Irb Media: Summary of Jennette Mccurdy's I'm Glad My Mom Died (2022, IRB MEDIA)
English language
Published Dec. 20, 2022 by IRB MEDIA.
Ends more abruptly than I’d have hoped, but tells an important traumatic story with a unique, relatable voice that offers subtle assurance that Jennette will, in fact, survive the tragedy. Her mother is a truly horrifying personality, presented from a perspective that reminds me of The Florida Project in how the childish innocence makes the atrocity even more heartbreaking.
[This was originally posted to Audible's page - I've listened to the audiobook for this one]
I see lots of complaints about the author’s performance for this audiobook. Is it sterile and lacking in nuance? Sure, but I think it also kind of fits the book. Can’t imagine Jennette McCurdy was thrilled in doing this. Her detached voice matches the emotional detachment one has when confronting a life of trauma. Hearing her voice breaks when her dawing revelation happens at the end breaks my heart. The writing is stiff and somewhat direct; once again something I would expect from someone who spent their whole life shutting up their own emotions for the benefit of others. It’s a poignant read that has the potential to spark a lot of relevant debate at the familial and community level. Jennette is glad her mom is dead and so am I, but I’m also …
[This was originally posted to Audible's page - I've listened to the audiobook for this one]
I see lots of complaints about the author’s performance for this audiobook. Is it sterile and lacking in nuance? Sure, but I think it also kind of fits the book. Can’t imagine Jennette McCurdy was thrilled in doing this. Her detached voice matches the emotional detachment one has when confronting a life of trauma. Hearing her voice breaks when her dawing revelation happens at the end breaks my heart. The writing is stiff and somewhat direct; once again something I would expect from someone who spent their whole life shutting up their own emotions for the benefit of others. It’s a poignant read that has the potential to spark a lot of relevant debate at the familial and community level. Jennette is glad her mom is dead and so am I, but I’m also glad she wrote this book.
A truly candid and authentic look into the nature of the mother-daughter bond in abusive contexts. Going into this book I was uncertain how "reformed" the content would be to avoid harsh criticism. I'm happy to say my concerns were completely invalidated.
McCurdy does brilliantly at portraying what it's like for a mother to impose her dreams upon a child. She describes the pressure and anxiety of it all whilst also putting emphasis on how she felt devoted to her mother. It's all very well written in the sense that it is a natural telling of how she got to where she is today.
5/5
This is one of the few autobiographical works that I have read and genuinely appreciated.
