Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #437405 in Books
• Published on: 2007-03-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Review
"* 'Amy Krouse Rosenthal is a witty, astute observer of modern life in all its baffling guises... What she says about herself and her life makes you laugh, but also makes you think about your own... Encyclopaedia of an Ordinary Life makes you feel glad to be alive.' Viv Groskop, Sunday Express"

Chicago Sun-Times
[Rosenthal] shines her generous light on the seemingly humdrum moments of life... a marvellous memoir.

Synopsis
This work presents Schott's miscellany for the human condition. It offers a unique view of life at the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st centuries - a memoir in the form of an encyclopaedia. A beautiful, poignant and humorous memoir from a startlingly talented young writer, "Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life" recalls the writing of Dave Eggers at its best. Packaged with stunning artwork by Jeffrey Middleton, it is both a gorgeous piece of 21st century art and a scintillating work of literary brilliance. A unique, one-of-a-kind book that breaks all conventions in its creation of a singular voice, "Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life" is the work of a 21st century 'everyperson' - memorable precisely for her studied acceptance of the normality of her life and the sweeping beauty she finds in every corner. Rosenthal's great accomplishment is the narrative thread that develops across the alphabetical landscape the book presents, so that the reader gets a full and rich sense of one woman's life - ordinary, perhaps, but extraordinary in that her observations are so uncannily universal.

Customer Reviews

Brilliant, original and witty
You'll either (a) love this completely and buy copies for all of your friends, or (b) miss the point entirely. Like, I'd hope, about 80% of readers, I'm in camp (a). This description of the author's life is cleverly structured, superbly written, and made me laugh out loud more than anything I've read in years. Oh, and there are more than a few poignant moments too. It's an outstanding book, which deserves immense success.

excellent
I know Amy, but I am totally not being biased when I say that the Encyclopaedia is brilliant, funny, touching, so true! Snapshots of an ordinary life that we can all relate to.
Everyone should read this book and all of Amy's other works (including her children books and my favourite: Little Pea) and offer them to their friends. That's my advice anyhow.

Unique, funny, a must buy
A unique and quite amazing book to give you a new perspective on everyday life. A series of the writer's thoughts on many many topics - birthday, grocery cart, husband, and leaving a tip, to name a few. Very funny, it made me laugh out loud a lot. Well structured, and easy to dip in and out of. Really do recommend you buy it, for yourself and for your friends.