Customer Reviews

The Purse-Driven Life: It Really Is All about Me

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

That's the approach Anita Renfroe takes in The Purse-Driven Life--to take ourselves a little less seriously and the God who created us a little more seriously. I laughed out loud all the way through this fun book that provides hilarious takes on the various much-too-heavy baggage we women can carry--from, yes, our purses to our makeup and more. In the end I was reminded that the "Hot Now" sign is on for me--and not just the Krispy Kreme one. Get several for your purse-driven friends.

I've always known that Anita Renfroe is a funny lady, but now I know she can be just as funny in writing. The Purse-Driven Life is a hoot. My plane was delayed after getting a copy of this book and thanks to Anita's hysterical observations I didn't mind at all. What I love about this book is that it's proof positive that God not only has a sense of humor but that he also loves for us to use that humor. The Purse-Driven Life is filled with issues that all women can understand. It's also filled with reminders of how much God loves us. I've already recommended this book to lots of ladies when I speak to women's groups and will continue to do so. This is Anita's first book and hopefully the first of many.

I love the title of this book. The first time I saw it I laughed out loud. Its a play on the title of that runaway bestseller "The Purpose Driven Life." I expected to like this book and wanted to like it.

Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book like I hoped I would. I enjoyed the introduction, chapter 1, chapter 2, the part about purses and their role in our lives (very true). By chapter 3, it was getting on my nerves. Have you ever been around someone who cracked jokes constantly, alot of bad jokes, who just wouldn't shut up? Its like they are very witty and funny to begin with, but after awhile - enough already. That's how this book affected me. This book is just one joke or one-liner after another. And some of the things she jokes about are, in my opinion - I hate to say it - just plain stupid.

I couldn't finish reading this book, but I still love the title.

Anita is my kind of gal: Life is short, buy the shoes. This book is full of wit and wisdom from one of the most authentic and funny women I've ever met (in an elevator yet). My favorite chapter: Hook a sistah up! All about girlfriends and how we love to think out loud. "They give me gravity," she writes, "because they know my faults, weaknesses, my issues, my stubbornness, and my wierdness." The truest test of friendship is "historical shorthand," how much you don't have to say in order to get an idea across. So true. She reminds us how much we need our gal pals.

My only complaint: I'm not one of her Beach Girls. We all need Beach Therapy Weekends where we can be real with each other. It's an essential.

This book is all about real life. It's not about your "stuff," or your past, or your fears, not what you've done or not done. It's about being real with Jesus, no matter what. With him we having nothing to prove, nothing to hide. That's real freedom.

You'll read this book over and over.

This is certainly not a "read before bed" book. You'll be laughing so hard, you'll want to call your mother, sister or best friend to share the humorous, laugh-til-you-cry truths throughout the book. You read your own womanly frustrations interpreted from Anita's honest, humorous, and insightful point of view. Women from 20-80 will enjoy Anita's clean comedy. The best part is sharing the laughter with other women in your life(men won't get it). My copy has been passed around the country to mom, grandma, aunts, sisters, in-laws, friends, and friends of friends alike. You'll be sorry when you finish reading, but...good news, she has more outrageous, fabulous books available!

Well, thankfully this is an easy read, but I'm with the reviewer who said he/she enjoyed it up to about Chapter 3, when the jokes started to get tedious. I guess I'm not your "typical female," because I don't have many women friends and I'm quite okay with it, so a little of the chick stuff went a long way. As for spiritual value, there is a lot of merit to seeing the lighter, brighter side of life/rejoicing in the Lord and Ms. Renfroe certainly achieves this, though without any spiritual insights I could really come away with. It's just that if and when I find the time to read, I want it to be a tad bit more meaningful (deeper?), and I don't think every woman over forty is a saggy, baggy, hot-flashy mess in denial that needs to be laughed at. She makes it sound like life is over or swiftly declining, and at 44 mine has just begun and I hope that with striving, not giving up and merely accepting and laughing at my shortcomings, I will be fitter mentally and physically at 70 than I ever was. Suffice it to say I guess this just wasn't the book for me.

I picked this book up after seeing Anita at the Women of Faith conference this year...my girlfriend grabbed it to read first, told me it was a must read! Well, she was right - laugh out loud funny and a lot of fun to share with others. I read some excerpts at a ladies tea at church today - I had 3 women come up to me afterwards and request my copy!! I am on Amazon buying them their own right now! Anita really knows how to remind us that God wants us to find joy in everything - even the tough days of our lives. I hope you buy one for yourself and a friend that needs a good, clean laugh.

I have already pre-ordered the next one, "A purse driven Christmas...So what did you get me?!" The title alone makes me smile!
This book is a real treat. It made me laugh and made me cry. I recommend it for anyone whose spirit needs a lift! God Bless you Anita Renfroe.

I saw Anita "live" which was a big motivator to me to purchase the book at the event. Laugh out loud humor. I'm a hard person to please in the laughter department. Anita brings it out in me and helps my relationship grow with Christ. Christ meant for us to laugh and he has gifted Anita. I read in the morning and her descriptions gave me such a visual. What fun. I lead a book club and we are including her latest "If Its Not One Thing, Its Your Mother" for one of our monthly reads. Keep writing and doing what you're doing Anita. Love it.

This book is fun! I have sent it to my sister and given as a gift. Everyone enjoys it. In the middle of the silliness I realized that this is what is missing..pure laughter and joy after the valleys of life. How good it feels to smile at all the circumstances we get ourselves into. Buy it!! and laugh again.