June 20, 2013

I Never Promised You A Goodie Bag by Jennifer Gilbert

I Never Promised You A Goodie Bag by Jennifer Gilbert is an honest memoir written by a very strong woman who willingly opened up about her life. On the surface it seems like it is a cute and interesting read, but it is so much more than that. It is inspiring, heartfelt, and one of the best memoirs I have read in a long time.


Book Description
When Jennifer Gilbert was twenty-two years old, someone tried to cut her life short in the most violent way. Not wanting this traumatic encounter to define her life, she buried it within and bravely launched a fabulous career in New York as an event planner. Always the calm in the storm—from fixing a ripped dress to relocating a lavish party on two days' notice—she was convinced she'd never again feel joy herself. Yet these weddings, anniversaries, and holiday parties slowly brought her back to life. No one's entitled to an easy road, Gilbert learned, but instead of anticipating our present in a goodie bag, it's our presence that is the real gift.” – I Never Promised You A Goodie Bag


My Thoughts
I Never Promised You A Goodie Bag is a look into the life of a woman who was attacked violently, lived through it, and instead of just giving up on everything (including herself) – she moved on and created a business, a family, and finally, decided to write about it. I applaud her greatly for having the strength to share her experiences with us in a very honest and real way throughout the book.

Sometimes memoirs can be a little dry, but this one was written in a very easy to read manner, and fully kept my interest throughout the book. I enjoyed more about the author’s personal life and story than about the nightclubs or parties. That is just me though.

If you enjoy memoirs and reading courageous stories by women, this is definitely one you need to read. I highly recommend it.



* Thank you to the publisher of I Never Promised You A Goodie Bag, Harper, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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