Falling Into Manholes: The Memoir of a Bad/Good Girl: Merrill, Wendy: Amazon.com: Books

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Falling Into Manholes: The Memoir of a Bad/Good Girl Paperback – Bargain Price, March 3, 2009

by Wendy Merrill (Author)

21 ratings

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Wendy Merrill is in recovery from...just about everything. Alcoholism, anorexia, you name it, she's battled it. And as far as men, well, it might have been an early warning sign when she took a college class called Dating and Marriage and got an F.

On the surface, she was a good girl, determined to excel. Secretly she was looking for love in all the wrong places-from strangers' beds to barstools- and falling into manholes every step of the way. With honesty, humor, and style, Merrill explores relationships, self-esteem (and the lack thereof), and going to any lengths to discover what truly matters.

Print length

288 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Berkley Trade
Publication date

March 3, 2009
Reading age

18 years and up
Dimensions

5.12 x 0.77 x 8 inches
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Merrill...reveals her constant struggles with life, love, and addiction in this absolutely hilarious memoir."
-Library Journal

"A deft touch and a wry sense of humor."
-San Francisco Chronicle

"A wonderful new voice."
-Anne Lamott

"One of the funniest, wisest writers ever to take on the subjects of love, loss, and hope."
-Linda Ellerbee

"I loved Falling into Manholes."
-Marian Keyes

"Women, whether they can relate to some or all of the 'manholes' Merrill has fallen into, will especially be drawn to this sharp memoir."
-Booklist

About the Author

Wendy Merrill runs a marketing communications company in Sausalito, California.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B005M4O26W
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley Trade; Reprint edition (March 3, 2009)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.12 x 0.77 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #7,216,036 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #37,503 in Deals in Books
- #54,601 in Women's Biographies
- #168,446 in Memoirs (Books)

Customer Reviews:
21 ratings

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Wendy Merrill

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Wendy Merrill was the tall scrawny late bloomer on the sidelines of the seventh grade dance who turned into the sweet-sixteen-never- been-kissed good girl yearning to be bad. Ph.D.s were the norm in her family, yet she aspired to be comfortable on any barstool in the world. In college, she took a class called "Dating and Marriage" -- and got an F. Wendy has spent a lifetime conducting undercover operations in the arena of dating and mating, earning her a rich body of data. As a recovering love addict, codependent, and alcoholic, Wendy explores the contradictions of being a woman, and writes about her imperfections with honesty, humor and style in her embarrassing honest best selling book, Falling into Manholes: The Memoir of a Bad/Good Girl (Putnam 2008). The Library Journal review raved "...Merrill reveals her constant struggles with life, love, and addiction in this absolutely hilarious memoir," and Anne Lamott remarks "Wendy M. is a wonderful new voice--smart, funny and wildly real."

Customer reviews

5 star		59%
4 star		16%
3 star		17%
2 star 0% (0%)		0%
1 star		8%

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Top reviews from the United States

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What it was like, What happened and What it is like now

Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2012

Verified Purchase

For anyone that has ever been in a recovery program, this book is like listening to a great speaker at an AA meeting, that shares the dirtiest of details from their "former" life. Some would say "drunk-a-log", but I relate to so much of what the author shares; the incredibly bad choices in men and the denial that goes with it...and that it doesn't necessarily get better just because we stop drinking/using. She is funny, insightful and articulate; someone that I would love to meet and have coffee with--I know we would laugh until we cried. A great read, especially for women. Men may be afraid to read it, or give poor reviews, because they might relate too much to the AS***** she dated and get more of a reality check than they can handle! I love this book and I hope to hear Wendy speak some day!

One person found this helpful

Thank you for courage and commitment!

Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2014

Verified Purchase

I read Wendy Merrill's book a few years ago and purchased a couple online to give to young women with similar struggles with men, eating disorders, and alcoholism. They are very pleased with her wit, sense of humor, and authenticity in communicating her journey and developed sense of self. Bravo Wendy for your courage and commitment!

Wonderful! it brought tears to my eyes. Happy ones.

Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2014

Verified Purchase

This book takes a real look at addiction, love, and self-esteem. Wendy's words bring me hope for myself and compassion for others who might be suffering. Thank you for baring your soul. It's beautiful!

Tell it like it is.

the truth about men and women

Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2011

Verified Purchase

Great book! Hard to read at times yet the author can also make us laugh hysterically. Thanks for a good read! Recommend!!

Falling Into Manholes

Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2011

Verified Purchase

Wendy does an incredible job of presenting the insanity of alcoholism and codependency. What a beautiful read. Her writing skills allowed me to really "feel" her pain and suffering...and finally her awareness to change. I loved the book!

Very funny and deeply spiritual (in its own way)

Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2008

Verified Purchase

I've just finished reading Ms. Merrill's new book, and found that I can relate to almost everything she's gone through. Thank you for making what must have been mightmare experiences into an honest (and very funny) narrative, and also showing us that it is possible to recover from almost anything.

2 people found this helpful

Looking for the humor but maybe I'm the wrong audience

Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2013

Verified Purchase

Though so many of us have body issues, I can't really relate to hers. I've only gotten thru about 2 chapters and I'm having a hard time making time to pick it up again. Too many other things more enjoyable to do or read.

One person found this helpful

For all the recovering good girls out there

Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2008

In her funny yet frank memoir, Wendy Merrill charts her path from good girl to one utterly out of control. Eating disorders, drinking, and codependency started to rule her life, and as a reader, you're hard pressed to decide which makes her the most out of control. For me, it was reading about her lending her boyfriend money, which soon became more money, that I just cringed for her. A part of me was thinking, "Why would an otherwise smart woman hand over her livelihood to some guy who clearly doesn't know what he's doing?" and yet Merrill not only makes you understand, I realized that I was so horrified precisely because in the same situation, I'd very likely do the same thing.

When she goes through a codepedency (in her terminology, codeMENdency) checklist and hits pretty much every mark. It's horrifying that this went as far as $100,000 (yes, really), but even though you can see what's coming, you're with her. Merrill takes us everywhere from San Quentin to a sex and love addiction meeting, through various ill-fated affairs and many, many puns. The puns get a little corny by the end, but the book culminates with a powerful AA meeting where Merrill shows that she has learned from all she's been through.

His isn't your typical recovery memoir, and Merrill's humor is at times a little too much, yet it's clearly her coping strategy. Kudos to her for bravely flexing her funny bone and detailing parts of her life that can't have been easy to relive. There were parts I could relate to from personal experience and others that even if I've never lived through something like it, I get it, because the pressures on so many women to be "good girls" to the exclusion of all else are tremendous and ridiculous. Any person who's ever felt that same pressure to be that mythological "perfect" will find something to relate to here.

2 people found this helpful

Top reviews from other countries

J

Riveting and hilarious!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 4, 2014

Verified Purchase

A great read by an articulate and cleverly satirical lady. It enhances one's read to see, from the back cover, how beautiful she is.

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