Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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51 of 57 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
If only she'd stick to writing about writing..., 14 Nov 2005
I bought this because I was writing a novel in a month with Nanowrimo, and so many people on the forums recommended it. People who write novels in a month ought to know an inspirational book when they see it, I thought. Wrong, wrong, wrong...
The subtitle, "Some Instructions on Writing and Life", ought to have been a warning. But I was overwhelmed by delight in the title itself: Lamott's young brother had, in a single evening, to complete a school project on birds which he should have been writing over the previous three months. "Just take it bird by bird, buddy," was the sensible advice offered by their father.
Lamott herself, however, takes a different line: "just do it my way, buddy". She (presumably; like so many people who write books about how to write novels, I've never even seen one of her novels in a book shop) writes character-driven novels. Therefore, so should we all: don't worry about plot, or settings or anything else, just let your characters do their thing. This is doubtless very good advice for those who also write character-driven fiction, but if you're like me, and begin with a plot and then wonder what sort of people would get into such a ridiculous situation, Ms Lamott is not going to help you much.
I could have dealt with the book and found some useful insights in it were it not for the second problem: "... and Life". Lamott believes in God. Very much. There is far too much stuff here about what God wants for each of us and what each of us wants from God, for this to work for me, or anyone else who doesn't not share or wish to share Lamott's faith. If I wanted a book about fluffy Christianity, I would not have bought a writing book.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Every Meet Someone As Crazy As Yourself? , 18 Jun 1997
By A Customer
Reading Anne Lamott is like sitting down with a close friend who
shares all of your idiosyncracies and insanities, as well as your
warped sense of humor. Bird by Bird gives Lamott's view of the
writing life and confronts all of the little details and major crises
faced by anyone who's ever wanted to write. Filled with warm and
witty anecdotes from her own writing career and from the classes
she teaches, Lamott takes you gently by the hand and then
proceeds to push, pull, or drag you to the pencil or the keyboard
because you suddenly feel that you have to write something, right
now! This is a book to keep next to the bed or the computer, or
wherever else you're likely to be when you need a nudge to keep
going and a major dose of inspiration. Read this book with a
highlighter grasped tightly in your sweaty palm, because you're going
to want to come back to certain lines over and over again. Highly
recommended.
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22 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
You Are Crazy - Now Write That Book!, 4 Aug 2004
Anne Lamott isn't afraid to expose her fears, joys or idiosyncrasies. This book is a combination of a guide towards writing and a self-parodying autobiography. For any would be writer, Anne has several clever ideas on how to start, get going or just finish that darn manuscript we all think we have inside of ourselves. Sometimes she seems crazy, sometimes a genius, but she is always witty, endearing and entertaining. If you ever want to read an `in-your-face' reality-check book about writing that will encourage you to write and make you laugh, grab this book. It is pure joy!
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