A review by voxvenati
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott

emotional funny inspiring sad fast-paced

4.5

I appreciated this book for what it did. As someone who has been writing for a long time, there were parts of this that are already second nature to me, but might help out a new author. There were also things I had never considered. Some of her writing exercises were interesting, and I will consider using them. 

Lamott interspersed anecdotes and humor that I enjoyed (mostly), but much of the humor and some of the language have not aged well. It can feel quite distasteful. An example, referring to the writing of Chilean author Isabel Allende:
I understand why this style is so attractive to my students: it’s like primitive art. It’s simple and decorative, with rich colors, satisfying old forms, and a lot of sophistication underneath that you feel but don’t really see.

Lamott has a really unique take to this life of being a reader and a writer. I laughed and cried. She’s had a real rollercoaster of a life. Overall, I would say, if the above quote isn’t a deal breaker, I do think writers of all sorts can glean something from this book. I only wish there was an updated version that cleaned up some of the “humor”.