Though I don't believe I went in with grand expectations, I was actually a bit disappointed with this book. I have always had a fascination with mentaThough I don't believe I went in with grand expectations, I was actually a bit disappointed with this book. I have always had a fascination with mental illness, and its manifestations in a variety of ways, and I tend to be drawn towards memoirs in general. The potential seemed high of a book that claims to be about "the first former cutter to tell her own story about living with and overcoming the disorder".
I can't deny that the problem has nothing to do with the calibre of writing itself - it's not badly written by any means. Rather, the quality of the writing seems self-indulgent; the writer goes back and forth between telling specific stories or talking about specific instances in her childhood, to analyzing, debating, and driveling over why she did or didn't do something, why she made the choices she did, while she feels the need to constantly pose these self-directed questions and then reply that has no answers for any of them.
Example; "Was that apparent me less than a true self? I don't know. Did her disassociation from my inner life make her only a fabrication? I don't know."
Sometimes this drivel shows up only at the end of a chapter to try to draw some sort of conclusion to the preceding part of the storyline. Other times an entire chapter from start to finish will be filled with only this self-analyzation of what had gone on in her past without coming to any sort of real conclusion beyond the fact that even all these years later, and evidentally quite a lot of self-questioning of the matter she still doesn't understand it anymore than she did at the time.
The actual sections of the book that tell the story rather than questioning why are the saving grace of this book. If you can get past the rest of it, and the fact that the author tends to "word drop" to show off her intelligence, you might find a very slender, yet interesting look into the authors struggle with self-multilation....more
This book is not for the kind of person who is easily offended, or takes things too seriously. I realize that considering it's comedy that should be aThis book is not for the kind of person who is easily offended, or takes things too seriously. I realize that considering it's comedy that should be apparent, but from some of the reviews I've read, some people don't quite grasp satire. If you want PC comedy, go grab a book of knock-knock jokes, and steer clear of this.
It was a little slow to start, and I was geared up for disappointment, considering this was recommended to me as being a hilarious read & I wasn't enjoying it much at first, but it actually picked up fairly quickly. The M&M story was my personal favourite. ...more
Based on the title, and the reviews, I expected quite a different book. I was not disappointed, though it wasn't what I expected.
Shoko Tendo writes heBased on the title, and the reviews, I expected quite a different book. I was not disappointed, though it wasn't what I expected.
Shoko Tendo writes her life story in a short, and compelling novel. It gives a glimpse of her world; growing up the daughter of a Yakuza, becoming a Yanki gang member, and getting addicted to speed, sexual and physical abuse by her various Yakuza boyfriends, and then finally growing up and maturing. It was quite an interesting read....more
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