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amlibera's review against another edition
4.0
I seem to be on a bender of "books of personal essays written by women who I don't know but I definitely could because we clearly know a lot of the same people and go to the same places." This is a very good one with its awareness of what it means to write, to live in Chicago, to have a small child, to be depressed, to be in love.
caleb_tankersley's review against another edition
5.0
I grabbed this book because Curbside Splendor is one of my favorite presses. I've never read a bad book from their catalog. But this one especially blew me away. Once I Was Cool is sad, hopeful, beautiful, and funny as hell. I started reading it on the plane home from AWP, planning on reading a few essays to see how I liked it. But once I got into the book, I just couldn't stop. I read the entire thing in 36 hours. Gorgeous, insightful, human and raw. I can't wait to recommend this to friends and family.
the_spines's review against another edition
4.0
Full review here! http://meganprokott.com/once-i-was-cool-megan-stielstra/12/6/2017//once-i-was-cool-stielstra
jelek86's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing.
Real.
I think Megan Stielstra is a true journalist at heart. She walks through the world with eyes and ears (and heart) wide open, capturing moments of truth in the mundane, the profound, the profane. And she has a great way of shaping her stories into something relevant, thought-provoking, sometimes urgent, but always entertaining and engaging.
I'm ready to flip back to page 1 and read the whole thing again :)
Real.
I think Megan Stielstra is a true journalist at heart. She walks through the world with eyes and ears (and heart) wide open, capturing moments of truth in the mundane, the profound, the profane. And she has a great way of shaping her stories into something relevant, thought-provoking, sometimes urgent, but always entertaining and engaging.
I'm ready to flip back to page 1 and read the whole thing again :)
stefanie_ann's review against another edition
4.0
1. Stielstra is Chicago-authentic for those, like me, who have a relatively privileged experience with the city--indie rock and dive bars and CTA and bad choices that turned out ok. What luck that I lived there! How snooty to look down on brunch lines! How silly to expect things to be the same for at least a few years! (And here I note that name I'd searched for during at least 6--Swank Frank.) These essays made me feel so HARD about Chicago and horrible for ever thinking I could leave.
2. The majority of essays were wonderful bites of life, of difficult times and trying to be better, and REALLY WANTING something or someone to be ok, for themselves and for you. She knows how to write essays--and how to write essays that will be read.
2. The majority of essays were wonderful bites of life, of difficult times and trying to be better, and REALLY WANTING something or someone to be ok, for themselves and for you. She knows how to write essays--and how to write essays that will be read.
lovelymisanthrope's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
I picked up a copy of this on a trip to Chicago a couple years ago and I finally made the time to read it now.
"Once I Was Cool" is a collection of personal essays from Megan Stielstra. Megan has lived an incredible life and has learned some hard lessons along the way. Writing has always been vitally important to her, and this collection highlights some of her powerful words. Some of these essays have been published or performed in other outlets, but together they paint a vivid picture of a woman trying to find that thing that makes life worth living.
I really loved every second of this collection. Megan and I have lived different lives, but her thoughts, feelings, and views on the world felt like they were my own articulated to me in a beautiful prose. Megan is unapologetic in her delivery and has learned how to find her voice in a sea of writers who are all looking to do the same.
I really enjoyed how this collection was formatted. The essays do not go in chronological order, but every essay seems to weave into the next seamlessly. There is a perfect balance of personal experience with experiences she witnessed from those around her. Additionally, she shared some of the hardest times in her life without coming across as "woe is me". She owns her decisions, and she seems to be genuinely happy with how her life has turned out (up to the point of these essays).
My favorite essays were the ones that highlighted life as a writer and how important writing is to life. America has completely lost sight of teaching the joys of learning and focuses way too heavily on standardized testing. Writing is an expression of your innermost thoughts and needs to be shared. It can help you to understand the world around you and make sense of what you want out of life. I wish the focus was on how to write for the beauty of writing.
I feel so inspired by Megan's words, and I want to devour more from her, as well as indulge in some more personal essays (which this book recommends heavily).
"Once I Was Cool" is a collection of personal essays from Megan Stielstra. Megan has lived an incredible life and has learned some hard lessons along the way. Writing has always been vitally important to her, and this collection highlights some of her powerful words. Some of these essays have been published or performed in other outlets, but together they paint a vivid picture of a woman trying to find that thing that makes life worth living.
I really loved every second of this collection. Megan and I have lived different lives, but her thoughts, feelings, and views on the world felt like they were my own articulated to me in a beautiful prose. Megan is unapologetic in her delivery and has learned how to find her voice in a sea of writers who are all looking to do the same.
I really enjoyed how this collection was formatted. The essays do not go in chronological order, but every essay seems to weave into the next seamlessly. There is a perfect balance of personal experience with experiences she witnessed from those around her. Additionally, she shared some of the hardest times in her life without coming across as "woe is me". She owns her decisions, and she seems to be genuinely happy with how her life has turned out (up to the point of these essays).
My favorite essays were the ones that highlighted life as a writer and how important writing is to life. America has completely lost sight of teaching the joys of learning and focuses way too heavily on standardized testing. Writing is an expression of your innermost thoughts and needs to be shared. It can help you to understand the world around you and make sense of what you want out of life. I wish the focus was on how to write for the beauty of writing.
I feel so inspired by Megan's words, and I want to devour more from her, as well as indulge in some more personal essays (which this book recommends heavily).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Animal death, Bullying, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual assault and Rape
claraclarity's review against another edition
4.0
Made me think about the beauty and sadness of aging… also how cold chicago winters are
ginnygriggs_'s review
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Gah I love Megan Stielstra. Favorite essayist.