Rating: 
Summary: It's meant for entertainment, not for judgment
Review: ... As far as the negative comments from the readers' reviews, I'd like to point out a few things: .. while you may not agree with her lack of integrity at times (letting her landlord fall asleep and telling his wife that he had the money, posturing as a TA to receive free books, etc) this book is not intended for us to "approve" her actions but more to relate to her misadventures and appreciate her sense of humor in light of her unfortunate financial circumstances ... yes, she talked about being broke too much, but that is what the book is about! if the reader is expecting her to discuss something else, then obviously you didn't understand from the title what the book concerns.all that aside, i found this book wonderfully refreshing. she maintained a lighthearted view towards her brokeness that allows us all to laugh at our similar situations. however, bear in mind that she was TEMPORARILY broke. as a college student, especially an ivy leaguer, she was justified in being fairly certain that her brokeness would one day (in a financially propserous future) be a hilarious memory. all in all, it's a rather enjoyable read and is definitely one of the best books i've read in a long while. if you're looking for a literary diversion which will leave you feeling optimistic about your own dismal financial situation, don't lose heart! at least you have the extra cents for the ramen noodles! my only question -- how did she manage to feed her cat?
Rating: 
Summary: Funny and Fluffy
Review: A pretty good read that satisfies my need for fluff. But the title is way too long as is the book.
Rating: 
Summary: What a girl will do for food!
Review: Absolutely hilarious book. During some of the stories it hit a little too close to home, but that's what made it even more funny. I could identify with bring broke, althrough she was broke because she was supporting herself through school, I am just lazy. But I will say that I have never gone to a funeral just because I knew there would be a buffet afterward. I would have if I had thought of it though!
Angela's adventures are pure comedy gold. I sure hope that she will come up with another diary now that she is not broke to detail her new life.
Rating:
Summary: Funny, clever, not-to-be-missed saga of brokeness...
Review: As a University of Pennsylvania senior, Angela Nissel is totally and utterly broke - not the 'oh, I'm broke because I only have $100 in the bank but I can pay all my bills' broke but really broke. Her 'diary' recounts her misadventures trying to make it through the year without starving or getting evicted. Her cleverness, sense of humour and pretty bizarre experience make 'The Broke Diaries' an incredibly entertaining read, one to be savored and certainly not to be missed. The book is structured as an actual diary, with entries on various days describing Angela's latest battle to eat/ survive/ pay her bills/ get textbooks and so forth. A lot of what she endures will be familiar to many college students and graduates, but a lot of it is simply amazing, both in terms of what Angela has to go through and some of the very strange people she encounters. Even as she struggles to get by, Angela maintains her wicked sense of humor, and that comes through in all of her 'entries,' as do her keen perceptions about poverty, human nature, and so forth. Some of what happens to her seems unbelievable except in the context of everything else that she's enduring - even the pretty crazy stuff seems normal in her world and in her chatty, informal, funny narrative voice. I'm very glad that Angela survived her senior year and that she is no longer broke, as much as I did enjoy her tales of woe. 'The Broke Diaries' would make rewarding, entertaining, fun and funny reading for almost anybody. Just don't forget to pay attention to some of her astute perceptions about poverty.
Rating:
Summary: It's meant for entertainment, not for judgment
Review: i guess i was a little late in the game. apparently this book has been out for a year but i only saw it yesterday as i wandered the aisles of [the book store] looking for something new and fun to read. instead of adding another review summarzing the book, i'd like to comment on the other reviews and add my own thoughts. i agree wholeheartedly with most of the comments in the other readers' reviews: this book IS hilarious, if you were ever a broke or strapped college student, you WILL laugh and relate, and it IS worth the [$$$] if you're poor enough to wonder (if you're really truly broke, then you dont have [$$$] to spend on books. if you're like me and strapped, then you weigh the decisions --[$$$] on a funny book that you can reread or [$$$] on a movie/dinner/something else to be enjoyed but once. As far as the negative comments from the readers' reviews, I'd like to point out a few things: 1) while you may not agree with her lack of integrity at times (letting her landlord fall asleep and telling his wife that he had the money, posturing as a TA to receive free books, etc) this book is not intended for us to "approve" her actions but more to relate to her misadventures and appreciate her sense of humor in light of her unfortunate financial circumstances; 2) for those who ask why she didn't just work more -- as a grad of another prestigious college who worked to put her[self] through school,i can testify that working every free moment of the day takes away from studying and attending classes. ...moreover, the more you make, the less in terms of loans you receive -- thus working more does not necessarily mean you are less broke; 3.)if you don't relate to her state of brokeness, then you weren't "broke." i prefer to use the term "strapped" for those of you who can laugh but not completely empathize. if you can afford to pay your utility payments late and splurge on a bowl when your alternative is a cat food dish, then you are not broke; 4) yes, she talked about being broke too much, but that is what the book is about! if the reader is expecting her to discuss something else, then obviously you didn't understand from the title what the book concerns. all that aside, i found this book wonderfully refreshing. she maintained a lighthearted view towards her brokeness that allows us all to laugh at our similar situations. however, bear in mind that she was TEMPORARILY broke. as a college student, especially an ivy leaguer, she was justified in being fairly certain that her brokeness would one day (in a financially propserous future) be a hilarious memory. all in all, it's a rather enjoyable read and is definitely one of the best books i've read in a long while. if you're looking for a literary diversion which will leave you feeling optimistic about your own dismal financial situation, don't lose heart! at least you have the extra cents for the ramen noodles! my only question -- how did she manage to feed her cat?
Rating:
Summary: Hilarious Trials & Tribulations of Being BROKE!
Review: I have to say, if this was a fiction novel, THE BROKE DIARIES would have rated a 5, HANDS DOWN! But as a non-fiction memoir novel...and having been a broke college student, I found the book more comical than realistic, and I rated it a 4. Angela Nissel lays all her broken days as a college student out for the public to read, and what she has accomplished is a book that is hilariously outrageous and a laugh fest, from beginning to end, but on top of that, you feel Angela's strain of BEING broke and smiling through her "fasting" days. The situations that Nissel gets herself into to find something to eat...to get books for her classes are truly funny, and students everywhere will relate to at some point being down and out. Aside from the comedic value of BROKE, I found myself thinking about the educational institution and just HOW they could make you pay an arm and a leg to go to an ivy league school, yet HARDLY pay or assist you to be able to do what you came to do...learn! I think I will find myself flipping through BROKE again, because it's one of those books where you can flip to an entry, relive an experience with Angela and roll in laughter.
I would definitely recommend BROKE...especially to my fellow broke college students! Reviewed by Shonie
Rating:
Summary: AWESOME READ!!
Review: I loved this book SO MUCH!! Angela Nissel is HILARIOUS!! She makes being broke sound like fun! I highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Aisha's review of "The Broke Diaries"
Review: I really like Angela's writing style: it's funny, real, and outgoing. Everything I like in a person! Anybody on the street can almost relate to her everyday sensibilities, "Ever date a chicken farmer for a free meal?" reads one line in her eye-opening novel, The Broke Diaries. It shows how young adults today will do anything to survive in today's economy, to get through college, especially. I am sure that a lot of people would marry somebody because of their excessive amounts of money, because at least they know they are financially secure, but she only used him for a short period of time, till she was able to get back on her feet.
Another thing I thought was interesting was her mother, and her family didn't seem to be that supportive of her, and they forced her into doing it on her own, which is reality for most people. They are forced to live in society when they become adults, but they aren't really ready for it yet, because they haven't had the experience. Maybe this is all young adults that go away to college for the first time. I know I'm getting philosophical, but I think that plays an important part of the book, as well as her struggles she goes through on her own, and how she turns out in the end, on top.
Rating:
Summary: Makes the Prospect of College Bearable
Review: I was pleasantly surprised when I read this book. Admittedly, I judged the book by its cover: I thought it would be one of those books that's fun to read, but that's all it is, entertainment. I came to find that it is well-written, has a creative format, and is very humorous, showing stylistic capabilities on the author's part. Not only this, but there is a valuable message encoded in the novel: life's attempts to thwart your goals are more easily overcome when you can see the humor in the situation.
Rating:
Summary: A Cute Story
Review: The Broke Diaries was very funny and cute. The situations and the way Angela talks about people and things she goes through made me laugh a lot. The writing style of the book makes it sound kind of like she is writing letters to a friend or talking to someone face to face. The book was pretty short; an easy read. I had to read The Broke Diaries for my economics class with the best teacher ever, Mr. Jimenez. I think the book would be a good read for pleasure or free choice for another class, but I do not feel that it would be a great book that seriously focuses on economics. It does, a little, but it is more a comedy story than a story that actually would teach something important.
| 
