Readers find 'Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things' by Jenny Lawson to be a humorous yet poignant exploration of mental illness, depression, and anxiety. Lawson's writing style is described as quirky, hilarious, and brutally honest, offering readers a glimpse into her personal experiences with mental health struggles. The book is a mix of funny anecdotes, touching moments, and insightful reflections, all delivered with Lawson's unique voice and wit.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include discussions of mental illness, depression, anxiety, self-harm, and candid discussions about traumatic experiences.
From The Publisher:
#1 New York Times Bestseller
In Furiously Happy, a humor memoir tinged with just enough tragedy and pathos to make it worthwhile, Jenny Lawson examines her own experience with severe depression and a host of other conditions, and explains how it has led her to live life to the fullest:
"I've often thought that people with severe depression have developed such a well for experiencing extreme emotion that they might be able to experience extreme joy in a way that 'normal people' also might never understand. And that's what Furiously Happy is all about."
Jenny's readings are standing room only, with fans lining up to have Jenny sign their bottles of Xanax or Prozac as often as they are to have her sign their books. Furiously Happy appeals to Jenny's core fan base but also transcends it. There are so many people out there struggling with depression and mental illness, either themselves or someone in their family-and in Furiously Happy they will find a member of their tribe offering up an uplifting message (via a taxidermied roadkill raccoon). Let's Pretend This Never Happened ostensibly was about embracing your own weirdness, but deep down it was about family. Furiously Happy is about depression and mental illness, but deep down it's about joy-and who doesn't want a bit more of that?
Ratings (37)
Incredible (12) | |
Loved It (9) | |
Liked It (3) | |
It Was OK (6) | |
Did Not Like (5) | |
Hated It (2) |
Reader Stats (109):
Read It (36) | |
Currently Reading (2) | |
Want To Read (56) | |
Did Not Finish (5) | |
Not Interested (10) |
4 comment(s)
Didn't care for it so much.
Tedious until final chapters.
Parts of this book were easily a five. Some were a four. But I landed on three stars due to the unevenness of tone.
In Lawson's second book, she goes into more detail about her mental and physical illnesses. As a person who suffers from mental illness and chronic pain, I was nodding along at the familiar descriptions of life with depression. Lawson is incredibly brave to bare these parts of herself, and her online following is a testament to the power her writing has for fellow survivors.
Furiously Happy stemmed from a blog post in which she decided to cling to her healthy moments with a ferocious happiness, to spit in the face of the darkness that sometimes pulls her under. And this is something I only hope I can emulate.
But while she laid this purpose out clearly in the beginning of the book, the middle started to wander. There were more funny essays (which I loved, believe me I am a devoted Bloggess reader) that didn't quite seem to connect to the theme other than by showing us that Lawson is "weird." Her final essay brings the theme back strong, but by then she had lost me. I love Lawson's writing, but at this point I expect a stronger turnout.
****2.0****
It was sure funny, but it was also irritating. I did enjoy the book to an extent and yet it was annoying.
All I could think was her husband must be a saint. If she really behaves as she told in the book (apart from mental illness), her husband puts up with a lot. Or maybe whole thing is a bit exaggerated and made funny.
I am not here to find the truth of the book. So I liked it ok... I would not say I loved it. Humor comes in different forms and self deprecating is one of my least loved theme. It is up to the reader whether they enjoy it or not.
Happy Reading!!
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Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things?
About the Author:
JENNY LAWSON, The Bloggess, is an award-winning humor writer known for her great candor in sharing her struggle with depression and mental illness. Her memoirs, Let's Pretend This Never Happened and Furiously Happy, were #1 New York Times bestsellers.
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