“Let’s Pretend This Never Happened” by Jenny Lawson – Finding the Rainbow in the Dark

Let’s admit it, when we were kids most of us only wanted to be normal and fit in with the majority and nothing else; being on the outside of social circles was considered to be the mother of all failures. However, as we grow up we start to realize that being normal is just an illusion created by a large number of people; in the end, there are more of us who don’t fit in than we realize.

That’s something Jenny Lawson learned a bit later in her eccentric life, though it seems it was all for the best as her experiences gave us the delightful little book that is Let’s Pretend This Never Happened. 

Basically, the book is a chronicle of Jenny Lawson’s life, focusing on the weird, disturbing, shameful and dark moments of her life more than anything else. Though she does provide plenty of examples and details about herself, she also leaves certain things for the reader to decide; in other words, she paints the picture, and we can connect the dots if we feel like it.

The book starts, as most autobiographies do, with an exploration of Jenny’s childhood, how her quest for normalcy was short-circuited by her eccentric and somewhat unbalanced father (don’t worry, it’s not in a bad way). She keeps on going in chronological order, imparting on us the bits of wisdom she has come to learn, finishing at the present day with her most important revelation: the hard moments we go through are what truly defines us.

Though there are a few times when the book feels a tad forced and even borderline dishonest, I have to say that on the whole it was a very enjoyable read about a person who always chose to go against the grain and forge her way through life. 

Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson (Book cover)
We seldom hear these types of people, the ones who are best-described as lone and eccentric wolves, and Jenny takes full advantage of that, dedicating certain parts of the book to strongly-voiced opinions. Some of them are funnier than others, but in the end it shows that Lawson is trying to demonstrate that life is full of wonders, silver linings, and important issues that deserve our consideration. 

Though it may not be the best autobiography I've read, it sure is uplifting to read about the true life of a social misfit who found her calling and manage to keep her head above water only thanks to her family and perspective on life. Definitely worth a read if you are looking to explore the human nature, or if you think you are having a bad day.

Jenny Lawson (Author)

Jenny Lawson


Jenny Lawson is an American journalist and author residing in Texas and a graduate from its Angelo State University. She is a blogger, being the author of The Bloggess and Ill Advised blogs, co-author of Good Mom/Bad Mom on the Houston Chronicle, not a mention a SexIs Magazine columnist.

Here autobiography, titled Let's Pretend This Never Happened, became the number one New York times bestseller on May 6th, 2012.



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