[Pritchett] looks back at her life in a series of comedy vignettes, detailing everything from her childhood as a worrywort to her experiences raising two neurodivergent boys, in quick, pithy, self-deprecating prose ... She finds plenty of fodder for comedy in her life. But it’s the moments when Pritchett describes her own anxiety that really sing. Pritchett is able to describe the ways she feels...in a manner that is both relatable and meaningful. Readers will find lots to like about this memoir, especially those who may have experience with the emotions Pritchett details.
Episodic, quirky, absurd ... Pritchett...writes in short bursts that pull the reader in with a manic sort of energy—but just as quickly push the reader away. This writing style echoes Pritchett’s anxiety, which is central to how she experiences the world ... Initially it’s hard to feel a close connection to the narrator because the vignettes fly by so quickly, even though they are zany and tilt-a-whirl fun. The memoir gains traction, though, as Pritchett transitions to her tentative forays into comedy writing ... Where I personally became fully immersed in the memoir was after Pritchett had her son, who has autism ... Her poignant honesty in describing what she and her sons have experienced together, coupled with her fierceness and creativity, made me a true fan of the book, which is one that readers will not soon forget.
A collection of zippy and poignant anecdotes that describe living at the crossroads of imagination and anxiety ... The narrative becomes more intense (though still funny) as she confronts sexism in the entertainment industry...infertility and miscarriage, her partner’s cancer scare, and her sons’ autism diagnoses. The delivery’s delightful and as finely tuned as poetry or a tight stand-up routine. Her torment, as well as her joys, are readers’ gain.
A droll memoir ... Though some readers may not fully appreciate Pritchett’s spare style and the nicknames she uses when referring to those who are closest to her, anyone who enjoys Pritchett’s work and/or British humor will no doubt like this book ... Mordantly understated at times, delightfully sharp-tongued at others.
