Community Reviews

Rating(4 / 5.0, 100 votes)
5 stars
31(31%)
4 stars
33(33%)
3 stars
36(36%)
2 stars
0(0%)
1 stars
0(0%)
100 reviews
July 15,2025
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I have a deep affection for reading about the ways in which other people handle the challenges and joys of parenthood.

It has a calming effect on me and gives me the sense that I'm not alone in this journey.

And when that person is none other than Anne Lamott, who is truly the loveliest and most genuine soul one could ever come across, it makes the experience even more wonderful.

Her words have the power to touch my heart and make me feel understood.

Through her writing, I can gain valuable insights and learn from her experiences.

It's like having a wise and kind friend by my side, guiding me through the ups and downs of parenthood.

I cherish these moments of connection with her and look forward to reading more of her works.

July 15,2025
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It took me approximately one year to finish reading this book.

It is truly filled with an abundance of familiar moments and significant milestones, which are described with remarkable accuracy.

She devotes a considerable amount of time to crying over Bush (Sr.!), and also makes mention of Donald Trump.

It is astonishing how history seems to repeat itself so frequently.

Moreover, the story is set in 1989, so as soon as I became excited about the World Series, I couldn't help but feel extremely worried about the earthquake.

This book not only provides a detailed account of the events and emotions of that particular time but also makes one reflect on the cyclical nature of history and how it can have a profound impact on our lives.

It is a captivating read that keeps you engaged from start to finish, with its vivid descriptions and thought-provoking content.
July 15,2025
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This was truly an entertaining piece.

It was filled with numerous laugh out loud moments that felt extremely real and highly relatable.

One could easily find oneself chuckling at the various situations and scenarios presented.

However, while it was enjoyable and provided a good dose of humor, it didn't quite have that wow factor that would completely blow one away.

Nevertheless, it was a fun and quick read that could easily pass the time and bring a smile to one's face.

It's the kind of thing you might pick up when you're looking for a lighthearted diversion and don't want to invest a lot of time or mental energy.

Overall, it's a decent piece that offers some entertainment value, even if it doesn't reach the highest echelons of literary excellence.

July 15,2025
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This description is truly captivating.

It is so beautifully honest that it lays bare the raw emotions and the unfiltered reality. The sense of depression that it evokes is palpable, yet at the same time, there is a touch of humor that lightens the mood.

It has the remarkable ability to transform the most mundane aspects of life into art.

It makes us see the beauty and the significance in the ordinary, the things that we often overlook.

It shows us that even in the midst of sadness and monotony, there is room for laughter and creativity.

This combination of honesty, depression, and humor creates a unique and powerful experience that lingers in our minds and hearts.

It is a reminder that art can emerge from the simplest of things and that there is always something to discover and appreciate in the world around us.
July 15,2025
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I picked this up at the used bookstore 2 days ago. I had always heard about it. Although I'm not a parent and have no intention of becoming one, I do read all kinds of memoirs about things I don't plan to do. So, I thought, why not give this one a try? And I'm so glad I did because I absolutely loved this book!

It was an incredibly fast read. By that, I don't just mean that I breezed through the pages in a short time (it took me only 3 hours). I mean the book was fast-paced, and I felt like I had to speed-read to keep up. It was an interesting sensation, being carried along at the speed that I'm sure life felt like to Ms. Lamott. The pace of her pregnancy and her son's first year was mirrored in the pace of her writing. She is alternately hilarious and sad. I found myself laughing out loud every 20 pages or so. I was even a little sad that I was reading the book alone because I wanted to share some of the funny bits out loud with someone. The trauma of dealing with unexpected single parenthood makes her worry that she might start drinking again (at this point, she has been sober for 3 years). The naked honesty in the book is refreshing, real, and relatable. Even someone like me, who has only babysat, can understand the feeling of bouncing between hatred and the purest love when dealing with an infant. She worries about harming him, whether intentionally or unintentionally. She also worries about his future, about money, and about his lack of a father. But throughout it all, she has a great deal of support, her unfailing sense of humor, and her faith.

Throughout this book, I was constantly thinking about who I could pass this book on to. Because it's so wonderful, I want to share it with everyone. I'm truly grateful to Ms. Lamott for her openness and her truth.
July 15,2025
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I absolutely adored this book.

It had such a profound impact on me that I can't help but suspect that a re-read is just a few months away.

I find myself already eagerly anticipating the comfort and joy that it will undoubtedly bring.

The story within its pages was so captivating, filled with rich characters and a plot that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Every time I picked up the book, I was transported to another world, completely immersed in the narrative.

The author's writing style was engaging and descriptive, making it easy for me to visualize every scene.

I'm certain that when I re-read it, I'll discover new details and gain a deeper understanding of the story.

I can't wait to experience that familiar warmth and satisfaction all over again.
July 15,2025
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This book was truly a touchstone for me during the early weeks of motherhood.

The prose within its pages is simply dazzling, not just for any writer, but especially for a sleep-deprived single mother like myself.

As I read, I found myself relating to so much of what she had written and experienced. It was as if she had captured the essence of my own journey and put it into words.

This connection made me feel less alone in my struggles and challenges.

She is truly a super hero of a mother and writer. Her ability to share her story with such honesty and vulnerability is both inspiring and empowering.

This book has become a source of comfort and strength for me, and I will cherish it always.
July 15,2025
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Even if you have never been a parent or your kids have already grown up, this article is worth reading for the sheer pleasure it can bring. Parenting is a complex and rewarding journey, filled with both joys and challenges. Whether you are currently in the thick of it or looking back on those years, there are always valuable lessons to be learned and memories to cherish.


Reading about different parenting experiences can offer new perspectives and ideas, helping you to better understand the ups and downs of raising children. It can also provide a sense of connection and community, knowing that others have faced similar situations and have found ways to navigate through them.


So, even if you are not directly involved in parenting at the moment, take some time to read this article and enjoy the stories and insights it has to offer. You may be surprised at how much you can learn and how it can enrich your own life.

July 15,2025
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This book truly felt extremely honest.

It vividly reflected a great many of my emotions and feelings regarding the first year of being a mother.

I can honestly say that I wholeheartedly wish I had come across and read this book before my precious daughter was born into this world.

I firmly believe that it would have made a significant difference in how I perceived and coped with some of the intense and often overwhelming feelings that I experienced during that crucial and life-changing first year of motherhood.

It would have given me a sense of validation and made me realize that many of the emotions I was going through were actually quite normal and shared by countless other new mothers.

Reading this book after the fact has still been beneficial, but I can't help but think about how much more at ease and prepared I might have been if I had read it earlier.

It serves as a valuable reminder of the importance of seeking out and learning from the experiences and wisdom of others, especially when it comes to such a profound and life-altering journey as motherhood.

July 15,2025
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Hold your hats, folks. I’m about to get all “over-the-top” in this review.

I truly needed this book at this very moment. With all its one-liners that make me burst out laughing. You should have witnessed me last evening. I was lying in the grass outside my church. (It was only in the 70s yesterday, and today, with a light breeze - it was perfect grass lying weather.) I was laughing like a maniac. I’m certain all the Amish people who passed by in their buggies must have thought I was crazy.

So this book is the journal that Lamott maintained during her son’s first year of life. It’s a tale of love and fear - all that comes with having a child, I presume - and it is so incredibly honest, so very, very honest. And humorous, really hilarious.

Take this passage, for instance:

November 22 - I wish he could take longer naps in the afternoon. He falls asleep and I feel I could perish from love when I watch him, and I think to myself that he is what angels resemble. Then I doze off too, and it’s like heaven. But sometimes only twenty minutes later he wakes up and begins to make his gritchy rodent noises, scanning the room frantically. I look blearily over at him in the bassinet, and think, with great hostility, Oh, God, he’s raising his loathsome reptilian head again. When I go over to the bassinet to pick him up, though, he looks up at me as if I’m Coco the clown - he beams, makes raspberries, and does frantic bicycle kicks as if he’s doing his baby aerobics. Then I feel I can carry on.

I’ve never been so up and down in my life, so erratic and wild. My body is slow in getting back to normal, except for my butt and thighs. I have to keep remembering the line about the little earth suits and that I am a feminist, because the thighs are just not doing very well. I lay in the bathtub yesterday looking at them, thinking of entering the annual Hemingway write-alike contest with a piece called, “Thighs like White Elephants.” And then part of me thinks, Hey, who fucking cares.

That voice, that sarcastic, bitter yet ultimately beautiful voice is what I adore about Anne Lamott. I’m going to give this book to every one of my friends who has a child - which is most of them - so that they don’t feel so lonely when they think their baby has a reptilian head. And I’m going to remember this book when I hold their babies and wonder what is going on in those little minds.

The only sad aspect about having finished this book is that now I’m out of Lamott books to read. Annie, get writing would you?
July 15,2025
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Lamott writes extremely well. Her words have a certain charm and power that can deeply attract readers.

If she were a mommy blogger, it would be truly wonderful. Even though by now her child is no doubt grown, her experiences and insights as a mother would still be very valuable and interesting.

I can imagine that her blog would be filled with heartwarming stories, useful parenting tips, and honest reflections on the joys and challenges of motherhood.

I would definitely check in with her every day, eager to read her latest posts and gain inspiration from her writing. Her blog would be a source of comfort and entertainment for me, and I'm sure many others would feel the same way.

Lamott's writing has the ability to touch people's hearts and make them think, and I believe her mommy blog would be no exception.
July 15,2025
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This was a book that I read aloud with my husband - one of our car trip books. It took us a considerable amount of time to get through it. I find myself wondering if I would have liked it more had I read it at a faster pace and on my own. Or perhaps, I wouldn't have.


I can easily understand why this is a common book among new parents. Anne Lamott does an outstanding job of vividly describing the tiniest miracles that we witness with our children. As I read through the book, I couldn't help but smile, thinking back just a few months ago when my son was under a year old.


I have always had a great fondness for epistolary novels. I absolutely love the deep insight they provide into someone's inner thoughts.


Anne leads a life that is different from mine or what I have experienced. However, there is a common bond of motherhood and the sense of being in awe of your children that truly resonates, regardless of the differences.


I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions and also getting teary-eyed at times. This book truly touched my heart and made me reflect on the beautiful journey of motherhood.

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