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mcwat's review against another edition
i read this in the car and it didn't give me a headache
wrentheblurry's review against another edition
4.0
The title drew me in, for I had no previous knowledge of the Ask Polly phenomena nor of the blog. Initially, I was unsure. Many of the questions posed seemed asked by twenty-somethings. Yet Heather's answers, and how she narrated, kept me going. Eventually, I was hooked. "Polly" doled out no bullshit, hard-hitting, listen-to-me-right-now advice that she sprinkled with humor and relatable tales from her own life.
I agree with most of the advice, and strongly enjoyed how it was delivered. I didn't learn a whole lot, but I had a good time while listening to others (ostensibly) learn from Polly. Recommended!
I agree with most of the advice, and strongly enjoyed how it was delivered. I didn't learn a whole lot, but I had a good time while listening to others (ostensibly) learn from Polly. Recommended!
kathrynkao's review against another edition
4.0
A compilation of the author's advice columns, spanning a wide range of topics. Some of the writing is a little over-effusive and overblown, but it's really worth reading because of the depth of caring and insight. The book has a great no-bullshit approach that lets you really see the way some of the letter writers delude themselves, or what their real issues really are. As someone in kind of a transitional life phase (still early in my career, married recently and no kids yet), I found this book really helpful and affirming.
jonapelson's review against another edition
3.0
Leaning 2.5 stars and a DNF at 25%
Both of those things might not be the book's fault. I can no longer remember how this ended up on my to read list and I did not know it was a collection of "ask Polly" letters. Whoops! Regardless, I found the letter writers' problems tedious (I know advice columns are a wee bit frivolous but this was one first world problem after the other) and the advice became redundant when the letters followed each other. Love troubles? Make sure you remember you're great! Family drama at your wedding? Tell yourself you're great and no one can steal your day. Adrift in your career? You are your best asset! And on and on.
Both of those things might not be the book's fault. I can no longer remember how this ended up on my to read list and I did not know it was a collection of "ask Polly" letters. Whoops! Regardless, I found the letter writers' problems tedious (I know advice columns are a wee bit frivolous but this was one first world problem after the other) and the advice became redundant when the letters followed each other. Love troubles? Make sure you remember you're great! Family drama at your wedding? Tell yourself you're great and no one can steal your day. Adrift in your career? You are your best asset! And on and on.
balletbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
Not quite as awesome as Tiny Beautiful Things (I <3 Cheryl Strayed) but definitely a solid collection of advice columns from Ask Polly. (And I do hope the people who wrote in basically asking for permission to cheat on their partners got dumped. What tools)
ifjanetranit's review against another edition
4.0
I love a great advice column. If the advice-giver says fuck a lot, even better.
nssutton's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this as I liked the collection of Cheryl Strayed's Dear Sugar columns, because I appreciate those who translate their past into someone else's present, because all I ever want to do is advise and correct. I wish I had read this in my 20s, when I was so hard on myself, so insistent on seeing patterns that blinded me from the things really happening, so rigid in my thinking. But I wouldn't have appreciated it as I do in my early 30s, with disappointments and joys I couldn't have imagined then. Sometimes I think of starting a list of books I want the girls to read, in case anything happens to me, or in case they won't turn to me in a time of need, but both thoughts are so morbid I can't stand it. This would be on that list for sure.