There were certain aspects of this one that I found appealing.

However, there was also a significant amount that I simply didn't care for.

It didn't come close to my liking of "Rosie," and fortunately, it didn't turn into a saccharine Al-Anon tract like "Imperfect Birds" at the end.

I'm certain that some people might appreciate the elements that bothered me, but I just couldn't get into it.

It felt overly sentimental and at times, even maudlin.

Besides the issue of sometimes getting confused as to whether Rosie or Elizabeth was thinking, I believe my biggest concern was that Rosie sometimes seemed more like the imagined thoughts of a Chicken-Soup-For-The-Whatever type of mother for a thirteen-year-old girl rather than a real thirteen-year-old girl.

In conclusion, I didn't care for this one as much as I have for some of Lamott's other works, although I did find it better than "Imperfect Birds."

Overall, it had its moments, but it just didn't quite hit the mark for me.

This book is the sequel to Rosie.

Both of them are two of my mom's favorite novels of all time. So when I read them, I couldn't help but look for her in them.

I found her, but I also discovered that I truly loved Crooked Little Heart far more than Rosie.

The ending of Rosie, in particular, didn't really stimulate my thinking. However, Crooked Little Heart did.

I'm glad I read it now, especially since I started roller derby.

So much of the book centers around a competitive sport (Tennis, my mom's favorite) as a metaphor, and it really helped that I can now identify with competitive sports.

The problems of the young teenage Rosie resonated with me far more than those of the 7-year-old.

And the Elizabeth who had grown into her marriage was less annoyingly self-obsessed and seemed like a more well-rounded character.

Moreover, one of the conversations between her and Rae regarding what they did and did not have in life is remaining with me and will probably do so for quite some time.

It's interesting how these books can have such different impacts on me and how they connect to my own experiences and my relationship with my mom.

I look forward to exploring more of Cecelia Ahern's works in the future.

At first, I allowed both Rosie and Elizabeth's anxiety to consume me. I was just as certain as they were that something dreadful was about to occur.

However, then I let go and simply relished the beautiful relationships among the girls, their parents, and the family friends who had become like an extended family.

This book was filled with raw emotion, change, and quirks. It was yet another success for Anne Lamott. Her writing has a way of drawing you in and making you feel every emotion along with the characters.

The story is not only about the anxiety and the anticipation of something bad happening but also about the love and connection that exists within the family.

It shows how even in the midst of uncertainty and fear, there can be moments of beauty and joy. Anne Lamott has once again proven herself to be a masterful storyteller.

A beautiful portrayal of adolescence unfolds before our eyes. It is a time filled with dreams, hopes, and aspirations. However, it is also a period when life throws various obstacles our way. During our early years, we encounter challenges such as academic pressures, peer conflicts, and the struggle to find our identity. These obstacles can sometimes seem insurmountable, but they also serve as opportunities for growth and learning. We learn to persevere, to adapt, and to find solutions. Through it all, we come to understand that adolescence is not just about the good times but also about facing and overcoming the difficulties that come our way. It is a journey that shapes us into the individuals we will become.

I really liked the discovery that the title had its origin in a line from a poem by W.H. Auden. The author quoted it on page 181.

"O stand, stand at the window
As the tears scald and start;
You shall love your crooked neighbour
With your crooked heart."

It was late, very late in the evening. The lovers they were gone. The clocks had ceased their chiming, and the deep river ran on.

"Expectations are resentments waiting to happen" (185). I found this quote in a journal from January 25, 1998. My child was not yet 2 years old, and I was already experiencing the frustrations of expecting my ex to do certain things to assist around our home and with our child. It was just one of the countless times a book held clues and provided relief.

"...so easy to make something beautiful out of her life with little acts of goodness and attention" (211).

“The older part of the moon was showing” an eerie circle of shadow at the base of the full moon, as if the shining crescent were holding the missing part of itself in its own arms” (222). This description painted a vivid and almost mysterious picture in my mind.

Ms. Lamott's story commences at a rather sluggish pace. For approximately seventy-five pages, I found myself grappling with difficulties in immersing myself in the narrative.

However, quite unexpectedly, the characters began to spring to life, and I became completely captivated by the course that the novel took.

The final thirty pages have the power to make you engage in deep thought.

The most remarkable moments occur during the tennis match, which serves as the climax of the novel. It is within this intense and thrilling sequence that the true essence and drama of the story unfold, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.

Overall, despite the slow start, the novel manages to draw the reader in and hold their attention until the very end, with its engaging characters and exciting plot twists.

In Crooked Little Heart, Lamott presents a work that leans more towards poetry-prose or an extended character sketch rather than a traditional novel.

Undoubtedly, she is an outstanding writer, possessing the remarkable talent of incorporating precisely the right unexpected and seemingly insignificant details that ultimately shed light on the qualities of a character.

Nevertheless, characters alone do not a novel make. Although there are story arcs such as Rosie's cheating, her friend's pregnancy, and her grieving mother, they all seem to function more as sub-plots rather than the driving forces of the novel.

None of them are robust enough to hold the rest of the narrative together cohesively.

Bottom line: it is a beautifully written book. If you are in the mood to leisurely stroll through a book, this is a fine choice. However, if you are seeking something more stimulating, it would be advisable to look elsewhere.

Anne Lamott should have taken the advice offered her in her previously published 'Bird by Bird' and given up on writing novels before she started.

It seems that her foray into the world of novel writing has not been as successful as one might have hoped.

Perhaps she was too ambitious or simply did not have the necessary skills to craft a compelling and engaging novel.

Whatever the reason, it is clear that her attempts at novel writing have fallen short.

Instead of persevering with a medium that does not seem to suit her, she would have been better off focusing on other forms of writing, such as memoir or non-fiction.

In these genres, she has shown herself to be a talented and engaging writer, capable of telling stories that resonate with readers.

By giving up on novel writing and returning to her strengths, Anne Lamott could potentially produce work that is even more powerful and impactful than what she has already achieved.

"Oh, we're all crazy, honey. But most of us don't have your style."

I read this book immediately after finishing Rosie. Surprisingly, both books were rather difficult to obtain. (I'm so accustomed to effortlessly getting ebooks or library books.) I'm not entirely certain if the decision to read them consecutively was a brilliant one, as this book has a shift in tone and writing that initially felt a bit disconcerting to me. That being said, Crooked Little Heart has its own rhythm, along with the same familiar writing style and atmosphere, and I truly appreciate it. I had to make a slight adjustment, but it all made sense in the end.

I recall reading the flap of the book and thinking, "This doesn't make sense; why would Elizabeth now be upset about Andrew?" However, as it turns out, everything falls into place and becomes clear. The transition in time from one book to the next is quite seamless and easy to follow. The characters are just as complex, flawed, and fascinating as they were in the previous installment. In fact, you get to see more of Rosie as she matures. The unwavering honesty of the characters is what makes this series so wonderful for me. The language is vivid and engaging. I would hate to breeze through the pages because the sentences are so exquisitely crafted.

Highly recommended.

Sometimes, there is beautiful writing that delves into a weighty array of topics.

These topics can include teen pregnancy, the death of a parent, alcoholism, depression, and even competitive tennis.

Overall, I found this writing to be quite enjoyable. However, at times, I had to force myself to pick up the book.

This is not the kind of book that you would pick up for a summer beach read.

If you are looking for a book that will make you laugh out loud and also bring you to tears, I highly recommend Lamott's book "Operating Instructions".

It is a truly remarkable piece of literature that will touch your heart and soul.

Give it a try and see for yourself!

I picked this up at a Half Price Books sale. I thought that since I had heard good things about and purchased Lamott's book on writing, 'Bird by Bird,' I really should read some of the author's own fiction before taking her advice!

At first, I didn't quite warm up to the book. Lamott's writing seemed overly self-conscious to me. There wasn't enough subtlety. It felt like too many emotions were written out word for word. However, as I got further into the story, there were also moments of delicate tenderness and drama. I found myself getting so engaged that my eyes would skip ahead a page to find out what came next, even if the subject was just a simple tennis match.

The characters really grew on me. Even though I didn't particularly like several of them at the beginning, by the end, I had a newfound appreciation for their complexity. In any case, this book is a good read for a rainy day. It's not a stand-out that I'll keep on the bookshelf for re-reading, but it was still an enjoyable experience overall.

I have a deep and abiding affection for Anne Lamott, and this is mainly due to her wonderful works 'Bird by Bird' and 'Operating Instructions'. Because of this intense affection, I am of the firm belief that I will read anything and everything that she writes. Period.

However, a writing pal and mentor of mine once imparted some very valuable advice. They said that if something in a piece of writing doesn't directly advance the plot or enhance its significance, then it should be removed. There should be no setting for the sake of setting alone; it must have a meaningful purpose. While I'm not entirely sure if I wholeheartedly agree with this - as I do have a penchant for a beautifully descriptive moment - I do think it is excellent advice, especially for someone like me. And I can't help but feel that Anne Lamott may have fallen victim to not editing out quite enough extraneous fluff in this particular book.

There are times when the writing comes across as cheesy or perhaps a bit immature, with long lists of similes that seem to suggest she couldn't quite settle on the exact imagery she was aiming to convey. But overall, she manages to create a peaceful, lovely, and comforting world, almost to the point of excess. Even when the characters are experiencing inner turmoil, fear, or are in a dangerous situation, it all feels cushioned in a sense of safety and comfort, and that sharp pang of ugliness never quite cuts through. On the other hand, the tender moments are indeed warm and lovely and have the power to tug at one's heartstrings.

This is not a book that is meant to be minutely studied or analyzed in great depth. While there are consistent motifs such as smells and the tennis metaphor, they are rather obvious, and there doesn't seem to be any profound lessons hidden behind their meaning.

In my personal opinion, and given my great respect for Lamott, this book is definitely above the level of a simple beach read. However, it doesn't possess quite enough weight or substance to be a strong suggestion for a book club.

Overall, I just really like her as an author and will continue to eagerly devour whatever she writes. It's always a nice experience, even if it may not always be overly enriching. I do highly recommend 'Bird by Bird' and 'Operating Instructions' to anyone, whether you're a writer or a mother.