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Once I Was Cool: Personal Essays (2014)

by Megan Stielstra(Favorite Author)

4.4 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

194043002X (ISBN13: 9781940430027)

languge

English

genre

Memoir & Autobiography

publisher

Curbside Splendor Publishing

review 1: In the interest of honesty, Megan and I are colleagues and friends -- though, if we were strangers, I'd still tell you this woman has writing chops. The essays in Once I Was Cool can be a deceptively quick read. They pull you in. They're funny, disarmingly frank, and then, damn it, you have to rethink that assumption you've carried around in your grumpy heart, because she's slipped a point in there and, try as you might, you can't ignore it. One essay, for instance, will cut my road rage use of the Chicago wave (some of you call this "flippin' the bird") by about half, maybe more, as I try to be kinder -- because of Megan's ink. I see myself rereading this book seasonally as a spiritual practice, because, as Kafka tells us, "A book must be the axe for the frozen sea within... more us," and Once I Was Cool fills that desperate ache.
review 2: I really don't read v. many essay collections but I would if they all promised to be as good as this one. This book of essays makes me wanna read more essays and makes me wanna write my own, which is a big deal for me. Reading this book felt like the best parts of honest late-night conversations. "Channel B" was just so good. I'm a mama and a writer too, so I esp. loved the mama stuff. And also, all of it. I loved "Who Wants the Shot" and "82 Degrees" and "Dragons So Huge." Also, all of them. I loved "NICE." I laughed out loud @ "Those Who Were There." I underlined things and starred things and teared up at things b/c of feelings. Beautiful collection. Collection, I love you. less

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