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why I'm like this: True Stories
by: Cynthia Kaplan

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Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 791.092
EAN: 9780060512613
ISBN: 006051261X
Label: Harper Perennial
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 224
Publication Date: June 01, 2003
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Release Date: June 03, 2003
Studio: Harper Perennial
Sales Rank: 680338

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Editorial Review:

Product Description:

Cynthia Kaplan takes us on a hilarious and sometimes heartbreaking journey through her unique, uncensored world -- her bungled romantic encounters and unsung theatrical experiences; her gadget-obsessed father and her mother, who, if you should want to know, is fine; her pill-popping therapist, eccentric grandmothers, and fearless husband, whom she engages in an ongoing battle over which of them is the most popular person in their apartment; and, of course, her vengeful, power-hungry, one-year-old son.

Kaplan's voice is a lot like the one in our heads -- the one that most of us are only willing to listen to late at night . . . maybe while locked in a closet. What a relief it is that someone finally admits that she is afraid of nearly everything; that she is jealous even of people whose lives are on the verge of collapse; and that she has, at times, tried to pass for a gentile.

Customer Reviews

Average Rating: out of 5 stars

Rating:

- Best Friend I Never Met
Many times during my reading of this book, I nodded in recognition and thought, "Me, too." Cynthia Kaplan is the best friend I never met. She articulates the sad and funny aspects of being female. Some of the essays are better than others, but she is honest even when being honest does not put her in the best light. She describes with great clarity her foibles and awkward actions: finding herself on the dangerous side of the river during a rafting excursion, waitressing, auditions, bad boyfriends, disloyal girlfriends, stubborn grandparents, and more. Her confidence in her own wit makes her human and likable. She knows on some level her experiences are only unique in that they are her's -- otherwise, she is all of us. Life is never ideal, but it can be pretty funny.

Rating:

- Not So Funny
The back cover of the book boasts: "Knee-slapping hilarious." Eh. Not so much. I generally enjoy how some good writers can make even the mundane funny (David Sedaris comes to mind). But just because you think you're funny doesn't mean you should write. To be fair, there are some enjoyable essays here (particularly "The Good Swimmer Or How I Lost Him"), but the bulk are just collections of stuff that would be more suitable on a mildly funny blog, not in a book.

Rating:

- It starts out really funny, but...........
The first half of this book I was laughing out loud at parts. Kaplan is a very witty writer and shockingly honest. The book does get a bit boring when she gets to the baby part though.

The only thing I thought was downright not funny was the part where Kaplan writes about her days in summer camp being mean and bullyish to Lisa. Lisa was so shunned by Kaplan and her friends, that she "let" an adult camp counselor rape her. I got the feeling Kaplan hasn't grown up yet and feels no remorse over how Lisa was treated.

But as a writer, Kaplan is talented and funny.

Rating:

- A book to share...
I've been there and I know these people! As a Jewish woman, a former actress and a mom, I can relate to Cynthia Kaplan's life and the many characters mentioned in her book. She has a gift for taking every day life and finding the humor in even sad, frightening and bittersweet moments. I picked up the book and never put it down until the last page, at which point I wished I knew Cynthia's phone number so that I could call her and tell her some of my stories. Can't wait to read her other book.

Rating:

- A Kindred Spirit
I'm here to rave about this book. It's a gem! Cynthia Kaplan writes in an unpretentious style that makes you want to invite her for coffee and a good chat. I'm afraid my copy of this book is "flagged" because I couldn't put it down. I related to many of her stories, from the pain of a loved one slipping away with Alzheimer's, to the brief insanity brought on by the presence of a moth, to the experience of living with migraine, and most of all, the all-consuming love you have for your children. I'm going to read her other book (books?) and hopefully she'll write lots more.

Books : why I'm like this: True Stories