If you’re looking for a book full of humour and personal experience look no further. Jenny Lawson’s Broken (in the best possible way) is an honest look at life from someone suffering from multiple physical and mental chronic illnesses. The book has left me with pure admiration for this woman.
Book Review
Broken explores with honesty the physical and mental challenges that have become part of the author’s life. She suffers from depression and anxiety and a whole myriad of chronic physical conditions. There are some heavier issues like dealing with her insurance plan to provide necessary medications and treatments including Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) used to improve symptoms of depression. These intimate details are interspersed with moments of absolute hilarity just when you need a hit of comic relief. Jenny Lawson has a manner, similar to Seinfeld, where she can take a simple everyday object or task and make it funny. I will say there is a fair amount of talk about male and female anatomy, so if you’re easily offended this book may not be for you.
Audiobook Review
This is one of those books that I highly recommend you choose the audiobook for. The author narrates this book which enhances the experience substantially. She has perfect comedic timing for all the funny parts, and makes you feel like you’re sitting across the table from her for the more personal ones. If you’ve never listened to an audiobook before, this is the perfect one to start with.
What I Liked About Broken:
- The level of personal detail the author shares
- The author’s perfect comedic timing
- The sense of connection to, and positivity she lends, others who share physical and/or mental health issues.
I Recommend Broken to:
Readers who enjoy personal stories of life’s challenges with a good dose of humour.
My Rating:
4 stars out of 5.
Add Broken (in the best possible way) by Jenny Lawson to your Goodreads shelf
Similar Books I’ve Reviewed:
Channel Kindness by Lady Gaga and the Born This Way Foundation Reporters
When Harry Met Minnie by Martha Teichner – A Book Review
Thanks for reading! I hope I’ve helped you find your next great read! Have a wonderful day.
Della Driscoll
Ooh I love the sound of this book and how you’ve broken down the review – great post xx
thathappyreader
Thank you Della!
Anika
The narrator sounds like a real win for this book! Definitely one I’d like to add to my audio TBR. Thanks for sharing your review 🙂
thathappyreader
Thank you Anika!
Wendy
Terrific review Jodie. I like your tip about listening to this, some books are just better on Audio, and some are better read.
thathappyreader
Thanks Wendy!
I'm All Booked Up
It’s great how hones this author is in her book. And that she can make it funny and inspiring.
thathappyreader
I agree! Thanks for your comment!
Faye
I love the sound of this as an Audiobook! That feeling as though you’re sitting across the table from the author sounds amazing 🙂
https://www.femaleoriginal.com
thathappyreader
It really was a great read! Thanks Faye.
Her Digital Coffee
Great review! This will be a book that I will definitely have to check out. I like how you mentioned that there’s a dose of humor, we all could use it! Thank you for sharing!
thathappyreader
I definitely agree with you! Thanks for your comment!
WS_BOOKCLUB
Good review! I know someone who’ll love this.
thathappyreader
Thank you! I hope that they enjoy it!
Elle
Ooo this book sounds amazing! I’ve got chronic illnesses myself so this sounds like a book I’d relate too. Thank you for reviewing and sharing with us Xo
Elle – ellegracedeveson.com
thathappyreader
I’m sorry to hear that Elle. I hope you love this book! Please let me know your thoughts if you do read it.
Raji
Great review! It’s nice that despite the deeply personal nature of the book, the author has managed to add some humour to it. It definitely sounds like one that would be much better to listen to than read. Thanks for sharing!
thathappyreader
Thank you for your thoughtful comment Raji!
Headphonesthoughts
I love audio books. This book sounds so interesting. I would like to read how the main character was written with anxiety. I haven’t yet read book with a main character that had anxiety
thathappyreader
Thanks for your comment. This is a non-fiction book (memoir). The author writes about her own experience.
TheQuietGirl (Anissa)
Ooo I like the sound of this book, I love some good humour. Seems more interesting with the author adding in her own personal stories. Great review!
TheQuietGirl | http://www.quietgirlblog.com
thathappyreader
Thanks for stopping by and commenting Anissa!
Jenny in Neverland
This sounds like a great read. As someone who’s had a huge experience with anxiety it’s always interesting to read other people’s accounts of their experience x
thathappyreader
I agree Jenny! Thanks for your comment.
Sophie
This sounds amazing! It’s so relatable to everyday situations too, I love that it takes everyday aspects of ‘broken’ life and adds humour, that’s usually the best way to cope with those scenarios. Sounds like a great read x
thathappyreader
Thanks Sophie!