"It Sucked and then I Cried" Review

It Sucked and then I Cried: How I had a Baby, a Breakdown, and a Much Needed Margarita

By Heather B. Armstrong

9/10

Synopsis:

Told through a combination of narrative and letters to her daughter, It Sucked and then I Cried is the memoir of Heather B. Armstrong.  It begins with her pregnant months and childbirth experience.  While dealing with all the trials and tribulations of new motherhood, she spirals into post partum depression over the course of the next several months.  With the unrelenting support of her husband Jon, she finds herself able to seek the help she needs and commits herself to an inpatient mental health treatment facility.  With the help of her doctor, her medication and the love of her family, she is able to triumph over the disease.  It is the story of love, parenthood, patience, family, change and, of course, nacho cheese Doritos.

My Opinion:

Heather B. Armstrong is the creator of dooce.com, an award-winning personal internet blog and it is easy to see why.  It Sucked and then I Cried is a unique look at pregnancy, motherhood and mental illness.  Ms. Armstrong’s voice is outspoken and very matter-of-fact.  She tells it like it is sparing no one or thing in the process.  She is raw and honest in a way that caught me by surprise.  Reading this book was like sitting down to have coffee with a girlfriend and trading stories.  Her wit is wonderful and her use of language (even the four letter kind) is outstanding.  There were the occasional vignettes that I didn’t quite find a barrel of laughs but the rest of the book is so uproariously funny that those few instances were easy to overlook.  I found myself repeatedly wanting to read passages of the book aloud to my husband.  Ms. Armstrong takes on tough topics that some think of as taboo as though she was chatting away with you in confidence.  Her colorful use of humor throughout the book is extremely entertaining and keeps even the darkest moments from bringing the reader down.  In a world where mental illness is not a readily accepted medical condition, she brings a breath of fresh are to the subject and represents those who have suffered through it well.  Any mom will be able to relate to her saga and will enjoy her humorous outlook on the art of parenting.  I know I did!  9 out of 10!