I love this book for so many reasons, perhaps first and foremost because it perfectly illustrates the point that she makes throughout. It's slim, not a single word unnecessary, not a single vehicle unused to make the point. It weaves "how to" with personal stories, and the equation is given to create your own answer to the issue of how to make this happen. I actually couldn't put the book down, and I went through underlining things that I felt were really important for me. I have a feeling this book is going to end up being on my desk for a long time as a reference and relief book. I love memoirs when they're done well. They are so seldom done well. I think the reason for that is summed up by Smith when she says "...I'm really interested in someone's sniveling only if it somehow elevates my own." Exactly. When I read I want to read something that matters to me regardless of my lack of real-life connection to the author. My own writing sometimes gets frozen because I'm afraid I can't reach across that divide. This short book offers the tools to get past that and other hurdles of writing. Well worth the read.
You don't have to be writing a book to benefit from this one. Good advice for bloggers too.
—amelia456
What an amazing book--makes me want to write more and write better. Loved this.
—syaza1995
Direct, to the point tips on memoir writing. I liked it very much.
—Alyssa
Sorry, but I didn't connect with the author or her message.
—Jaicea
sharp, witty, to-the-point!
—Naiyar