'Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

In 'Bird by Bird', Anne Lamott writes beautifully and poetically about her own personal experiences and memoirs of writing, and reflects on her journey through her developing world of language and literacy. Her book offers an in-depth and personal reflection of how her writing developed from that of an inexperienced young child, influenced greatly by her parents, to that of a seasoned adult writer, and highly appraised author.

Lamott writes with honesty and humor and carefully analyzes her own experiences before reflecting on them with candor, as she shares her wisdom with her readers. She takes the reader on an author's journey, from beginning to end, and, as she analyzes the best ways to navigate the unfamiliar terrain, she offers delightfully descriptive prose which both illuminate and accentuate the highs and lows of becoming a professional writer. “There are few experiences as depressing as that anxious barren state known as writer's block, where you sit staring at your lank page like a cadaver, feeling your mind congeal, feeling your talent run down your leg and into your sock.” (Lamott, 1994. P. 176.)

This memoir is an easy read and delightfully laced with humor, and personal experiences, that catch and hold the reader's imagination. Appreciated and understood by middle school readers to adults, Anne Lamott's 'Bird by Bird' is a highly acclaimed national bestseller.

Memoir/Biography

Karen Payne