Customer Reviews

All New People

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Anne Lamott is an incredible essayist; her witty observations and naked divulgences make me want to call her up and ask her to be my best friend. I am, therefore, sad to admit that I don't feel fiction is the best mode for her to showcase her talent. In general, I feel her plots are often somewhat weak and her characterizations are uneven. However, I think she hits the mark more in All New People than in any of her other novels that I have, as yet, read. She remembers so clearly how she felt as a teenager, and expresses it in a wonderfully readable, and sometimes hilarious, way. The entire family was well-drawn in this book, particularly the relationship between the brother and sister. I could relate to a lot of it, and have already re-read it once.

I think that Anne Lamott is one of the most amazing writers of our time! I have read everything she has ever written, both fiction and non-fiction and have always eagerly awaited her next book! I only wish that Oprah would discover her and then the rest of the world can find out what they have been missing! I know Anne has a devoted, loyal following but she deserves to be a best-selling author! All New People was the first book of Anne's that I read and I discovered it completely by accident when I picked it up in the bookstore one day. Her characters are so real and funny and ALL of her books ALWAYS make me laugh and cry! I feel as if I know her characters and her as well. I have recommended her books to all the readers I know and I hope EVERYONE reads her books someday! Anne,your books are wonderful !

I've read all Lamott's nonfiction and fallen in love with her wit, honesty, and spiritual searching. I approached this first fictional experience wondering if her personality and style would show through. The answer: Yes.

I couldn't help but feel I was reading one of Lamott's nonfiction pieces, actually recognizing characters, quotes, and anecdotes from her own life. This is inevitable in any fiction, I suppose, but Anne's style is so unique and strong that it was somewhat distracting to me.

I do intend to try another of her fictional works--I'll read anything of hers I can get my hands on. She is poignant without being melodramatic, funny without being insulting. I love Lamott's writing; in general, though, I think I prefer to read her real life experiences.

This book is somewhat different than Lamott's other work, but I still enjoyed it thoroughly. It is about a girl named Nanny and her family and the sixties. It reads like a memoir, and my guess is it has very much basis in the reality that is the author's life. The narration has a very stream-of-consciousness feel to it, and covers a lot for such a quick read. I loved the way of storytelling--Nanny tells the story straight through the emotional center of the things that happen. Anyone who ever had a childhood will enjoy everything in this book. Even if that childhood wasn't in the sixties.

For the legions of Anne Lamott fans out there (I'm one of them), this is the novel to avoid. It is a maddeningly self-conscious attempt at serious fiction. At times I felt like I was sitting through the first draft of a talented but misguided novelist. Lamott (and her editors) should trust her brilliant wit and insight and leave serious novels to others. Like Woody Allen,another brilliant comic, Anne Lamott seems to occasionally want to prove that she can be taken seriously. This book, while funny at times, reminded me of Allen's attempts at serious, Bergman-like films. The viewer (and in Lamott's case, reader) is left feeling almost betrayed by the about-face.

The book was very similar to Lamotts Travelin Mercies....only fictionalzed. It was sad and sweet and in some parts you were left kind of hanging...not sure what was meant or felt. Then again, Anne Lamott does that to you. She challenges you to branch out in your way of thinking. It was a good read.

When I read this book I was left feeling so much clearer on my own childhood and teenage years. Anne Lammot continues to shine, I am a very big fan of her writing, both fiction and non-fiction.

Having read this novel originally when I was about eleven years old, I felt compassion for the young character who tells the story and throroughly enjoyed the entire text. However, it may throw some for a loop that Annie works the way she does in this book-- it seems that this is the one novel that is told in a different fashion and it may be hard for Annie-fans to accept this. Nevertheless, it is a great read, as is Joe Jones (I reread it this summer... it is so good) which I hope is also released eventually.

I found this book by one of my favorite authors enjoyable up to a point.

Reading her non-fiction, it becomes clear that this is a highly autobiographical evocation of her home town. And she evokes all over the place, often beautifully. But as a novel, it doesn't hang together. It's essentially plotless, often confusing, as she tells the stories of 2 generations from multiple points of view. Anne was not skilled enough at this point of her career to pull it off.

A must for Lamott lovers, but hard to recommend for a general audience.

Where is my elephant gun? Pay absolutely no attention to anyone who claims this isn't up to Lamott par. All New People is not just a brilliant read, it is a superlative re-read. I am so relieved I can now lend out my dog-eared second-hand copy and purchase a new one for my shelves. Fans of Lamott rejoice...now all we need is a re-release of Joe Jones...