WWW Wednesday, 1-February-2023

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived here on Taking on a World of Words. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading. So, let’s get to it!

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Note: For users of Blogspot blogs, I’m unable to comment on your posts as a WordPress blogger unless you’ve enabled Name/URL comments. This is a known WordPress/Blogspot issue. Please consider enabling this to participate more fully in the community.

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Currently reading: I read a chapter in Why We Swim by Bonnis Tsui but not much more than that. I’ve been trying to get as much time away from screens as possible while work is crazy so I’ve prioritized physical books. And the kiddo has a bundle of energy and is keeping me on my toes so I’m struggling to find a few spare minutes to squeeze it in.
I started Mexican White Boy by Matt de la Peña but I’m not too far into it. The beginning has been alright, nothing too exciting, so I’m hoping it picks up a little bit for me as I get more into it.
It’s about time I knocked some of my own books off of my shelf. I’m grabbing The Invisible Guardian by Dolores Redondo. My sister in law gave this to me for Christmas a few years ago and I’ve been waiting for a good time to pick it up.

Recently finished: Can you believe it? I finished Sophie’s Choice by William Styron! I was so close on Friday that I decided to push through during the weekend and was able to wrap it up! I’ll be watching the movie soon but I hope to write my review first.
I also finished Any Way the Wind Blows (Simon Snow #3) by Rainbow Rowell! What a good week. I have some mixed feelings on this one and I’m a bit conflicted about how to rate it. I’m also not sure if I want there to be a fourth book in this series, or if I’m okay leaving these characters behind and hoping Rowell will start something new. Probably the later, honestly.

I was able to post my review of Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline! Please check it out and let me know what you thought of the book. Do we want to see this one on the big screen, too?

Reading next: It’s likely I’ll need an ebook next. I think I’ll try and grab Broken (in the Best Possible Way) by Jenny Lawson. I’ve loved Lawson’s funny books in the past and the short-story format of these will be easy to digest in my short reading bursts.

Leave a comment with your link and comment (if you’re so inclined). Take a look at the other participant links in the comments and look at what others are reading.

Have any opinions on these choices?

Until next time, write on.

You can follow me on Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. I’m available via email at SamAStevensWriter@gmail.com. And as always, feel free to leave a comment!

Some of the links on this post may be affiliate links. Taking on a World of Words is a participant in affiliate programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to products. If you purchase a product or service through an affiliate link, your cost will be the same but Sam will automatically receive a small commission. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Author Event with Jenny Lawson and Neil Gaiman

I got myself a birthday present a while back and bought a digital ticket to an event with my local indie, Literati Bookstore. They had an amazing event where Jenny Lawson was going to be in conversation about her new book, Broken (in the best possible way). I adore Lawson and have read her other two books, Lets Pretend this Never Happened and Furiously Happy. My copy of Furiously is even personally signed, a very thoughtful gift from my brother who got to meet her at a store near his old apartment in Ohio. So hearing she had a new book was a delight. The event ticket came with a signed copy shipped to my house. It’s not personalized, but I’m still excited.

I was even more excited when I heard who was going to be conversing with her: NEIL GAIMAN! Yes, THE Neil Gaiman. Now, I’m not going to pretend to be the biggest Gaiman fan, but I’ve enjoyed a few of this books and recently watched the adaptation of Good Omens so he’s very top of mind for me. I read Good Omens in high school and since having this blog I’ve read The Ocean at the End of the Lane (and book club reflection). So the two together? This was well worth the price of admission.

A lot of the conversation focused on the relationship the two share. Gaiman was aware of Lawson when she was blogging heavily and was known as The Bloggess and the content she put there. This is the source of her first book, Let’s Pretend this Never Happened. Gaiman was blogging as well, using it as a ‘finger exercise’ before he got down to writing his fiction. He’s become aware of her because she’d blogged two lists, one a list of men you’re supposed to want to have sex with, and another of weird guys you’re not supposed to want to have sex with but do anyway. Gaiman appeared on the second list. He says it was the most flattering backhanded compliment he’s gotten. When Lawson was recording the audiobook for her first book, she was really nervous and texted Gaiman, asking for advice. He told her to ‘Pretend you’re good at it.’ If you’ve listened to her audiobooks, you know she kills it and this advise totally worked. She had the phrase written on her forearm for the virtual event and says she does this regularly for events. Often, someone in the signing line will cross out ‘Pretend.’ Gaiman is known well for this line and says often he’ll have someone ask him to write it on a part of their body at a signing which the person will then go get tattooed in his handwriting. One of the more mind-blowing things they talked about was that Neil will often email Jenny some writing in process and she was able to read a draft of The Ocean at the End of the Lane because he thought she’d like it (she did).

Lawson was asked about how she can write about her mental illness in such a lighthearted and funny way. She said that when something happens to her, she’ll begin to write about it, but she often has to wait until she’s away from a place of depression and anxiety before she can finish writing it.

Gaiman and Lawson’s favorite question was from an 11-year old fan who asked, “Who is your 2nd favorite Muppet?” Both agreed that Gonzo was their first favorite and that it was one of their favorite questions.

My husband could hear me laughing a floor away during this amazing event. Please consider checking out Literati no matter where you live. Their virtual events are open to all and they ship to all 50 US States.

Until next time, write on.

You can follow me on Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. I’m available via email at SamAStevensWriter@gmail.com. And as always, feel free to leave a comment!

Some of the links on this post may be affiliate links. Taking on a World of Words is a participant in affiliate programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to products. If you purchase a product or service through an affiliate link, your cost will be the same but Sam will automatically receive a small commission. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Book Review: Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson (4/5)

It seems right that my first book of the year was a comedic memoir. That’s a genre I really enjoy. It’s even better that it’s the work of Jenny Lawson whose first book I adored. It’s a joy to revisit an author I’ve enjoyed so much before and help light up a gloomy January.

Cover image via Goodreads

Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson

Summary from Goodreads:

In Furiously Happy, a humor memoir tinged with just enough tragedy and pathos to make it worthwhile, Jenny Lawson examines her own experience with severe depression and a host of other conditions, and explains how it has led her to live life to the fullest:

“I’ve often thought that people with severe depression have developed such a well for experiencing extreme emotion that they might be able to experience extreme joy in a way that ‘normal people’ also might never understand. And that’s what Furiously Happy is all about.”

Jenny’s readings are standing room only, with fans lining up to have Jenny sign their bottles of Xanax or Prozac as often as they are to have her sign their books. Furiously Happy appeals to Jenny’s core fan base but also transcends it. There are so many people out there struggling with depression and mental illness, either themselves or someone in their family—and in Furiously Happy they will find a member of their tribe offering up an uplifting message (via a taxidermied roadkill raccoon). Let’s Pretend This Never Happened ostensibly was about embracing your own weirdness, but deep down it was about family. Furiously Happy is about depression and mental illness, but deep down it’s about joy—and who doesn’t want a bit more of that?

Lawson’s sense of humor is amazing. She has a way of poking fun at her illness while still recognizing how serious it is and how much care she needs to take to make sure she stays healthy. She has advice that you can follow with or without depression: live life to the fullest when you can. And when you can’t, enjoy cat rodeos or spending time with your family or whatever you do have the energy to enjoy. And if you can’t, it’s OK. You’re not alone.

My signed copy, a Christmas present from my brother in 2015. (Yes, it took me forever to get to this.)
“For Sam. Don’t sabotage yourself. Plenty of other ppl willing to do that for free. Don’t give up on your writing dreams. Merry Xmas, Jenny Lawson”

Sometimes I wonder how Victor lives with Jenny. The way she describes herself in her book can’t be her 24/7. I’m sure there are periods of downtime. He and Jenny are the only two described in detail and I think they’re both very real. Victor loves his wife but recognizes her bouts of unusual behavior or her comical way of dealing with her mental illness. Jenny has found ways to cope with difficult situations she’d rather not be in and make herself and others laugh. I think that if I met either in person, they would probably act a lot like their portrayals in the book.

I adore Victor. He’s so supportive and loves Jenny when she’s at her lows. He recognizes how she’s coping and when she’s doing it well and when he needs to help. I think my husband is very supportive when I have a rough spot and I saw a lot of him in Victor. So it was hard not to love him.

I’ve never been diagnosed with a mental illness but there are sometimes I wonder if we all suffer from one or more to some degree. I’ll have moments of anxiety that feel very similar to the way Lawson described her anxiety. The difference is that mine isn’t crippling and are fleeting, unlike Lawson’s. It was reassuring to hear that someone else gets the same feelings I do and that if it ever started affecting my life in any way, there are treatment options. Though it also sounds like my solution of ‘let yourself stay home and snuggle on the couch with your hubby and watch Nailed It’ would probably help Lawson, too.

I enjoyed hearing about Lawson’s trip to Australia. I thought that would be a trigger for some of her illnesses but she used it as a chance to be Furiously Happy and enjoyed herself to no end. It was a great example of what she meant by being furiously happy and it was great to see her live that. I flipped through my physical book so I could see the images and got to laugh at them a second time.

There wasn’t a particular part of this book I didn’t enjoy. I would have liked slightly more cohesiveness, but I don’t think you can really ask for that when someone’s book is made of their blog posts. Some of the previously unpublished material helped weave a single narrative, but this book still suffered from being a bit disjointed and with no discernible timeline. Oh well.

Jenny Lawson
Image via NPR

Lawson narrated the audiobook which I thoroughly enjoyed. Her sarcasm and wit were great. Sometimes, when the author narrates, there are a lot of times when the sound engineer just couldn’t do enough to make the whole story sound good. Often, there is uneven pacing or inconsistent sound levels. Lawson had no such problems and I would listen to her narrate other books in a heartbeat. She may have another job doing this going forward, it was quite remarkable.

Lawson is helping to shine a light on mental illness: to remove the taboo and get people talking. I think she does an amazing job at this. She mixes serious comments and reflections on mental illness with her sense of humor and makes people come back to hear more. She embraces those that may have been marginalized and helps them find a group of like-minded people. That community can help those who need it and encourage them to seek out the help they may need.

Writer’s Takeaway: Combining humor into writing is always wonderful. It may not always be appropriate, but it can help lighten a very dark topic at a time where it may be very necessary. I love how Lawson did this and how she broached a very serious topic with light-heartedness and grace. I’ll read her next book in a heartbeat.

I adored this book and Lawson’s wit. Four out of Five Stars.

This book fulfilled the 2000-Present Time Period for the When Are You Reading? 2019 Challenge.

Until next time, write on.

You can follow me on Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. I’m available via email at SamAStevensWriter@gmail.com. And as always, feel free to leave a comment!

Related Posts:
‘Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things’ by Jenny Lawson | Joanne’s Reading Blog
“Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things” by Jenny Lawson | Zezee with Books
Book Review – Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson | Engrossed in a Good Book
Furiously Happy | The Bloggess

WWW Wednesday, 9-January-2019

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived here on Taking on a World of Words. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading. So, let’s get to it!

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Note: For users of Blogspot blogs, I’m unable to comment on your posts as a WordPress blogger unless you’ve enabled Name/URL comments. This is a known WordPress/Blogspot issue. Please consider enabling this to participate more fully in the community. 

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Currently reading: I’m moving steadily through The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan and I’m on the third disc now. That doesn’t feel that great when I look at how long this book is, though! I hope I can renew this one a few times.
My husband and I have split our listening to Before the Fall by Noah Hawley. He’s on his own now and I’m heading through by myself as well. I’m still enjoying it and I’m curious what kind of conclusions will come from this book.
I started a new ebook, Origin by Dan Brown. I’ve read and moderately enjoyed the other Langdon books in this series so I’m excited to see what else he can discover and defeat. I expect I’m in this for the long haul.
I’ve only just started Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan, my Spanish read for the year. No word yet on how I feel about it, I’m less than a chapter in!

Recently finished: I’m sad to have finished Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson because I enjoyed it so much. This book made household chores and working out so much better. Lawson talks about mental illness in a very real way but also with humor and love. I love her books and I hope there are more to come.
I finished Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott Sunday night. I would have finished it sooner if I hadn’t been sick and too tired to read. I wish I could have squeezed it into last year, but it’s still a solid book finished.

I wrote reviews, too! Well, one, which I’m considering a major win since I’m rather far behind. I posted a review of Sara Donati’s The Gilded Hour. I didn’t like it in the ending as much as I did at the beginning. I’m having mixed feelings about it now because I’ve heard this is the first in a series, not a stand-alone book. That changes how I felt about a lot of things being left unfinished. I’m going to stick with my original rating, though, of Three out of Five stars.

Reading Next: I know I’m a bit late on this one, but I’m going to listen to Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple next. This one had such hype a few years ago and I’d like to read it before it becomes the movie it’s likely to be. Unless that’s already announced. Then it’s very likely to happen.

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Leave a comment with your link and comment (if you’re so inclined). Take a look at the other participant links in the comments and look at what others are reading.

Have any opinions on these choices?

Until next time, write on.

You can follow me on Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. I’m available via email at SamAStevensWriter@gmail.com. And as always, feel free to leave a comment!

WWW Wednesday, 2-January-2019

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived here on Taking on a World of Words. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading. So, let’s get to it!

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Note: For users of Blogspot blogs, I’m unable to comment on your posts as a WordPress blogger unless you’ve enabled Name/URL comments. This is a known WordPress/Blogspot issue. Please consider enabling this to participate more fully in the community. 

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Currently reading: I’ve been moving slowly through Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott because of the holidays. With no work, my days are much less structured and I’m not getting anything done. Oh well. This has wonderfully short chapters that make it far too easy to put down and take a nap.
Without work, I’m not driving much so The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan has been slow to start. I’m still on the first disk and I know I’ll get into it soon but I’m enjoying the exposition and not rushing it for now.
Bad weather means more indoor workouts and that’s helping me move through Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson quickly. I’m also getting an added ab workout by listening to this while doing other things. It’s kind of wonderful.
My husband and I started Before the Fall by Noah Hawley on the 26th and we made some pretty good progress driving to and from Christmas. I don’t know how much more of it we’ll listen to together before we go our separate ways, but we’re enjoying it for now.

Recently finished: I pushed through and finished Henry VIII by William Shakespeare so I could wrap up my 2018 When Are You Reading? Challenge. I’m so glad I’m done! I’m also glad I rearranged the time periods so I don’t have to squeeze in a late Shakespeare in December to finish it again. It was interesting to get yet another take on the Henry VIII/Katherine of Aragon/Anne Boleyn time. I read a lot about that period already.

No reviews this week though I owe you a few. I’ll work on them and get them out to you next week, promise!

Reading Next: I’ll start my annual Spanish read as soon as I finish Lamott. It’s going to be Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan. I bought a Spanish copy last summer when I visited Powell’s and I’m so excited to finally read it!

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Leave a comment with your link and a comment (if you’re so inclined). Take a look at the other participant links in the comments and look at what others are reading.

Have any opinions on these choices?

Until next time, write on.

You can follow me on Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. I’m available via email at SamAStevensWriter@gmail.com. And as always, feel free to leave a comment!

WWW Wednesday, 26-December-2018

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived here on Taking on a World of Words. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading. So, let’s get to it!

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Note: For users of Blogspot blogs, I’m unable to comment on your posts as a WordPress blogger unless you’ve enabled Name/URL comments. This is a known WordPress/Blogspot issue. Please consider enabling this to participate more fully in the community. 

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Currently reading: I’m out of lunch breaks for the year and I really have to finish Henry VIII by William Shakespeare! This is my last book for the When Are You Reading? Challenge 2018. If this isn’t finished before the end of the year, I’m going to be very mad at myself.
I’m enjoying Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott but the holidays have kept me busy and away from it more than I’d like. I’m sure I’ll get it wrapped up, it may just be in January.
I started two new audiobooks! I finished my physical audiobook in my car and decided to start on another whopper, The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan. It’s a whopping 21 disks long (though I swear the book doesn’t look that long!) so I’ll be on this one for quite a while.
I started a new eaudiobook as well, Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson. I read Lawson’s first book for a book club a few years ago and loved it. My brother gave me a signed copy of this book for Christmas a few years ago and I’m finally listening to it because I’m paranoid about a signed book being damaged.

Recently finished: I was able to finish up The Gilded Hour by Sara Donati while baking Christmas cookies, which was a wonderful way to finish a book. I was really disappointed in the ending despite great writing and good characters. I debated my rating for a while but ultimately ended on Three out of Five Stars. I’ll be reviewing more books in the new year.
I wrapped up People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks over the weekend as well. I liked the ending of this one more, but there was one flaw in the main character that really peeved me right at the end. Another Three out of Five Stars rating.

Reading Next: I’ll start Before the Fall by Noah Hawley later today as my husband and I head to Ohio for family Christmas. I’m getting excited!

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Leave a comment with your link and a comment (if you’re so inclined). Take a look at the other participant links in the comments and look at what others are reading.

Have any opinions on these choices?

Until next time, write on.

You can follow me on Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. I’m available via email at SamAStevensWriter@gmail.com. And as always, feel free to leave a comment!