Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things

"This is not too surprising considering that I collect neurological disorders like other people collect comic books." ~ pg. 33

Who is Jenny Lawson? The owner of an award-winning popular blog (www.thebloggess.com) and a #1 New York Times bestselling author. I came across her name here and there. However, this book is my official introduction to her wit and hilariously skewed outlook on life.

Furiously Happy begins with a series of disclaimers from the author. First Jenny Lawson insists readers stop. Then after confirming we are still here, she admits some details have been changed to protect the guilty. That's right—because innocent people don't need protection anyway. HAHAHA At this point, I was more than curious and willing to read further. Then the author hits me with yet another disclaimer that it is a funny book about living with mental illness. As a person with loved ones affected by a mental illness, I don't mind humor mixed in with the truth as long as it is respectable. So I acknowledged that I am an accessory to plot and made the decision to continue reading.

Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things is the perfect title of this memoir of a woman who struggles with clinical depression, anxiety disorder and a lifelong battle with mental illness. Real issues told in a hilarious truly LOL manner. And I abso-fuckin-lutely loved it!

"I've often thought that people with severe depression have developed such a well for experiencing extreme emotion that they might be able to experience extreme joy in a way that 'normal' people also might never understand, and that's what FURIOUSLY HAPPY is all about. It's about taking those moments when things are fine and making them amazing, because those moments are what make us who we are, and they're the same moments we take into battle with us when our brains declare war on our very existence." ~ xviii

I know all too well about misunderstood disorders. In my experience, very few people want to acknowledge something that cannot be seen. For example, you can't always look at me and know that I am a migraineur. But that doesn't mean I'm not in pain. Depression can't be seen on someone's face but that certainly doesn't mean it is fake. It was refreshing to read a new voice talking about such serious matters and sharing her own real life events. Furthermore, she offered a different way of living life: join the #FuriouslyHappy movement.

Jenny, I know this sounds cliché but you are not alone. There were more than a few essays that I nodded my head and said, "Me too, girl!" So keep waving that "fucked up and proud of it" banner.

Bookhearts, this nonfiction book is for ALL of you. I am sure you or someone you know may benefit from its content. Let us not suffer in the dark or worry about the stigma behind depression. Raise awareness and celebrate life just as you would for a cancer survivor. Start by reading Furiously Happy. I highly suggest book clubs choose Furiously Happy as their May selection since it is a National Mental Illness Awareness Month. I recommend the hardcover edition because the cover is a for sure conversation starter. But inside the spine, brace yourself for some funny ass truths.

Title: Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things
Author: Jenny Lawson
Published: September 2015
Pages: 329
Edition: Hardcover
Challenge: Popsugar Written by a Comedian; Bookish Kill Your TBR—Read Based on the Cover
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥