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herwitchiness's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.75
teresakoro's review against another edition
Picked this up because I so enjoyed Mara's latest release, Gross Anatomy. I thought she was neurotic then, but boy was she neurotic ten years ago, when she published Thanks For Coming.
I also feel a bit weird critiquing someone's memoir, but here we go.
This was a hard and frustrating read a lot of the time because it very much felt like it was written ten years ago (I was turned off when she used the word "retarded" quite a few times. And there were MySpace references). Mara was also so incredibly out of touch with the world everyone else was living in. I could relate to some of her insecurities and coping skills, but I also very much wanted to shake her and tell her to get a fucking grip already. It really bothered me that she kept searching for "the answer" to why she couldn't have an orgasm when she couldn't even look at or touch her own genitalia. The answer clearly was in herself and she wasn't allowing herself to access it, and instead very stubbornly continued seeking out expert after expert rather than having to look inward (she did eventually look inward).
I don't know how she managed to get from where she started to where the book ended, but I'm glad she managed to figure some shit out.
I wouldn't necessarily recommend this, because I think Gross Anatomy is a better representation of her writing now, but I don't regret reading this.
I also feel a bit weird critiquing someone's memoir, but here we go.
This was a hard and frustrating read a lot of the time because it very much felt like it was written ten years ago (I was turned off when she used the word "retarded" quite a few times. And there were MySpace references). Mara was also so incredibly out of touch with the world everyone else was living in. I could relate to some of her insecurities and coping skills, but I also very much wanted to shake her and tell her to get a fucking grip already. It really bothered me that she kept searching for "the answer" to why she couldn't have an orgasm when she couldn't even look at or touch her own genitalia. The answer clearly was in herself and she wasn't allowing herself to access it, and instead very stubbornly continued seeking out expert after expert rather than having to look inward (she did eventually look inward).
I don't know how she managed to get from where she started to where the book ended, but I'm glad she managed to figure some shit out.
I wouldn't necessarily recommend this, because I think Gross Anatomy is a better representation of her writing now, but I don't regret reading this.
goldandsalt's review against another edition
3.0
While for much of the book I wanted to yell at the author, JUST MASTURBATE ALREADY!, in the end, it was fairly insightful. I could occasionally relate to her neuroses (she had plenty to choose from), and I appreciated the overarching message of relaxing, letting go, and just doing what feels good.
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