Rating: 
Summary: my wife has her number
Review: (...) I'm not sure how long it was on the air, but for at least five years, Roseanne Barr's show was one of the most popular TV series in America. Meanwhile, I personally would have only tuned in to watch her be fed, piece by large piece, into a woodchipper. So I recognize the frequent possibility, even likelihood, that I am significantly out of step with popular opinion. But let me say this, Bird by Bird, a memoir of the writing life by Anne Lamott reads as if it was written by Ms Barr. Ms Lamott too is screechy, self-pitying, profane, and profoundly annoying. She is one of those people who has made a complete hash of her own life--alcoholic, drug addict, bulimic, single mother, born again but calls God, Her, all the time--therefore, thinks that life is really difficult in general and that her's is especially trying, and for some reason thinks that we should all hear about it and that we have something to learn from her. Now, I hardly consider myself prudish and I must acknowledge that one of my own most troubling character defects is a tendency to be excessively gutter-mouthed, but there is simply no excuse for Lamott's foul language in this book. If an author is rendering dialogue in a novel, they must obviously use strong language in order to be realistic. But here, in a book that is purportedly about writing, her frequent resort to swearing smacks of affectation and a forced attempt to keep the tone of the book chatty, rather than pedantic. Instead, it is merely unprofessional. What do we have to learn about writing, never mind life, from a woman who can't express herself without resorting to profanity? The sole moment of pleasure in the book comes in the form of a rejection letter that an editor sent to her, in which he states: You have made the mistake of thinking that everything that has happened to you is interesting. We can safely go one step further and say that the mistake lies in thinking that anything that has happened to her is interesting. (...) GRADE: D
Rating: 
Summary: Gets you off your butt!
Review: One of the best recommendations for a book on writing, in my opinion, is that it creates the urge to write in everyone. My mother bought me this book on a friend's recommendation when I was at a lag in my writing. My mother read it as well and she needed to write. So she began writing letters to her past acquaintances. We have given this book to anyone with a mild interest in writing. Every one of them has loved it and has sat themselves down at their computer aafter reading it. What is better than that?
Rating:
Summary: An Appraisal
Review: Bird By Bird is a perfect display of gracful and experienced writing. Anne Lamott captures and inspires the reader with her life stories and experiences. Lamott is humorous, candid, but real in this non traditional guide book on successful writing. Five stars to a brilliant writer and an outstanding guide that will continue to motivate future writers.
Rating:
Summary: Letting It Flow
Review: Lamott explores the writing process in a way that will touch every individual. Her humorous, laid back, conversational style allows the reader to read the novel, like Lamott is speaking to them. This personal approach to writing is easy for the reader to understand, and it affords the reader the opportunity to relate personal experiences to the book. The book is a must read novel.
Rating: 
Summary: writing and life
Review: I truly enjoyed this book, it is a humorous take on writing and life. Bird by Bird is a magnificent motivational tool for the aspiring writer because of the personal stories that provide helpful hints. This is a book that i will definately read again and again. A must read for anyone who wants to write a great american novel or someone who wants to read a great american nonfiction.
Rating:
Summary: Lamott's masterpiece
Review: Anne Lamott's book is one full of common sense and good American humor. Her chapters make you laugh with their catchy titles and funny stories. Lamott knows how young writers first feel when they try to write papers and short stories, and find that work to be tedious and challenging. She gives the reader insight into her first writing experiences and how she dealt with the pressure of writing good material. I am glad my teacher recommended this book to me and my fellow classmates. This book has given me new ways to approach my writings. This book is definetly worth having on your bookshelf.
Rating:
Summary: Funny, poignant, and powerful
Review: I can honestly say that this is the best book on writing that I've ever read, and yes, it's also the only book on writing that I've ever read. But what a way to start. I've avoided the genre because I've wanted to figure things out on my own, but this book is more like a conversation with a writer than a tome on how to write. She's talks about how she started, what keeps her motivated, what she does when she gets stuck, and how she deals with various writer anxieties (re: publication, rejection, validation). Above all, this is a very funny, laugh-out-loud book. Lamott has a quirky sense of humor and a refreshing, spot on ability to create memorable pictures. Despite writing of her own spirituality, Lamott doesn't get preachy or smug or self-righteous, and so her stories end up being truly inspiring. She talks about giving as a writer, and I found in her stories many gifts. A couple of gems that I've tucked away: * One-inch picture frames: big ideas can engulf you; write about a moment in time, one short scene, something that would fit into a one-inch picture frame.
* Writing is putting down one word after another (the best advice for a writer is to...write).
* You have to give your best stuff to your current project (she references Annie Dillard for this idea) and not try to save it or hoard it; sort of a 'use it or lose it' attitude.
* The myth of publication: if you weren't enough before publication, you're not going to be enough after publication. Lots to digest, and worth rereading.
Rating:
Summary: A friend in the business
Review: Writing is like asking the best looking girl in the school to the dance. You have to stick your neck out all the way and wait for the blade while hoping for a kiss. Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird is like a warm supportive hand on your shoulder, encouraging you to take chances while assuring you that you WILL inevitably be dashed on the jagged rocks of doubt and rejection. She anticipates every hope and doubt a writer could have and gives you the solace of knowing you are not alone in your literary angst. Best of all she provides the helpful reminder that writing is an end in itself, and that all the constituent junk, like the love of the masses, is beyond your control -- so don't sweat it. After reading the last page I closed the book and actually held the cover up to my face -- as if smelling it would somehow permanently embed its contents in my frontal lobe (or whichever lobe books are kept in). If Lamott had been in the room I'm afraid I would have embarrassed us both by planting a big, wet kiss right on her lips. She poured so much love into this piece, you can't help loving her back. A must read for aspiring writers.
Rating: 
Summary: Insightful and humorous, but also annoying
Review: As some of the other reviewers have said, the actual writing advice in this book is slight and conceptual. I also found it inspirational, to a point. The book's failing is in assuming that the author's reason for writing--to uncover the truth in her life experience--is the only important one. Lamott dismisses other writing (presumably commercial fiction) as "making candy." This stance is elitist and annoying (it's the same one you get from most college writing instructors). The argument goes like this: you must aspire to uncover the Truth, because that is what literature is for. Writing that doesn't do this--writing that merely entertains, for example--is less than worthy (it's just "making candy," and candy rots your teeth). Lamott at least tells you that you probably won't be good enough, and probably won't make any money even if you are--but she still insists that you pursue Truth. I don't buy it. Humans have a fundamental need for stories of all kinds. Creating a story and telling it well enough to be published is noble enough, without burdening yourself with the fear that you're not writing "truth," or that your writing is somehow less important than any other.
Rating:
Summary: ahA!
Review: I used to be afraid to carry a pencil and paper with me everywhere because I thought people might think I was crazy and stab them with it and I'd already look funny enough without that; but this book has told me that looking crazy is ok and is, infact better than looking normal.
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