Spoilers below warning:

I had been aware of Anne Lamott for a long time before I finally decided to pick up this book. However, I never had the strong urge to read her work. But now, that has completely changed. I truly relished this exploration of a "garage sale family" as the thirteen-year-old so aptly described it. She has an amazing understanding of kids, and I am eagerly anticipating reading her book about her first year with her son.

Terrible things occur to the characters in this book. However, by the time the book commences, most of them are already in the past (except for the death of an older friend). This makes it much more bearable. I despise that sense of impending doom. Although this book contains some threats of darkness, it is truly wonderful when the author opts not to go down that path and instead chooses decency over darkness for once. I also really appreciate the theme of how awful secrets can erode and consume us, casting a shadow over what could otherwise be a perfectly decent life.

Anne takes us on a journey through the summer of Rosie Ferguson, who is 13 years old, and her mom, Elizabeth. We first met them in a previous book when Rosie was just 4, but that doesn't really matter. Rosie and her friends are like spring flowers blooming, budding, lithe, and as agile as cats.

They wear tiny dresses and skirts so short that their frilly satin tennins bloomers show. They are as brown as berries, with feet as white as the moon. Rosie and her partner, Simone, are really good. They are ranked number one in the girls fourteen and under doubles in northern California.

This is Elizabeth's first and only experience with a teenage girl, and I really feel for her. I think both characters are like Lamott. They are paranoid and anxious, yet smart, serious, and funny. I love the way Lamott presents the characters through their own inner thoughts.

Once, Elizabeth goes out to her flower garden to think and work. She notices a little purple guy who seems a bit dry, and she gives him a little water, imagining him closing his eyes and inhaling deeply with relief. I've imagined that myself sometimes!

I don't know how Lamott comes up with some of her thoughts. She must have journals full of them. Elizabeth is in the yard and finds a ruby-crowned kinglet, lying dead on leaves and weeds. She bends down to study it and remembers a conversation with her dead husband.

One last quote from the novel is too good to not pass on. Elizabeth is having trouble coping, and her new husband is hoping that this "breakdown" will be a three or four day process, but it goes on and on and wears him down. Rosie is also worn out and bored with it all, but she is watching carefully.

Maybe you'll just have to read the book to feel as good as I felt reading this story about someone's summer.

I just could not get into this at all.

I managed to read about three chapters, but it was BORING as hell.

The story seemed to be going nowhere. It was just a tiresome account of what they did, one after another.

There was a tennis pro with gorgeous blond hair who ignored Rosie, and her mother loved her and was friends with a chick who was the stereotypical 'bad mother'.

Then they were all at a tennis match one day, and the narrative just dragged on and on and on...

I continuously waited for the story to actually begin, but it never did.

It was nothing more than a dull telling of some teenaged tennis chick and her equally boring parents. They were all as exciting as tap water.

What's rather sad is that Lamott's "Bird By Bird" book is often recommended to aspiring authors as a 'how to write' guide.

Apparently, she did not follow her own advice in this particular work.

I'm not overly fixated on the plot, and I don't necessarily require my books to have a breakneck pace. However, even I couldn't help but feel a distinct lack of plot in this particular book.

It did pick up speed towards the end, but around the halfway mark, I found myself thinking, "If something doesn't begin to happen soon, I'm going to start loathing this book." Shortly after that thought crossed my mind, something did indeed start to occur; yet, she nearly lost me.

What managed to keep me going was the very same writing that makes Lamott's memoirs such a delight. She has an excellent ear for phrases that are not only just right but also hilariously so. The characters in this book come across as extremely real. I must say that I thought the latter half of the book was truly great; I just wish it hadn't taken such a long time to really get going.

Overall, while the lack of plot in the beginning was a bit of a drawback, the quality of the writing and the engaging characters in the second half somewhat redeemed the book for me.

Anne Lamott is indeed one of my favorite authors. However, this particular novel, which happens to be the first one I've read by her, left me a bit disappointed.

The story revolves around a 13-year-old girl who has a passion for playing tennis and her mother. The mother not only battles with depression but is also a recovered alcoholic. She has remarried, yet she still finds herself grieving for her first husband who tragically passed away in a car accident. Additionally, there are several interesting minor characters that add depth to the story.

Perhaps my disappointment stems from the fact that there was an abundance of 'tennis talk' that didn't quite suit my taste. I must admit that I can't even keep score in tennis, so reading page after page of detailed descriptions about the matches became rather tedious for me. Maybe it was also because it felt a bit too heavy to read while lounging by the pool. I realize that I need to give another one of Anne Lamott's novels a fair chance. I'm glad I didn't make the decision to buy this particular one!

So, I'm wondering if anyone out there can recommend a better Lamott novel that might be more to my liking?

This is a truly beautiful book, and it is one of my absolute favorites by Anne Lamott.

It is part of a three-book series. The series commences with Rosie, is followed by this particular book, and then concludes with Imperfect Birds.

I happened to read them out of order, starting with #3, then #1, and finally #2. However, the order didn't seem to matter much.

I believe this one was my favorite among the three, but I wholeheartedly recommend all three.

It is a gorgeously written novel that delves into both the pretty and ugly aspects of family life and the process of growing up.

It is so insightful and rich, and it's truly amazing how Lamott is able to so deftly capture those overlooked, quiet yet telling moments in life that one has never discussed with anyone.

I couldn't help but keep wondering if each of the characters represents a part of Anne's own personality and life.

This book is a literary gem that offers a profound and touching exploration of the human experience within the context of family and personal growth.

A rather heartwarming novel that beautifully delves into the complex themes of adolescence, grief, sexual awakening, and tennis. Set in the vibrant Bay Area of California, this story takes readers on an emotional journey. The characters are well-developed, and their experiences are relatable and engaging. The author skillfully weaves together the different aspects of the protagonist's life, creating a rich and multi-faceted narrative. The description of the tennis scenes adds an exciting and dynamic element to the story. Overall, it is a novel that I definitely enjoyed reading. It offers a unique perspective on the challenges and joys of growing up, and leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

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This book really irritated the living piss out of me.

The prose was extremely shambling, lacking any sort of coherent structure or flow. It was a jumbled mess of words that made it difficult to follow the story or understand the author's intended message.

The psychology presented in the book was also overly wrought, with characters' emotions and inner turmoil being exaggerated to the point of absurdity. It felt forced and artificial, rather than genuine and relatable.

And let's not forget that ANNE LAMOTT IS A MIDDLE-AGED WHITE WOMAN WITH DREADLOCKS. This physical characteristic seems rather out of place and perhaps a bit of a gimmick. It makes me wonder if she is trying too hard to be different or stand out.

Apparently, her book on writing is supposed to be good, so I will give that a shot. However, I don't feel particularly inspired to take advice from a person whose sentences have this many commas in them. It makes me question her writing skills and ability to effectively communicate her ideas.

This is the first piece of Anne Lamott fiction that I have picked up, and I have not been disappointed.

After reading "Bird By Bird", I was certain that she would be whimsical and creative in her descriptions of emotions and life. I found myself completely riveted by the stories of Rosie, Elizabeth, James, Rae, Lank, and Simone. Each character is filled with dysfunctional humor, which makes them come alive on the page.

I was able to connect with this story on a personal level. However, there were moments when I felt as if I was missing a part of the story or that it was not entirely realistic. When a family is dealing with multiple levels of grief and mental illness, it is not common for them to constantly have the level of empathy and compassion towards each other that these characters share without the intervention of a therapist or mediator. This is especially true when a newly budding, agonized, and misunderstood teenager is thrown into the mix. In the entire story, visiting a therapist is only brought up once, and then it is casually dismissed by the person struggling with a mental meltdown. Additionally, the dangling ending prevented this from being a perfectly stellar work of fiction.

Nevertheless, the inner dialogue in this book is incredible. Each character has fears that drive them either towards or away from action, and these fears are written honestly and candidly by the author. There are also many valuable lessons about overcoming fears of death, illness, and things/people that are misunderstood. There are some very realistic and honest moments of pain, joy, frustration, and heart that almost brought me to tears.

I seriously enjoyed this read. It is one of the better novels I have read recently, one that kept me engaged and eager to turn the page. This is exactly what I look for in an amazing book.

Another coming-of-age story

This time, it's about a 13-year-old tennis player named Rosie. There isn't much to say about this book. As always, Anne Lamott's writing is beautiful. There are many passages that you can't help but reread and copy out. She also writes with the humor and sensitivity that are the hallmarks of her writing.

However, the characters are stereotypes. Except for the two girls, Rosie and Symone, you wouldn't really care about any of them. Rosie's mother, Elizabeth, is absurdly immature and angst-ridden. I just wanted to shout at her, "Well, grow up!" There is way too much tennis talk in the book. The terms aren't explained, so they mean nothing to many of us readers. And I thought the relationship between Rosie and her mother was unrealistic. How many 13-year-olds crawl onto their mother's laps, climb into bed with mom and dad, or spend so much time just the two of them? If there had been a major tragedy, sure, but not during normal times.

So, if you don't really care about character or realistic plot, it's a good book to read for the descriptions and language.

This was one of those books that I read, and I had a strange feeling as though I'd read it before.

As it turned out, my suspicion was correct. In fact, it's really the only Anne LaMotte book that I am not crazy about.

The basic story revolves around two teens who compete in tennis. However, there is a significant issue - they lack proper supervision.

This lack of adult oversight leads to various complications and challenges for the two teens as they navigate the world of competitive tennis.

Perhaps if there had been more guidance and support, their experiences and outcomes might have been different.

Nonetheless, the story does offer some interesting insights into the lives of young athletes and the importance of having a stable and nurturing environment.

Overall, while it may not be my favorite Anne LaMotte book, it still has its merits and is worth a read for those interested in the subject matter.

Nothing much actually happens in this story. It's just a portrayal of the everyday life of a particular family throughout the spring, summer, and fall of one year. However, in reality, everything happens.

Rosie Ferguson is having a tough year during the summer when she is thirteen. She and her tennis partner, Simone, are highly rated in their local tournament circuit. They start off well. But as time passes, things begin to change. Simone has started to draw the interest of boys, while Rosie has begun to feel unattractive and depressed. Moreover, there is this strange older man, Luther, whose attention on the girls when they play is rather scary. Additionally, their tennis pro, whom Rosie mostly adores, leaves in the middle of the summer with other players for more important tournaments and doesn't come back for a long time. To make matters worse, Simone turns up pregnant. And, to top it all off, Charles, an older neighbor and a friend of Rosie's parents since she was little, passes away.

Rosie tries various ways to cope. She cheats ever so slightly in some of her singles games when nobody - except Luther, of course - seems to be watching. She even attempts to injure herself once or twice. But these remedies only seem to exacerbate the situation.

Rosie's mother, Elizabeth, is, at the same time, gradually becoming paranoid. She is worried that Rosie is shutting her out of her life. She, along with her husband and most of the other tennis parents, fears that Luther is a potential child molester. She is especially freaked out when she thinks she has seen him watching her from behind the empty house across the street. When she goes to visit Charles in his last days, it brings back memories of previous losses, especially of her first husband, Rosie's father, who was killed in a car accident when Rosie was about four, and of the time immediately afterward when she was an alcoholic. As the disastrous summer progresses, Elizabeth appears to have a minor nervous breakdown triggered by her incessant irrational fears.

The rest of the story is about how Elizabeth and Rosie must pull themselves together again with the help of Elizabeth's husband, James, and their friends, Rae and Lank, and even Simone. And, most surprisingly, Luther, who turns out to be the most helpful to Rosie, rather than the sinister character they had all initially thought he was.