Halfway through the introduction I was so sure I'd give this book a 5-star rating. It made me nostalgic, it made me laugh, it made me cry (hard) ... it made me remember how it was when I started writing hardcore (in highschool). In short, I was able to relate to the author's story. My father is not a writer but he introduced me to the wonderful world of literature. I thought this book was gold! A couple of pages into the first chapter I had to take down 2 stars. By the end of the book I had to take down another one. It wasn't bad. It was actually pretty good (and I'm not saying that just because I was able to relate). I get the self-deprecating humor that the author is apparently known for. I, too, have my insecurities growing up and until now. What I didn't like was the part where humor had to be at the expense of other people. There are a number of them throughout. Some are subtle, some are not. But even when they were subtly implied I felt like it was screaming at me. There were chapters that made me forget that I was put off by the supposedly funny and sarcastic remarks but then another one would come and I'd remember how annoying it is.
If I had to be specific I am referring to the examples and descriptions where the author had to use autism, harelip and children of parents with marital issues. The description using autism was the one that really pissed me off. Clearly the author does not know what it means.
If anything, this book reminded me why I rarely read self-help.
Two stars.
I tried to like this book. I really did. But there's a certain demographic/audience for this and it looks like I'm not part of it. I didn't like this for the same reason that I don't click on every other video online that says "wahahaha laugh trip" or "watch Vice Ganda ________" or "buti nga sayo, gago". I didn't appreciate this for the same reason that I make sure I have my earphones on when in a PUV so I don't hear insert-PUV-radio-station-here DJs and their pick up lines. I couldn't jump into the bandwagon for the same reason I couldn't jump into our local TV's bandwagon. I get where the humor comes from. I know why it should be funny. I just wasn't laughing. My boss saw me reading it and said it was supposed to be funny so why did I look pissed? For the record, I always look pissed so I wasn't pissed. I didn't like the book, yes, but I didn't hate it either. The writing is raw. There was a time when I thought everything raw and contemporary was cool. I'm not that person anymore so I guess that was the problem.
In all fairness, the hardest part to publishing anything is actually writing it so I envy this guy for getting through that. Buti pa siya. At saka natawa pala ako sa part na: Ganyan ang boyscout. Laging handa. May dalang nanay.
Weirdly, I think I already read some parts/chapters of this book in previous Erma Bombeck books I've read. I cannot confirm, of course, because I don't have time to look for my older books. Although I have never been married, I still enjoyed this book. Nevermind that this was written when I was only getting the hang of reading (lol) and a lot of these things happened before I was even born, I still had to laugh and chuckle a lot. Love her dry sense of humor.
