I truly love Anne Lamott. Her works have always had a certain charm and appeal to me. However, when it comes to her different types of writings, I must admit that I have a much stronger preference for her memoirs. There is just something about the way she shares her personal experiences and insights in those memoirs that really speaks to me on a deep level.

On the other hand, I have to be honest and say that I had a rather hard time getting through this particular work of hers. It might be that the subject matter didn't resonate with me as strongly as her memoirs did. Or perhaps the writing style in this one didn't quite click with my reading preferences. Whatever the reason, it took me a lot of effort and perseverance to make it through the pages.

Nevertheless, I still have a great deal of respect for Anne Lamott as a writer. Even though this particular book wasn't my favorite, I know that she has many other wonderful works out there that are well worth reading. And I'm sure that in the future, I'll continue to explore her writings and discover new gems along the way.

This was truly interesting. It is a remarkably fast read, which can be completed in a short amount of time. However, upon careful consideration, I do not believe it was Anne Lamott's best work.

While the story had its engaging moments and managed to hold my attention throughout, it lacked the depth and complexity that I have come to expect from her writing.

There were certain aspects that felt a bit rushed or underdeveloped, as if the author was trying to fit too much into a relatively short space.

Nevertheless, it was still an enjoyable read, and I would not hesitate to recommend it to others who are looking for a quick and easy book to pass the time.

Overall, I would rate this work as good, but not great.

Anne has once again written another remarkable book. While this particular one may not be my absolute favorite among her works, it still contains a line that has stuck with me and continuously runs through my mind. That line is, "In a hundred years, all new people."

This simple yet profound statement holds so much truth. It makes us realize the fleeting nature of our existence and how quickly time passes. In just a century, an entirely new generation will take our place. It makes us think about the legacy we leave behind and the impact we have on the world.

Although this book may not have topped my personal list, it has still managed to touch me in a unique way with this one powerful thought. It serves as a reminder to cherish the present and make the most of our time on this earth.

Anne Lamott's novels have a distinct tendency to closely resemble memoirs.

This particular one is set in the early 1960s and delves into a community that succumbs to self-destruction as a result of various vices such as infidelity, alcoholism, depression, and abuse.

There are rather grim statistics regarding the deaths of young people in the high school, which leads one to wonder if it is based on fact. Probably so.

The main character makes a return to her childhood town with the intention of coming to terms with her own version of the memories. She admits that these memories may differ from those of her brother and her mother.

Her therapist/hypnotist encourages her to face her earliest memories head-on. Lamott's writing is truly lovely, yet there are unfortunately too many blanks in the story.

Ultimately, the novel is about growing up during tumultuous times and finding it in one's heart to forgive those who have caused harm.

It explores the complex themes of human nature, the power of memories, and the journey towards healing and acceptance.

Disappointing indeed, considering I am a die-hard fan of Lamott's nonfiction. This book failed to move me or speak to me in the profound way her other works have. Perhaps it's because her fiction appears to be directly drawn from her own life, with little heavy disguise. As a result, I felt as if I had already heard the story she was presenting.

I did have some connection with Nanny's perpetual sense of shame, whether it stemmed from embarrassment over her family or was experienced vicariously through the family members themselves. Additionally, I could identify with her futile attempts to control everyone's feelings. Nevertheless, when evaluated as a piece of literature, I still find myself giving it only two stars.

It's possible that my high expectations based on her nonfiction works influenced my perception. However, even taking that into account, this particular piece didn't quite measure up. Maybe it will resonate more with other readers who approach it with different expectations or a different perspective.

It’s short, but it packs a punch. Read for a book club.

This is one of those remarkable books that doesn’t confine itself to a narrowly defined plot. Instead, it unfolds as a meandering recollection of a childhood, filled with a tapestry of emotions. At times, it is a journey through happy moments, when the world seemed bright and full of possibilities. Then there are the sad times, perhaps when loss or disappointment struck. And there are those moments that are misunderstood due to the innocence of the child.

Set in the 1960’s, it is a vivid portrayal of a time of significant change. The mother’s beehive hairstyles are giving way to the daughter’s (and son’s) long, straight hair, symbolizing the shift in fashion and values. The town is expanding and gentrifying, with new buildings and businesses springing up. Teens are embracing drugs, rebelling against the norms of their parents’ generation. Politics are changing, and the threat of conscription looms large. Divorce is rampant, shattering families and lives.

But despite all the chaos and upheaval, somehow, I was left with a sense of hope. The ties that bind a family together, though tested and stretched, held firm in the end. It is a testament to the power of love and the resilience of the human spirit. This book is a must-read for any book club, as it will surely spark lively discussions and deep reflections.

This writer is truly one of my absolute favorites.

I have an immense appreciation for her remarkable ability to vividly evoke imagery by masterfully engaging the senses of smell, sight, and touch.

Her descriptions are so detailed and immersive that they transport the reader directly into the scenes she creates.

Moreover, she demonstrates an incredibly profound and perceptive understanding of the complex emotions within an alcoholic family.

She doesn't shy away from exploring the deep sadness and pain that often plagues such families, yet she also manages to beautifully capture the glimmers of love and joy that can still be found amidst the turmoil.

Her work is a powerful and moving exploration of the human experience within the context of a challenging family dynamic.

It is this unique combination of her talent for sensory imagery and her astute emotional insights that makes her writing so captivating and unforgettable.

I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

Just couldn't finish this one.

As much as I have a great love for Anne, unfortunately, this book was just far too slow and meandering for my current taste.

I managed to make it to page 60, but after that, I found it increasingly difficult to stay engaged.

The story seemed to lack a clear direction and momentum, and it was taking forever to get to the point.

I was really disappointed because I had high expectations for this book, given my affection for Anne.

However, sometimes even the things we love the most don't always meet our expectations.

Maybe I'll give it another try at a later time, but for now, I'm moving on to something else.

Hopefully, the next book I pick up will be more to my liking and keep me hooked from start to finish.

Anne Lamott's writing is truly remarkable.

Her works are of good quality, comparable to other stories she has penned. They are filled with a unique blend of hope and realism that makes them truly engaging.

One can't help but be drawn into the worlds she creates, where the characters face real-life challenges yet still manage to find glimmers of hope.

Anne Lamott has a way of capturing the essence of the human experience and presenting it in a way that is both relatable and inspiring.

Her stories have the power to touch the reader's heart and leave a lasting impression.

I, for one, am a huge fan of Anne Lamott. Her writing has had a profound impact on me and I look forward to reading more of her works in the future.

I am actually rereading this one.

It's truly remarkable how this reading is having an impact on me.

It's making me feel like I am not making my kid's childhood as bad or weird as I initially thought.

This realization is truly something.

I had always been so worried and concerned that I might be messing up my child's formative years.

But now, as I go through this again, I see that perhaps I have been too hard on myself.

Maybe I am doing okay after all.

This gives me a sense of relief and a newfound confidence in my parenting abilities.

I am grateful for this opportunity to reassess and gain a different perspective.

It makes me look forward to the future with more hope and optimism for my child's childhood.

Nanny's uncle makes a rather thought-provoking statement when he says it's a shame that people worry so much about their lives because "in a hundred years--all new people." This is from an older Anne Lamott novel dating back to 1989, yet it doesn't feel overly outdated.

Perhaps this is due to the fact that I grew up in the 60's with parents who were politically active and often carried a certain amount of depression. In any event, in my opinion, Anne Lamott is a truly wonderful writer.

She has an extraordinary ability to capture the tiniest details of time and place. As I read the book, I could almost swear that I could smell the distinct scent of eucalyptus. Her writing is so vivid and engaging that it transports the reader right into the heart of the story, making it a truly immersive experience.

It's no wonder that her works have stood the test of time and continue to resonate with readers even decades after their initial publication.

It has been an awfully long time since I last delved into this book. I'm completely new to GoodReads, and yet, when I think about it - wow, now that I'm here, which books should I review?

This particular book remains firmly in my mind as one of the absolute best that I've ever had the pleasure of reading. To be honest, I remember very little of it now, aside from the fact that, as a writer myself, I was truly amazed by the way the author "showed" rather than "told".

Oh! How silly of me - I keep book journals. Let's see what I jotted down back in 2012...

I had initially thought of perhaps going in search of "Bird By Bird" for a re-read and happened to find this one right next to it, so I picked it up. What magnificent writing and storytelling! It's not a story with a lot of grandeur - just a girl and her family and friends in the early 1960s. They live just across the bridge north of San Francisco - able to see all the famous sights. It's a humble little town filled with poor working people. Sausalito before the wealthy took it over. By the end of the book - when the girl is a teenager - the rich are moving in, tearing down the railroad yard and building strip malls. I marked numerous pages for the lovely phrasing and thoughts. On page 5 - "I have told most of my stories so many times that it has become a way of forgetting." On page 10 - "Ignorance is curable, stupidity is forever." I think I'll just have to keep the book with the post-its in it because most of the imagery is out of context and would make little sense here. In the story, there's her mother with a droopy eye and one nostril that's far too big, her writer father always struggling to make ends meet. They are liberals, actively involved in the fight for what's right and at one point very disappointed not that JFK is President, but that he hasn't lived up to all their hopes (much like Obama and his passionate liberal supporters, I thought). Her father's brother Ed - an alcoholic, sometimes boorish, sometimes loveable, and his overweight wife Peg. Her mother's best friend Natalie with her beehive hair, capri pants, and excessive mascara. Casey, her brother, is a few years older than her and discovers the hippie scene, smokes too much pot, gets arrested, and so on. When Ed is lamenting how he'd hurt two women in his life, he muses (paraphrased) - "everything seems like a crisis and we worry it all to death when it barely matters because in 100 years - all new people." What a strangely comforting thought and thus a great title. Overall, it's an excellent novel, and Lamott is a superb writer, telling her story of ordinary, everyday life with small details in a perfect example of - show don't tell.