The Rules Do Not Apply: A Memoir

by Ariel Levy

"A gorgeous, darkly humorous memoir for readers of Cheryl Strayed about a woman overcoming dramatic loss and finding reinvention, as well as a portrait of a generation used to assuming they're entitled to everything--based on this award-winning writer's New Yorker article 'Thanksgiving in Mongolia'"--

• ISBN10: 0812996933
• ISBN13: 9780812996937
• Publish Date: 14 March 2017
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Imprint: Random House
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 224
• Language: English

Reviews

[lovelybookshelf]

Levy's writing is lush, her phrasing beautiful in a way similar to Cheryl Strayed. Levy shares a deeply personal, harrowing experience with brutal honesty. She conveys exactly how she felt without mincing words. That's significant, because talking about miscarriage is still such a taboo. Her openness is sure to help readers understand what others go through.

That said, the memoir didn't feel cohesive overall. There were too many unconnected filler stories, and her privilege was painfully obvious time and time again.

Trans folks, heads up on chapter 9 for blatant transphobia. The way the author refers to and talks about her trans friend is shockingly disrespectful and problematic. I thought she might have included this chapter to show growth, but there was no followup whatsoever.