Review: I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
I completely understand why everyone is sprinting towards this book. It is an excellent case for why people find memoir compelling. It is open and vulnerable and deeply reflective. And McCurdy is just a really talented writer, her prose is so clear and compelling. This book made me want to turn pages with much the same fervor that a thriller does.
If you are not in a position to read about parental abuse (mental, physical, and sexual), eating disorders, unhealthy relationships with alcohol, or parental death then maybe this book isn’t going to be for you.
I really found this book incredibly compelling. Throughout a good chunk of this book you will really absolutely feel the sense of mounting tension as Jennette is continuing to be abused and manipulated by her mother. It feels like you are holding your breath with this little girl who just wants to make her mother happy. She was failed by so many people in her life, and was dealing with an incredible amount of responsibility with the added stress of financially supporting her family.
I really wish I could grasp the correct language to talk about this book properly. I am sure there are going to be some incredible thoughtful reviews out there, and that very much does not seem like how mine is going to end up.
It is always a little bit weird critiquing memoir. It feels a little bit like laying judgment of a person, looking at their life and trauma and responding with callousness. And there were small things that I might have liked a little bit more about, but on the whole I did just think this was a really exemplary memoir. I found it thoughtful and engaging and just generally an excellent read.
I gave this book five stars.
