It’s Not That I’m Bitter [Book Review]

Its Not That I'm Bitter . . .: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying About Visible Panty Lines and Conquered the World is a great one if you are ready for a female dose of reality. Regina Barreca takes the oddest of feminine concerns and transforms them into hysterical scenes of humor. She re-teaches us that laughing is a cure for most of our ills and foibles.

From problems with weight and purchasing an appropriate swimsuit to advertisements that trick us into believing that this special product will produce amazingly glamorous results, Barreca forces readers to examine the quirks and thrills of being a woman. A gift displayed in the author’s writing is guiding the reader from fits of laughter to quiet reflection. These still moments are also filled with humor but allow the reader to calmly reflect on serious topics of life like unfairness at work or dealing with those who dislike our hard work and dedication.

This is the perfect book club book, best friends read, or mother/daughter share. As my daughter and I read it together sitting side-by-side during our girls retreat, we laughed, we paused in thought, and we discussed the key points of each chapter with enthusiastic dialogue and thoughtful insight. Why is it that women can laugh so hard at themselves while also recognizing the truth and reality behind each peal?

It would be interesting to discuss Its Not That I'm Bitter . . .: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying About Visible Panty Lines and Conquered the World with a group of men. Would they find the book funny or too sarcastic and caustic for their liking? Would they be able to laugh at themselves with the same gusto that women are able to or would they find it biting and bitchy? Reading about women and thinking about our unique character traits, astute perspective, and our ability to dissect and re-dissect each event of life has made me appreciate the greatness of being female. This book puts all of those thoughts into words.

Quotable Quotes from the book include titles of chapters such as “What Do You Mean, ‘Lose Weight Fats?’” or “Why Is Nostalgia Not Like It Used to Be?” These give you an idea of the humor presented in the book. Each chapter quickly envelops the reader in the realness of the day along with the absurdity of it too. This is a great book to share with friends and co-workers, with significant people you know who need to laugh at the oddity of life.

Gina Barecca is also a master with words. If you are looking for twists with language, enriching vocabulary, and appreciating past knowledge as it builds to current understanding, you will be rewarded through the carefully constructed sentences and intriguing scenarios. The play with words and intertwining events of history are enriching. Writers seeking to enlighten their own craft will benefit from reading this book.

Warning: If you find no humor in life or if you think toying with “womenness” is corrupt and unconscionable, skip this read. If laughing about chin hairs and screeching over the unnecessary worry about others while failing to stick up for yourself (as you shiver or sweat thorough a conference), you will enjoy each word, each phrase, and each page of this easy-read, amusing book.

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Gini Cunningham is an educational consultant,  free lance writer,  life coach, and professional development presenter.

Article source: EzineArticles.com