Rating: 
Summary: Very Useful and Funny!
Review: I found this book to be very inspiring. Ms. Lamott gave suggestions on writing and shared her knowledge, and I found it very useful. This book is also very funny and light and a quick read. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves to write or needs advice on writing, because I think it is an excellent source of information.
Rating:
Summary: Review Bird by Bird
Review: In the world of writing there are many different books that one can check out to find guidance and inspiration. This book explains how to write in a down to earth way. Writing is like walking, taking one step at a time until you end up where you want to be. Oferring everything from she has ever learned about writing Anne Lamott presents it in a way that is humorous, inspirational and can help any writer who is having trouble. After you finish reading this book you will be motivated to want to write for hours upon hours. The first part of the book is a basic overview of how to write a work of literature. The number one rule of writing is to tell the truth. The reader does not want to read a story from an unrealiable source. After the writer swears to write the truth Lamott says to start from the very beginning of your life. Write down everything: where you went to school? who your friends and teachers were? What clothes you wore? things like that. Then expand the details, write the fine points and then just keep going. Writing is observing what is around you and putting that on paper. To get into the mood for writing, make it a habit, sit down at the same time, and just write. The only way to get better at something is to practice, so practice writing. This process is the same for everyone. Once you start the writing, the characters need to come into play. What are the different personalities of these people? Are they good with morals? Or are they bad to the bone? Now ask yourself different uestions and think of an answer that the character might respond with. Get to know your characters personally and let there be something at stake or else the story will be very boring. One way to familiarize yourself with the characters is to base them on people you know. As the plot thickens, Lamott says that the characters interacting make the plot. Two characters who learn about each other day by day are bound to have something happen to them at some point. After the characters are in place, the set needs to be accounted for. This accounting is where the author gets to be the director and set everything into place. What does the room or surroundings look like? What time is it? What does the area smell like? These and many other questions need answere to make the plot work. Bird by Bird also has many examples as to why to write in the first place. You can give your writing as a gift. Write someone a story and they will chereish it forever. Write for the communitiy, in a paper. Tell the populaceyour view of an event happening in the town. The best reason to write, is to have it published. To have your words immortalized in a book is one of life's ultimate moments. Although Lamott says that it is not as big as, one would make it. Once you have a published book, you think that it could have been better written she argues. Lamott has a lot of advice to give to writers who feel stuck in their writing. Her advise can be put to good use. The first advise is to carry index cards, when a good idea pops into your head, just whip out an index card and jot down your idea. Later gather your index cards while writing and put your good ideas to use. Lamott says that a telephone is a good resource to use on writing. When you need a second opinion about something or need some expert advice just use a telephone to instantly contact someone. Another good piece of advice is to shut up that voice that says that your work is worthless, that it is not perfect, and that it does not sound good. Silence that voice in order to achieve perfection. Probably the most important advice is to keep writing. Practice makes perfect. This book has taught me a lot about writing. I thorougly enjoyed the book. Lamott explains how to write well in a simple, humorous, way that makes writing enjoyable. I highly recomend Bird by Bird. Even though I will not pursue a career in writing, I can not wait to start my own story just to be writing.
Rating:
Summary: Living and Thinking as a Writer
Review: The best explanation of character development that I've read is in this book. Lamont explains the process of getting to know your characters personalities (ie what they eat for breakfast in the morning and what their dream job is, favorite color, etc.) I've found it to be a useful workbook, reading a paragraph or a chapter and using it as a writing assignment or spending time working on my writing "in the works" because it is so motivational and sparks my creativity and new ideas. Plus, I wanted it to last as long as possible!
Rating: 
Summary: It not as I expected.
Review: This book is full of discouragement. Do not read it.
Rating: 
Summary: Lamott on the Aged
Review: I read with pleasure my first Anne Lamott book, Bird by Bird, but I was concerned to discover that, in it, she describes old people (in nursing homes) as past their use-by date, exept as props for the compassion of others. In contrast, Lamott says we can 'see' the spirit of diseased Gay men with AIDS shining through their ravaged bodies. Hmmm For mine, the stereotypical perspective on the frail aged dropped the book's rating from 5 to 4 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Best book yet that I have read about how to write.
Review: I have never read a book all the way through giving instructions on how to write. This is my first. Anne Lamott's life stories and humor made this an enjoyable read. I loved the occasional poems and childhood stories. Her technique humanized her writing. This is a book that will utilized more than once in my home.
Rating:
Summary: Strange title, huh?
Review: Great book, though. I was assigned this book for class; I had to read it. That said, it's one of the best I've ever read. Sometimes the title of a book can be misleading or can suggest that the book's contents aren't conveniently or understandably arranged. While Lamott's book definitely reads as a novel, it can be read gradually and could even be treated as a text for a class. My teacher approached it in this way, ignoring the book's basic premise: a book to read about writing. But hey, it worked. My teacher's great, Lamott's great, and I leave inspired. And I think the same can happen for anybody if for me.
Rating:
Summary: The best Lamott ever
Review: This is my favorite Anne Lamott book. She is just so fun, so real, so laugh out loud funny. I have used the "bird by bird" story many times, with my own child in fact - hope that's ok Anne.
Rating:
Summary: No Other Writer's Book Like It
Review: Anne Lamott presents the art of writing and the life of a writer through an honest, accessible format: her stories. Anne's examples and hard-earned wisdom gently educate the reader on what it takes to write and become a writer. She unabashedly tackles the hard questions of writing life and generously offers suggestions to keep one's writing alive. Also Anne is just plain "good fun" to read. Her special brand of humor celebrates the small joys, as well as, momentous thrills that writing can bring. If you care about writing, run don't walk to purchase "Bird by Bird."
Rating:
Summary: Bird By Bird
Review: Anne Lamott will get you started writing 'word by word'. Written with great humor, it's a wonderful motivator. You just might start writing today! She helped to motivate me to write Time To Heal and it's since been published!
| 
