Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Broadway (2005), Paperback, 240 pages
Description
Biography & Autobiography. Nonfiction. Humor (Nonfiction.) HTML:A memoir in bite-size chunks from the author of the viral Modern Love column �You May Want to Marry My Husband.� �[Rosenthal] shines her generous light of humanity on the seemingly humdrum moments of life and shows how delightfully precious they actually are.� �The Chicago Sun-Times How do you conjure a life? Give the truest account of what you saw, felt, learned, loved, strived for? For Amy Krouse Rosenthal, the surprising answer came in the form of an encyclopedia. In Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life she has ingeniously adapted this centuries-old format for conveying knowledge into a poignant, wise, often funny, fully realized memoir. Using mostly short entries organized from A to Z, many of which are cross-referenced, Rosenthal captures in wonderful and episodic detail the moments, observations, and emotions that comprise a contemporary life. Start anywhere�preferably at the beginning�and see how one young woman�s alphabetized existence can open up and define the world in new and unexpected ways. An ordinary life, perhaps, but an extraordinary book.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Yahdley
Instead of bringing a strong lens to the minutia of daily life as I'd hoped, this odd little book fails to transcend mere narcissism. Part memoir, part anecdote, part wisecrack, it never acheives coherence or unifying philosophy; where it seeks to lend insight it frequently just piles up useless
Show More
rubbish of information. As an example, in the 'encyclopedia' section there's an entry for Blush which reads in its entirety: 'I blush easily.' For books like this I'm glad to have Booksfree so I can send it back! Show Less
LibraryThing member Sarahfine
Hard to describe, and often hilariously truthful. The entries in this "Encyclopedia" chronicle the wonders of mundane existence. I was particularly amused by the entry entitled "Sneezing": "Jason sneezes. God Bless You, I say. He sneezes again. God bless you. He sneezes a third time. Bless you, I
Show More
say kinda angrily. He sneezes for the fourth time. Stop it already, I say. It's annoying now. As if he can help it." Show Less
LibraryThing member keely_chace
How do you go about telling your life story in encyclopedia form? Look no further. Rosenthal's quirky approach to autobiography really engaged me and made me care about, for instance, the fact that she likes to wrap her leg around her husband's in bed. I got a picture of a highly original
Show More
individual when I read entries like the one about how she likes to leave change for strangers to find, along with a postcard asking them to tell her how they spent the money. The paradox is that the more Rosenthal let me in on her unique experiences and habits, the more I saw myself in them. She gets universal by being specific, celebrating the kind of ordinary life we all have. Show Less
LibraryThing member paghababian
Very amusing and, at times, heartfelt and melancholy, this book reads like an alphabetical list of Rosenthal's musings. In reality, it is a sharp-witted autobiography, in which she reflects on childhood memories and everyday occurances. This was a fun read, and definitely something I will leaf
Show More
through in the future whenever I need a quick laugh. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookwormteri
I adore this book. It is so random, but so real. I couldn't quite grasp the concept until I picked it up and got into it, so it is kind of hard to explain. This is an encylopedia about a woman who has an ordinary life (duh). I could not put it down. I laughed and enjoyed this book so much that I
Show More
don't think that I have proper words for it. Show Less
LibraryThing member bolshevik
I like this book because it’s a good read and also because it gives me hope for my ideal career path. The author was an advertising copywriter for 11 years before she left the business to become a writer and mother full-time. I’ve always wanted to be a fulltime mother.
This book is, as the
Aside from the format, the book is innovative in other ways. Amy invites people to please find for her a decent description of the moon and post it on her website because, she says, every author describes the moon but none of the descriptions are very good. And for another entry (which I can’t find), she says that she will bake a pie for the 100th person to answer a question. And I believe her. She seems like the kind of person who would do that kind of thing.
This book is, as the
Show More
title suggests, a personal encyclopedia of the author’s fairly ordinary life. She says, on the cover, “I have not survived against all odds. I have not lived to tell. I have not witnessed the extraordinary. This is my story.” The topics are anecdotes, observations, timelines, random thoughts, sometimes hilarious, sometimes very personal and moving, but all very human. The book is a cross section of Amy’s mind, witty and charming and passionate and not at all ordinary. It is also the kind of thinking an advertising person aspires to—concise, insightful human truths. I found myself nodding a lot, thinking “Yeah, that’s true. I do that.” Aside from the format, the book is innovative in other ways. Amy invites people to please find for her a decent description of the moon and post it on her website because, she says, every author describes the moon but none of the descriptions are very good. And for another entry (which I can’t find), she says that she will bake a pie for the 100th person to answer a question. And I believe her. She seems like the kind of person who would do that kind of thing.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Audacity
Just finished reading this surprising and original book/bio/etc. It's definitely something to come back to. Some passages are jarring and insightful, some hilarious, and some completely random. Pick it up for yourself... if you can find it anywhere.
LibraryThing member kristenl
After hearing about this book, I was convinced that I would love it. What a disappointment. Rosenthal compiles an encyclopedia of her life. I think the idea is wonderful, and in the hands of another author (Shannon Hale comes to mind.) might be fascinating. I enjoy reading about the ordinary
Show More
aspects of others lives and find such pieces interesting. However, Rosenthal seems to be trying to validate her life through this book, but fails to find the meaning in the ordinary events that she describes. Show Less
LibraryThing member readaholic12
To each their own. I'm not yet finished with this book, but I already love it, a lot. The author speaks to my quirks and life experience and I cannot overlook the significance of similar birthmarks and our extreme dislike of mint ice cream. I find this encyclopedia to be very interesting and
Show More
amusing, and only wish I had thought of it first. And maybe that it wasn't so short. I'm trying to pace myself, but I'm running out of alphabet. Show Less
LibraryThing member detailmuse
Take the curious and meaningful moments of a life, assign a keyword to each, and organize them alphabetically by keyword -- encyclopedia-style. The result is the thoroughly original Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life, a collection of insightful, clever, funny and tender observations.
For example:
CREAM
I love any kind of cream sauce. My mother hates cream sauce but craved it when she was pregnant with me.
Notice where your thoughts are now ... on the contradiction and coincidence, yes? Or on yourself and your own mother? That's Amy Krouse Rosenthal at work, turning her ordinary life into something universal and engaging for readers. A thoroughly enjoyable memoir!
For example:
CREAM
Show More
SAUCEI love any kind of cream sauce. My mother hates cream sauce but craved it when she was pregnant with me.
Notice where your thoughts are now ... on the contradiction and coincidence, yes? Or on yourself and your own mother? That's Amy Krouse Rosenthal at work, turning her ordinary life into something universal and engaging for readers. A thoroughly enjoyable memoir!
Show Less
LibraryThing member KatKealy
GREAT intro. Don't buy the book or take it home from the library. Read the intro; it's the only good part of the book. There are some other minor high points throughout, but it's not worth reading the whole thing to get to those parts.
LibraryThing member BlackSheepDances
I'm all for random thoughts and the often brilliant little flashes that may strike us now and then, but this collection is too ordinary. Nothing knocked me out and some of it was just a waste of paper and time.
LibraryThing member campingmomma
I really enjoyed this book, though it is most definately odd. For example, under the letter D, Doing Something, "It is so much easier to not do something than to do something. Even the smallest task like...putting away the butter, requires time, focus, and follow-through." That just resonated with
This is not a fiction book to read before bed. I took it on a bus trip and it was perfect for that b/c the short little paragraphed sections allowed me to put it down at a moments notice and easily recall where I left off without feeling like I must get to the end of the chapter before closing the book.
The book partially titled "...Ordinary Life", so yes most of it was just normal, everday, ordinary observations. That's what makes it easy to connect with.
Show More
me. I can be having a lazy day and realize I didn't put the butter away. What's the worst that can happen? It will melt and I'll waste 68 cents and will have to put more effort into cleaning it up later. I get up and put the butter away. She's right it does require time, focus, effort and follow-through. This is not a fiction book to read before bed. I took it on a bus trip and it was perfect for that b/c the short little paragraphed sections allowed me to put it down at a moments notice and easily recall where I left off without feeling like I must get to the end of the chapter before closing the book.
The book partially titled "...Ordinary Life", so yes most of it was just normal, everday, ordinary observations. That's what makes it easy to connect with.
Show Less
LibraryThing member cathinpa
If I were married with children, living in Chicago, Jewish, and author of this book, I would say Rosenthal and I were the same person. I have never felt such a kindred spirit with an author before. LOVE THIS BOOK.
LibraryThing member BrianaJae
I loved it. It is a memoir of sorts. It is a bunch of random thoughts about life, organized alphabetically. I love memoirs of normal people more than anything. Biographies of famous people are fine, but I love finding things I can connect with. This is a quick read, and a fun one.
LibraryThing member ursula
Some insightful moments, some funny, some sweet, some easy to relate to, but overall not much substance. Interesting interactive aspects with the website, but as a book not very engrossing.
LibraryThing member shelleyraec
Gas TankEvery Single Solitary Time I go to get gas I have to lean out the window to see which side the tank is on. - Amy Krouse Rosenthal and me too!I finally got to read it -quick and easy in about 2 hours or so. I liked it - it was quirky and random and I found myself nodding or laughing or
Show More
thinking me too during a lot of the entries (that may say something about me though) I have a lot of random thoughts but i rarely share them - in fact I never bothered getting a blog because my blog would probably read something like this book - dissconnected randomness and who would be interested? Turns out someone could be. Maybe its a perfect way to write about me.I embrace the ordinary-ess - and perhaps because I have just read several very serious/involving books in a row it was a relief.Life is as often made up of random everyday more than crisis and epiphanies.3.5 stars Show Less
LibraryThing member mawls
This clever book takes you through the life of the author bit by bit. I'm not sure if I loved it because I found myself relating to many of her life experiences/thoughts/feelings or simply because it was entertaining and a joy to read.
I also love finding books that have unconventional formats.
I also love finding books that have unconventional formats.
LibraryThing member cait815
I really enjoyed this book. I could relate to much of what the author wrote about and, on multiple occasions, would read an entry that brought some long forgotten memory of mine to the surface (and a smile to my face).
LibraryThing member vlcraven
Finally, a memoir of a person who wasn’t abused or had a drug dependency. And it’s laid out like you think of your life—in bits and bobs and charts and lists, random associations and the happy and sad moments. I feel I know more about her from reading this relatively short book of snippets of
Show More
her life than I would from reading an exhaustive memoir about every moment of her life. Show Less
LibraryThing member dawsong
Rosenthal, Amy Krouse
Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life
Nonfiction
Rejected by publishers for being too random or too hard to pigeonhole, Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life finally found a publisher, giving us the opportunity to enjoy a truly original memoir. This nonlinear sift through the minutiae of a
Recommended February 2011
Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life
Nonfiction
Rejected by publishers for being too random or too hard to pigeonhole, Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life finally found a publisher, giving us the opportunity to enjoy a truly original memoir. This nonlinear sift through the minutiae of a
Show More
life will have you asking, "Why didn't I think of this?" Your mind will love connecting the entries, which add together to become the author's story, at the same time you pick and choose entries that fit the encyclopedia of you.Recommended February 2011
Show Less
LibraryThing member klburnside
I finished reading this a couple weeks ago, and wish I'd written the review sooner. I too have been having a lot of trouble finishing a book, and this was the perfect solution. I love when authors can capture the wierd little daily thoughts that go on in people's heads, but are never really talked
Show More
about, not because they are embarrasing or anything, but because the thoughts seem dull and inconsequential. This book brought those thoughts to life and made ordinary life more lovely and interesting. Show Less
LibraryThing member froxgirl
This well-intentioned book reminds me of a day at an amusement park: big anticipation and fun at the beginning, but massive overkill and compelling urge to JUST GET IT OVER WITH by the end. The concept is brilliant: instead of essays, share all your thoughts about everything (and Rosenthal is
There's plenty of material to bookmark here, and it's a great read until the thrill is gone. Example: under the "Busy" heading, she wonders all that "nothing" in response to your parents' questions about what happened to you that day, versus how busy everyone is now, as we "skitter about like hyperactive gerbils, high on productivity, the joy of doing, accomplishing, crossing off".
And a bunch more like that. So, sure, read this, but maybe limit your visits and make them short rather than going from start to finish with no break.
Show More
pretty damn funny) in the form of an encyclopedia. Even the subject headings themselves are entertaining, and for the reader, the content varies from "oh, yeah, that is SO TRUE, hahahaha" to "Seriously? Who cares?". Actually, just like it would if you were Amy's friend and spent a lot of time talking to her. There's plenty of material to bookmark here, and it's a great read until the thrill is gone. Example: under the "Busy" heading, she wonders all that "nothing" in response to your parents' questions about what happened to you that day, versus how busy everyone is now, as we "skitter about like hyperactive gerbils, high on productivity, the joy of doing, accomplishing, crossing off".
And a bunch more like that. So, sure, read this, but maybe limit your visits and make them short rather than going from start to finish with no break.
Show Less
LibraryThing member AliceaP
Not very long ago, I saw an article that had gone viral about a woman who knew that she was going to die and she wanted to make sure that her husband found someone (it was like a dating profile but way better). The author was one that somehow hadn't made it onto my radar before this time and I
Show More
couldn't help feeling thankful that I had found her even though it was under very tragic circumstances. You might have guessed who I was talking about at this point but just in case it was Amy Krouse Rosenthal and the article I'm talking about can be found here. Ten days after the article was published she passed away. It turns out that not only was she a prolific writer of children's books but she also wrote for adults. I thought I'd start with one of her well-known adult nonfiction pieces called Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life. It's somewhere between a memoir which depicts a slice of Rosenthal's life and a quirky encyclopedia. It's one of the most unique books that I've ever read and after doing some research into the author that seems to adequately describe her. She took the events and circumstances of the year in which she wrote the book to record alphabetically (as one would do in an encyclopedia) different aspects of herself (and the world around her somewhat). For example, under the letter J you would find information about her husband, Jason, with a "See Also Husband" at the end of the entry. It was a lot of fun to dip in and out of it and learn about this totally singular individual. It's a shame that I'm late to the game discovering Amy's work but I am certainly glad that I've found her now. 9/10 Show Less
LibraryThing member flydodofly
Very creative in format and in general, this (scrap)book offers a light and gentle, humorous view of life as a collection of many seemingly only subjectively important and interesting details, which, surely, many can relate to. It is almost zen-like in its positive, unassuming ways and chosen
Show More
topics which range from... well, why not a-z? Obviously, some of the reference is lost to readers from cultures that are different to the one of the writer, but the general message is the same: we are all just people, life is a wonderful, subjective and unique experience and don't sweat the small stuff/it's all small stuff(unless you make it big). Show Less
Original publication date
2005-01-25
Physical description
240 p.; 8.36 inches
ISBN
1400080460 / 9781400080465