Marcy Dermansky

I read about 5 pages and thought, for no discernible reason, "Nope, I'm not going to like this book." But I kept reading because it was only 5 pages and this is a weird moment in life to suddenly become decisive. I quickly got hooked, like 'stay up late to read just one more line hooked'. And in the middle of a funeral I realized this book is really funny. And it's really smart. Bare prose is so hard and when it is done with skill it's amazing. I have sympathy with the journey towards self knowledge, and enjoyed the nods to so many other works without falling into their restrictions.

PSA to another reviewer and reminder to myself when I don't like a book: it is ok to dislike a popular, much-hyped book. It is also totally ok to like it. Maybe don't accuse everyone who liked it of lying because they're too stupid to not like it or too weak to admit so in public. Consider that they might just have different taste than you. That behavior does not, in fact, make you better than them; it just makes you an asshole.… (mer)