I have a friend named Jennie who wrote a book. And then she published that book. Then we all clamored to get the book because our friend Jennie wrote it. A few of us jumped a the chance to review it before we even read it.
As soon as my copy showed up and I held it in my hands, my stomach turned over.
I love Jennie. What if I don’t love her book?
Then I told myself that I was being silly. After all, I love to read her writing on her blog, so why wouldn’t I like this?
I’ve read books written by bloggers before and to be honest, I thought it was going to read like a collection of blog posts (like the other ones did). I was a little nervous. I didn’t think a memoir should read like a blog.
My worry was for nothing. Jennie’s book is a book, not a blog, not a collection of blog posts.
I was captivated from the very first chapter where Jennie describes her time as a study abroad student in France. The detail she uses is rich and lovely and takes you with her to each place she lived: France, Asia, Africa, New York City. I’ve only ever been to NYC, but I feel like I’ve been to the other places now. Or at least in my head I have been there.