If you didn't like it, you haven't lived it
934805
I began reading this yesterday. At times I could barely hold in my laughter. Addiction and alcoholism isn't funny, as the author states, unless you are an addict or alcoholic. In just over 24 hours, I finished the book. While I spent yesterday laughing at the retelling of the author's crazy, out-of-control life, I also related to her suffering. The second half of her book hit home even more. Today I cried, recovered, then cried again. I have lived her life, or at least much of it. I only have one child to deal with. I've spent so much time wondering what I did wrong that I failed to see what I did right. My son has put me through quite a bit, but I have done the same to him. We've spent many months not speaking to each other. I've kicked him out of my house, dragged him to rehab, sent him to live with his father, let him sit in jail all to no avail. I realize his addiction is his. I am here to love him and support him in recovery, should he chose that course for himself. However, I am not here to financially support him or his lifestyle. Having a relationship with him is more important than trying to make him live the life I want for him. Because of this, I listen as he talks of going to college, owning his own business, and moving somewhere else (anywhere--he hates this place). I don't preach about recovery or his addiction. He doesn't believe he has a problem even though it's so obvious to the rest of us. I pray for him throughout the day and ask God to take care of him and keep him safe. I wish I had a magic wand to wipe away his addiction, but I'll settle for God. I think he's a better bet.

Anyway, if you have a child living in addiction or have been an addict or alcoholic yourself, you will certainly relate to this book. Heck, you may even learn a thing or two. If nothing else, you will take comfort knowing you are not the only one suffering--and it's okay to laugh at times. There are millions of us out here and we'll say a prayer for you tonight, too.
3249723
I was ok, hated it for me though, I sold it for a lot less then I had paid for it, seems like a lot of people did not like it either. Oh well you live, buy and learn from your experiences
256064
Picture the worst environment you've ever known -- where you felt no love or concern for your well being.  Now picture what might seem like paradise -- a place where you can run and scream and grow up while making the mistakes that all kids do.  You'd wake up to the smell of bacon and hear the kindly voices of the two old folks who took you both in for the summer.  You'd set your hands to learning how to whittle and understand what camping outside is really like.  This place you'd be imagining is Ruby Holler, and it seems pretty nice.  However, can you (Dallas and your twin sister Florida) trust it?  Your plan, should things go downhill as they always do, is to catch the night train.  How long will things seem to go well before you two need to abandon this place?  Or is there anything happening in this sleepy old place that makes you think you're needed here after all?
2521615
I didn't really care for this, but others may have different opinions
1571482
Give it a try, you'll probably like it. . .
4805920
I don't really have anything to say about this book. Some of the people I know were leaving rather very positive reviews on it and telling me to check it out. Well, I did and I am not pleased nor displeased. Everything is okay, the one feature that does stand out is probably the art-work, it is very nice, has a bit of a unique feel to it. And also another thing that kind of keeps me from giving it a 4 out of 5 is how some events or creatures are taken from other successful stuff. Say, those flora-zombies and flora-zombie-animals. I mean, those were not good. And this only gets worse with Volume 2. Alltough, some stuff gets better...
Anyway, I can't recommend this book to anyone. I certainly cannot. Read it only if you like adventures, the feel of unknown and history. If you don't or if you are just fine with it, then skip this one. Or read it. You know, sometimes it is good to read something that you don't care about or where you see flaws, just to sort of harden your taste.

Peace!
2027178
Just get it and read it.
If you don't like it, you have no soul.

I also like the style of the illustrations. They convey the plot beautifully.
4186594
I didn't like it. but the more I listened to it, the more I liked it. It is different than a lot of music but it's a GOOD different.
2933193
When the world was still trying to be hip for the first time I was already tired of being cool for the second time, so I had this on vinyl back before it was trendy to be bored with stuff before everybody else was even into it. I cannot review this with any kind of objectivity, as I am still ketaminically euphoric over having found it again.

Or not. Whatever. You probably wouldn't like it anyway - it's better than it sounds. You had to be there. It's the notes they don't play that matter.
1158954
It was fun.  It was good.  I liked it.  If you're like me you will also probably like it.  If you're not like me I have no idea if you will like it or not.
2142896
Has changed my life, try it for yourself. You'll be glad you did.
4961799
If you are familiar with this album, then you know it will carry you back to an uncomfortable young stage of your life where you thought you knew a lot, but you actually did not.  There was someone you wanted to meet, but you were as shy as a violet.  Later, after you managed to forge a relationship with that person, something (developing wisdom?) told you it really might be best to leave while you're in love, before you forget the meaning of the word -- and after things cratered, you seriously entertained thoughts of being dumb enough to steal away again.
If you were that age when you first heard it, you know it's a tear-jerker left over from those times that were so tender and meaningless, though heavy with the potential for romantic errors and worse.  Save up the [$$$]and buy it, as an anthem to the relief of having all that inexperience behind you.  Lessons learned.
645988
Relax and enjoy. If you you take it to seriously you won't have any fun.
995116
It seems I've lived your life for a few evenings, reading through your highs and lows.
Helps me understand why they are there, if they weren't we wouldn't appreciate the contrast and
enjoy the good things when they do finally come around....(8)
2642714
I do not regret buying this because I would not know I would not like or like it until I tried it. I did not like it. I realize the ingredients are mostly artificial and it tasted as such.
2690167
If you are the kind of person who cannot live without change,  if you suspect that there is more but you just can't seem to touch it, this is the book for you.  If you know you are an untapped well and the best is yet to come,  if you can feel His presence but you can't seem to get any closer,  run.....don't walk....to the first page of this book.....and don't put it down until you close the back cover.  You will begin the journey you have been waiting for.  . . .
1086087
Alain de Botton's slim volume contains a reasonably good argument for making the considerable investment of time and energy required to read In Search of Lost Time. I don't recall the author promising that reading his book will change one's  life, or that reading Proust's work will necessarily be a life-changing experience--only that it might turn out that way.

I was given a dog-eared copy of How Proust Can Change Your Life by a friend whom I'd told I was considering giving Proust a go. I read maybe half of it, found it amusing, and found the portrayal of Proust amusing as well. The book seemed to fizzle out after that, but what I'd read was enough to get me started on Swann's Way. I had not expected Proust to be comical in any way, but I credit Alain de Botton for illuminating Proust's self-deprecating sense of humor. Had it not been for that, I might never have made it past the famous and seemingly interminable description of juvenile insomnia that opens Swann's Way, much less enjoyed it.

Five years later, I have just finished The Captive and plan to begin The Fugitive within the next month or so. Has Proust changed my life? Well, yes. His work has attuned me to the importance of paying attention, resisting the dulling effects of habit, slowing down, finding meaning in the ordinary rhythms of life, accepting the painful inevitabilities of existence, laughing at my own foibles. There's more, but I won't bore you with it.

Proust is not everyone's cup of tea. But he might be yours. And if he is, you're in for what can, in fact, be a life-changing experience. (At the rate I'm reading him, it could also be a lifelong experience.) You may not be happier, handsomer, thinner, richer, or smarter, but you just might have a better understanding of why being who, what, and where you are is worthy of your attention.

If you're thinking about diving into Proust and not sure that it will be worth the effort, I'd recommend spending a few bucks on this primer first. If it inspires you to move on to the real thing, that's great. If it doesn't, you will have saved yourself hundreds of hours of what could be, for some, utter tedium. And if happiness, beauty, and wealth are what you really want, and you want them now, there's always Dr. Phil.