Book Review: I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jannette McCurdy

I'm Glad My Mom Died

〰️

I'm Glad My Mom Died 〰️

Boy, if there was ever a catchy title that makes you want to read a book, it's this one.

What a story! It's almost a bit hard to think of this as a memoir rather than fiction because of the style it was written in. Which, speaking, of I loved it. McCurdy wrote this book in a way that it made her feel like a character rather than a person telling her story. She truly has a gift and a way with words. She tells her story with such fine prose that made me feel all the motions she was. The ups, the downs, I felt them all. And knowing this all really happened is saddening.

This is one of the reasons I'd never want to be famous. I mean, I'd love my work to be famous, but for myself? I don't want the limelight. As McCurdy notes, not only is it not easy, but it can be terrible for one's mental health.

I also hope this book serves as a message to parents. Please don't try to live your life through your kids. It's their life, not yours. Let them become their own person.

As a side note, I hope McCurdy continues to write. She's very good at it. But if she does, I hope she does so because it's what she wants and not what an agent wants. After reading this book, I think she may know herself better. Time will tell if she'll write more books. I just hope she's happy with whatever she plans on doing with her life.

I'm glad McCurdy is finally pursuing her own happiness. She deserves it. If you ever wanted to read an engaging memoir that doesn't read like a history book, this is for you. Her story wasn't easy to read, but I'm glad she shared it.

Book Review: In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park

In Order to Live

〰️

In Order to Live 〰️

What is there to say other than "wow." It is incredible the things people can do to other people and get away with it. It is unbelievable that this can and still happens in this day and age.

I currently live in South Korea, and like many of my Korean friends, and foreign friends, I didn't know much about North Korea or what happens when you try to escape. I learned a lot from this book. Sadly, most of it wasn't knowledge that was fun to learn. It was sad, raw, and authentic. It's hard to imagine that everything that happened in this book wasn't one of my fiction books. Instead, it was real life that happened to the author and her family.

I can say that this book gave me a much-needed appreciation for the life I have lived. It gave me a new perspective. I also appreciate how brave Park was in telling her story, for it was not an easy story to tell.

This book, though highly educated, is not for the faint of heart. If you are not in a good mental state, perhaps hold off reading until you are in the right mindset. But with that said, I highly recommend this read. I wish the author and her family all the best in life.

In Order to Live

by Yeonmi Park