Handbook For An Unpredictable Life: How I Survived Sister Renata And My Crazy Mother, And Still Came Out Smiling (with Great Hair) (2014) - Plot & Excerpts
This was fantastic! The writing is accessible and true to Rosie Perez's very recognizable speech pattern and the broached topics are important. This memoir devotes a lot of time to Perez's traumatic and colorful childhood. It touches on mental illness, cultural and racial identity, sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse and most of all, perspective and self-awareness. There's also a sprinkling of behind-the-scenes Hollywood stories that range from hilarious to mortifying. But my big take-away from this memoir is the importance of kindness. That means being kind to the "bad" kid with the attitude and being kind to the "crazy" lady who does inexplicable acts and being kind to yourself. That latter bit is clutch. A lot of celebrity memoirs amount to one big literary pat on the back with tons of self-congratulatory confetti littered through out, but this memoir is truly different in that sense. It feels raw and refreshingly honest. Kudos to everyone involved in this project. If you don't already love Rosie Perez you will after reading this book!This story is Rosie's own account of her life growing up, some of which she remembers some of which has been told to her, all with Rosie's spin on the tone and vocabulary. Just a few chapters in you start feeling like Rosie is sitting right beside you telling you her story herself. After reading, I feel like I know Rosie personally. I imagine her to be a friend.The book left me, at times, heartbroken for her. It's hard to imagine her childhood and growing up years, not many would have made it thru all her hardships and turned into such a great person. This story has definitely gave me a new respect for Rosie & a new sense of thankfulness that I was lucky enough to be born into better circumstances.I love this book!
What do You think about Handbook For An Unpredictable Life: How I Survived Sister Renata And My Crazy Mother, And Still Came Out Smiling (with Great Hair) (2014)?
I really love and respect Rosie Perez. Her story is riveting and heart breaking and uplifting.
—DeeRubi
Very entertaining, and she's a pretty amazing person. Giveaway from Read It Forward.
—SarahDex
Loved it, easy read. Moving, super funny, sad and inspiring. Love Rosie.
—italola
