so vividly brought to life that it's impossible not to become invested in their stories.

Lamott's ability to explore the complex emotions and dynamics within relationships is truly masterful.

Despite my initial hesitation, I would wholeheartedly recommend Rosie to others.

It's a book that has the power to touch your heart and make you think about the importance of human connection.

Whether you're a fan of relationship-based books or not, Rosie is definitely worth a read.

I'm always nervous when reading literature from renowned "writing advice" authors. Lamott was no exception. I was afraid that I'd feel draaaaagged into this book. However, to my surprise, the pace was quick and I felt naturally drawn into the life of the main characters.

The mother, Elizabeth's, alcoholism is poignantly portrayed. Her fear of intimacy is realistic, and her daughter Rosie is as tough as one would expect. But she is also realistically portrayed. She "saves" her mother, but not in any outright, sappy way that you'd expect from a lesser novel.

Rosie's foil, Sharon, is deftly portrayed against the backdrop of her seemingly perfect family. The contrast between Sharon's life and Rosie's adds depth to the story.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read. I felt that my time was well spent. The characters were well-developed, and the story was engaging from start to finish. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read.