A Beautiful Mess by Ali Berlinski

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book.

about book:

 Imagine what your life would be like if you laughed through all the mayhem. Ali Berlinski is an expert on making complicated family relationships and messy situations comedic. A biracial child of divorce, Ali grew up between two coasts and two families. With a gay deaf brother, ex-nanny step mother, and celebrity ex, it's no surprise that her personal life served as the fodder behind her first book, a beautiful mess.

Through personal anecdotes Ali explains how laughter helped her to embrace the lighter side of heartache, her stepmother's cancer, and even depression. Her story reminds us that sometimes we all need a little help laughing at our problems. Ali Berlinski will help you say yes to your mess.

my thoughts:

Love! Love! Love! I loved A Beautiful Mess by Ali Berlinski!  It was the perfect read for a rainy day - it picked me up and made me think about some things that I hadn't thought about in ages.  I found myself quite reflective as I thumbed through the pages and kept on reading about this woman's journey of self-discovery.  It was easy to identify with her on a personal level, because I've also had to deal with questions about my ethnicity, identity.  And, who hasn't endured heartbreak with a guy who you just can't seem to let go of, because he feels like he's THE ONE, but deep down you know he's not.  Oh, and the family drama - well, who doesn't have enough of that in their own family?  Of course, mine isn't as heartbreaking as Berlinski's, which I'm super grateful for.  

The author's openness about such personal experiences was refreshing and inspiring.  Her book of essays was filled with humor, emotion and raw honesty.  The topics she wrote about are all ones we can relate to, which makes reading this book feel as if you are having a chat with a good pal over a cup of tea.  I found myself engaged with this book from start to finish.   On a side note, I have noticed some people complaining about the part in the book where Berlinski bashes Elizabeth Gilbert's book Eat, Pray, Love - I have to admit that I didn't mind that part at all.  I wasn't a huge fan of that book and can understand Berlinski's dislike for it - especially, considering the fact that every time she mentioned her plans to move abroad and write, everyone would mention Gilbert to her (as if she was going to copy Eat, Pray, Love).  I just think its funny that people took such offense to Berlinski not being a fan of Gilbert - wasn't this supposed to be a book of personal essays, which means it consists of personal opinions?  So, if she didn't like the book, she didn't like it - big deal!  And, even if she was just jealous of Gilbert, so what?  Its crazy the things that people are sticklers about, isn't?  But I digress...

The bottom line is that I loved this book!  I enjoyed the book's candor and humor.  I found it to be a quick and short read that really gave me food for thought.  I would most definitely recommend A Beautiful Mess to fans of essayists and memoirs. 

To find out more about the author Ali Berlinski, check out her website.  

I would like to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book.