Reading BIRD BY BIRD is a like inviting over to a party a neurotic friend who everybody loves for the first fifteen minutes and then by the end has made everyone wonder why they were friends with her at all- then in retrospect is ultimately glad that she came as the party was somehow made better by her zany sense of humor and antics.

Anne Lamott’s instructions on writing and life is aimed at would-be authors. As a reader you are a student in her class, and she takes you on a journey through all of the trials and joys she has experienced in her own life as a writer. Her anecdotes are touching and very personal- even outright hilarious at times. Writers or would be writiers will appreciate her point of view and the light-hearted tone she takes in sharing her struggles.

The only downfall to her method is that her voice does grow weary once the novelty of her insecure sarcasm as worn off. It also seems that her advice will apply mostly to other writers who share her same personality- that is emotional and full of self-doubt. I surmise that many male authors will view her work as over-the-top in its delivery. I know this reader did. I found myself rolling my eyes in the second half and wishing, for goodness sakes, that she would go ahead and jump off that cliff after all so that I wouldn’t have to read about her wanting to so, again, after someone told her one of her stories sucked. Okay. So she didn’t really want to jump off of a bridge- she had another method of suicide in mind just as permanent. But the metaphor is sound. (Anne, if you read this review, please know that I am simply following your advise and writing what I feel, even if I have forgotten how to point with the sword. Please don't jump of that cliff on my account!)

This being said, this reader thoroughly enjoyed her take on writing and found her anecdotes very poignant and relevant. This is a must read for anyone who loves writing or has felt the frustration one feels when learning the truth of the life of an author. Rich and full of texture, Lamott’s words will inspire and warm the heart. Just be ready for a hefty helping of self-pity along the way.