I'm Glad My Mom Died

5:

Before anything else, I must say, Jennette's decision to narrate the book herself was brilliant. I don't know about anyone else, but to me it made the reading all the more intimate. She has a very sweet voice, and she displays her raw emotions as she speaks; she touches on quite heavy topics, so when it gets to a particularly difficult memory and her voice breaks, then your heart breaks also. And at the same time, she's downright hilarious, so when she gets to a punchline you can't help but snort at it. It was overall a very pleasant auditory experience.

Now then, with that out of the way I just want to say: ouch.

I did not expect to relate to her story as much as I did, but there were so many hard hitters that I filled my notes with quotes I'd want to bookmark. I got teary at times, not only because of the horrific things that she's had to overcome, but also because she explains things I myself have felt, so eloquently; things I've never been able to put into words, and I'm thankful to her for it.

Jennette has gone through so much, and putting aside the unfairness of it all, it fills me with joy to know that she decided to put her well-being first. Against all odds, she's worked very hard to get herself out of the dark place she'd been in for so long. She has finally reached a point where she's genuinely proud of the person she's become. I'm proud of her, too, as I'm sure anyone who's heard her story must be as well. She says she considers herself to be a work in progress. That's valid and beautiful. I think I am one, too.

I think this is my favorite memoir I've ever read.

(And that's saying a lot because On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, by Stephen King, has always been one of my all-time favorite books).

(As a second afterthought, I also want to mention that I, too, condone the blocking of manipulative, abusive assholes in your life. Family included. The block button is my version of crack cocaine).