- Paperback: 304 pages
- Publisher: HarperCollins; First Edition First Printing edition (3 Jan 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0061374059
- ISBN-13: 978-0061374050
- Product Dimensions: 18.4 x 12.6 x 1.7 cm
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 456,820 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Not Quite What I Was Planning
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Product Description
Review
"Irresistibly clever."--Chicago Tribune
Product Description
Deceptively simple and suspiciously addictive, "Not Quite What I Was Planning: And Other Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure" is a thousand little glimpses at humanity - six words at a time. In 2006, "SMITH" Magazine decided to give people the opportunity to answer a Hemingway inspired challenge: What would a six-word memoir look like? Within weeks, submissions were coming in by the thousands and this book is the fruit of this amazing response. Famous contributors range from Joan Rivers to Dave Eggers, Mario Batali to Jonathan Lethem, Deepak Chopra to Moby. Most of the contributions, however, came from amateur writers. Examples; From Aimee Mann: 'Couldn't cope so I wrote songs.'; From Joyce Carol Oates: 'Revenge is living well, without you.'; From Joan Rivers: 'Liars, hysterectomy didn't improve sex life!'; And from unknown writers we have: Never really finished anything, except cake.Found true love, married someone else; Study mathematics. Marry slut. Sum bad; Caring for parents. Life is circular. This title presents a glorious mishmash of these and myriad other voices. It's a thousand little windows into humanity-six words at a time. Whether the results are shocking, strange, silly, or sad, they are always entertaining, often inspiring, and totally addictive.
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Amazon.com:
70 reviews
60 of 60 people found the following review helpful
Tell your story. Make it brief.
22 May 2008
Format:Paperback
In November 2006, Smith Magazine challenged readers to write their memoirs in six words--no more, no less. One thousand of the submissions are printed here, with more to be found on their website. Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure is not an easy book to review, so don't think of this as an actual review; think of it a challenge. Here is a sampling of six-word memoirs from the book to provide inspiration.
Some writers tell their stories with humor and self-deprecation:
>> Woman Seeks Men--High Pain Threshold.
>> My first concert: Zappa. Explains everything.
>> Aging late bloomer yearns for do-over.
As you would expect, there are many bitter or bittersweet references to relationships gone bad:
>> Girlfriend is pregnant, my husband said.
>> Just in: boyfriend's gay. Merry Christmas.
>> Let's just be friends, she said.
Some lucky people sent memoirs that radiate contentment.
>> Alone at home, cat on lap.
>> Hope my obituary spells "debonair" correctly.
>> Wasn't born a redhead; fixed that.
There is the contingent who describe themselves without judgment:
>> Gave commencement address, became sex columnist.
>> Mormon economist marries feminist. Worlds collide.
>> Still lost on road less traveled.
And last but not least, the philosophers who distill life experience into a greater truth:
>> Palindromic novels fall apart halfway through.
>> Cheese is the essence of life.
>> Wandering imagination opens doors to paradise.
We're all busy people, each with a story to tell. C'mon, what's yours?
Linda Bulger, 2008
Some writers tell their stories with humor and self-deprecation:
>> Woman Seeks Men--High Pain Threshold.
>> My first concert: Zappa. Explains everything.
>> Aging late bloomer yearns for do-over.
As you would expect, there are many bitter or bittersweet references to relationships gone bad:
>> Girlfriend is pregnant, my husband said.
>> Just in: boyfriend's gay. Merry Christmas.
>> Let's just be friends, she said.
Some lucky people sent memoirs that radiate contentment.
>> Alone at home, cat on lap.
>> Hope my obituary spells "debonair" correctly.
>> Wasn't born a redhead; fixed that.
There is the contingent who describe themselves without judgment:
>> Gave commencement address, became sex columnist.
>> Mormon economist marries feminist. Worlds collide.
>> Still lost on road less traveled.
And last but not least, the philosophers who distill life experience into a greater truth:
>> Palindromic novels fall apart halfway through.
>> Cheese is the essence of life.
>> Wandering imagination opens doors to paradise.
We're all busy people, each with a story to tell. C'mon, what's yours?
Linda Bulger, 2008
31 of 32 people found the following review helpful
If I were you, I'd buy six copies.
5 Feb 2008
Format:Paperback
In short, I love this book.
I'd have never imagined you could get so much out of six words. I was wrong. Very, very wrong.
From clever and funny to poignant and sad, the breadth of the memoirs in this book is astounding. They truly make every word count. I should warn you, though: It's addictive. Countless times, I found myself sitting down, intending to read merely a few, only to find myself completely engrossed.
This is one of those books I think everyone should own. Whether you're on the bus in the morning or reading before bed, it provides the perfect break from the day.
It's a wonderful sampling of both established and up-and-coming talent. "Not Quite What I Was Planning" is chock-full of writers you love, writers you've never heard of, and--if six words can be considered a hint of things to come--writers you're soon going to be hearing much, much more about.
My six word review? "Buy this book. Seriously, do it."
I'd have never imagined you could get so much out of six words. I was wrong. Very, very wrong.
From clever and funny to poignant and sad, the breadth of the memoirs in this book is astounding. They truly make every word count. I should warn you, though: It's addictive. Countless times, I found myself sitting down, intending to read merely a few, only to find myself completely engrossed.
This is one of those books I think everyone should own. Whether you're on the bus in the morning or reading before bed, it provides the perfect break from the day.
It's a wonderful sampling of both established and up-and-coming talent. "Not Quite What I Was Planning" is chock-full of writers you love, writers you've never heard of, and--if six words can be considered a hint of things to come--writers you're soon going to be hearing much, much more about.
My six word review? "Buy this book. Seriously, do it."
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Addictive!
8 Feb 2008
Format:Paperback
Highly addictive. Hard not to read selections out loud to people sitting near you. Equally hard not to think of ways to condense your own life into six words. A bit of an emotional roller coaster, but in the best way.
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