Stories About the 12 Hardest Things I'm Learning to Say

What a beautiful, poignant and moving book. Reading this book is like sitting down with a good friend and chatting over lunch. She’s the friend who can say what's in your heart but expresses it so much better. She conveys these 12 phrases through offering us glimpses into her own life. One minute she's telling you how she went ballistic over a toilet that wasn't flushed (by the way, if you ever find yourself at Kelly's house don't let the dog lick you ?), and the next minute she's breaking your heart over the deaths of her beloved father and one of her best friends.

As I read, I nodded in recognition, I laughed, and I cried. I'm not talking about my eyes welling up with tears, I'm talking actual tears running down my face. Kelly Corrigan has such a gift with words, of using just the right ones to convey exactly what she means to say, words that often pierce your heart. She’s funny, relatable and honest. She is self-deprecating, and doesn’t shy away from owning up to her less than desirable qualities, the mistakes she’s made along the way, and what she learned from them. And what a storyteller she is. She doesn't offer up magical solutions, she's learning right along with the rest of us.

I received an e-galley of this book from Netgalley but will be purchasing a hard copy for myself to keep by my bed and dip into from time to time. It would make an excellent gift for any woman in your life.

Ms. Corrigan is one of the most selfish, non-empathetic people I've ever met. Her writing and thoughts are from a place of privilege and define "rich white people problems" This women has had a free ride, and admits to being unable to deal with life and in such a monumental way, I find her essays childish in their complete abdication of responsibility and total lack of insight into her own behavior. Did she really think her family not flushing the toilet was something interesting about which to read? I found this book sad and vile.

(Full Disclosure: I received a free eGalley of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review).

In some ways, I don’t understand how Corrigan has so much awesome material going on in her life to keep coming out with memoirs, but then I realize it’s not that her life is necessarily more exciting than anyone else’s; its just that she knows how to write about it in an appealing way. I love the concept of this book in that Kelly took 12 phrases she’s trying to learn to say that are difficult for many of us (like “no,” “good enough,” “I love you,” etc.) and writes a chapter on each. There’s definitely a heavy focus on loss and parenthood (two things I don’t have much experience with) and some chapters were more engaging than others, but overall, I loved reading about Corrigan’s life experiences and found ways to relate to many of them. And the chapter in which she shares a letter she wrote to her friend on the anniversary of her death had me in serious tears.

I hope Corrigan keeps coming out with memoirs because I will keep reading them!

[4.5 stars]

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley.

I absolutely adored (it’s my favorite 2018 release I’ve read so far!) this memoir that spoke to me in a “yes, that’s exactly how it is” way. She kicks things off with an essay that will touch the conflicted hearts of overtaxed moms everywhere and moves on to cover many big life issues (marriage, motherhood, illness, religion, friendship, grief, and loss) in a relatable and irreverently funny way. And, the second to last essay might even make you cry.

Corrigan is a welcome addition to my “women who get women” club (current members include Anna Quindlen, Ann Patchett, and Cheryl Strayed) and I’d highly recommend Tell Me More to anyone who loved Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake or This is the Story of a Happy Marriage.

Check out my blog, Sarah's Book Shelves, for more reviews.

In Kelly Corrigan's "Tell Me More," the author shares vignettes about her life, and imparts lessons she has learned about communication, responsibility, and empathy. In her younger years, she drank and smoked too much, was fired from several jobs, shoplifted, was suspended from school, and racked up six thousand dollars in debt. Throughout it all, her dad was her champion, assuring her that she would become a mature and productive member of society. It took a while, but Corrigan eventually earned a master's degree in English literature, held down a good job, married the easygoing Edward Lichty, and became the mother of two daughters, Georgia and Claire.

Fifty-year-old Kelly Corrigan is candid, hilarious, self-deprecating, and wise. Readers will relate to Corrigan, who shouts her imperfections from the rooftops. She calls herself "a fed-up, put-out sourpuss," melts down over minor mishaps, has "vigilante tendencies," failed to visit her aged grandmother as often as she should have, and screams profanities when she is upset. On the other hand, she was a good friend when her pal, Liz, suffered through debilitating cancer treatments. In addition, she devotedly took care of her father during his final days. Kelly can be a Dr. Jekyll or Mrs. Hyde, a Mother Teresa or a shrieking harridan (depending on the circumstances), but she acknowledges her failings and resolves to correct them.

The takeaways from this breezy, high-energy, and absorbing book are: We should listen more attentively and talk less; admit it when we're wrong; settle for "good enough" rather than demand perfection; know when to say "no," "yes," or nothing at all; and tell the ones we love how much they mean to us. Corrigan writes from the heart with humor, insight, wit, and pizazz. She may be a mess at times (aren't we all?), but she owns up to her shortcomings and advises us how to live with ours. When we hit bumps in the road, it is sometimes difficult to regroup. As a really smart fellow once told Kelly, "We'd really be in trouble if we gave up on change or the potential for growth." Corrigan suggests that we adopt ways of thinking and behaving that will help us feel better about ourselves, strengthen our interpersonal relationships, and enable us to navigate life's pitfalls with a semblance of grace.

Since I had read Kelly Corrigan's previous two books, I was looking forward to the release of Tell Me More. I was not disappointed. Kelly has a comfortable and authentic style and writes with poignancy and humor. It's as if you are just chatting it up with a very good, very intimate friend only she's doing all the talking and you get to listen and feel and connect her words to your own experience. She makes you feel less alone in the world because she is so real. She tells the truth that maybe you know but can't quite identify until she puts her relationships with her husband, her children, her parents, her friends right in front of you. The funny thing is that by connecting to you via her words, she makes you feel more connected to humanity as a whole. I was left, at least temporarily, feeling softer, more tender, more open, and more vulnerable than I am accustomed to feeling. I think that's a good thing.

I laughed. I cried. She’s harvested her life for tidbits and stories. She presents them back to us in an interesting and emotionally engaging way. On getting pregnant right after her honeymoon, she says, “I dragged Edward straight from the honeymoon right to the breeding shed.” It’s part memoir, a tiny bit how to, and all inspiration. She’s brutally honest, perhaps even to the chagrin of those she is closest too.

The relationships, especially with Liz and her dad transcend the culturally context. Each chapter is a theme: “tell me more, no, I was wrong, good enough, and “no words”. It reminds me a bit of Erma Bombeck, with less humor and satire. I loved this book and have already passed it on to a friend and will read it again.

I anxiously awaited this book, very sure I was going to love it: I didn't. I actually gave it my "Meh" rating which is somewhere in the middle, sorta, kinda. There were moments of pure and glorious insight into the human condition interspersed with stories about human feces on the bathroom floor and sulky, smart-mouthed kids, to name but a couple. Sorry, but that and Kelly's self-proclaimed 'sailor mouth' got a little old for this girl after a while. Others may find her funny, honest, current, and full of 2018 parenting style, and I suppose she has all those things. It's too bad the unnecessary junk overshadowed the beautifully written parts. Those experiences were certainly worth reading.

It seems as though each successive book I read by Kelly Corrigan just gets better and better. She seems to have become this trusted friend, one with relevant insights, and gentle reminders. Ms. Corrigan is that rare individual that seems to gain tremendous wisdom from tragedy in her life, and in turn, share that wisdom with her audience in a very light-hearted manner. Her memoirs are not written to offer advice, and yet, they extend significant "aha moments" to the readers, sending them off highlighting quotes and running to hug family members. She wrote this particular memoir in a manner that makes one admire the gift of eloquent communication, and the impact it can make in people's lives.

A book that every middle aged woman should read! It will resonate with you, and you will find yourself laughing, nodding your head in agreement, and reaffirming your ideas about your life and how it is flowing. You are good enough, and your life has meaning. Go enjoy it! As a matter of fact, go pick up this book so you can get back to a place of contentment, truth, and realization. Thank you Random House for letting me receive a copy of this great work for review.

Kelly Corrigan's "Tell Me More" is a beautifully crafted collection of stories that serve up the most important lessons in life as learned by someone who has been through hell and back and then all over again. In her writing, she is generous, clever, funny, and wise, making readers wish she'd drop by one afternoon and tell the stories of her life. Each chapter centers on words we all need to learn to say, from "I Was Wrong" to "I Love You," supported by stories about everything from banal, everyday stuff to heart-wrenching loss. Pull up a rocking chair and enjoy "Tell Me More." I know I did.

I like Kelly Corrigan and her writing is conversational and entertaining. This book did not resonate with me as much as some of her others, but it is nonetheless well written and conversational. Kelly takes phrases that she is trying to incorporate into her life and using stories and personal anecdotes, shares them with us, her readers. At times, Kelly shared so much that I felt uncomfortable, it almost seemed invasive. I think this might make a good book discussion group selection simply because it DID make me uncomfortable. I think there is lots of material to discuss and debate.

The brilliant Kelly Corrigan was in the Jewish Community Center in La Jolla on Jan 18 giving a talk. She made us laugh, cry, and ponder the absurd beauty and shortness of life, all within an hour! The talk was as much about grief as joy; as much about relationships as ourselves; as much about remembering the past as about living in the moment. I find Ms Corrigan’s modern struggles surprisingly Zen-like. As herself has said in the first chapter title, it (life) is like this.

She said: basically I would like to give you enough things about the book so that you can say that you read the book. So here you go, even though that I have not yet read the whole book, I highly recommend her book!

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As an avid practitioner of Rosenberg's "Non-Violent Communication", I found it silly that anyone would need this. However MANY PEYOTE DO! There are many things that this book can help you with and it gives a good sense of how to ask a difficult question or broach a difficult topic. So, just because I am already familiar with Corrigan's advocated style, doesn't mean this book won't be useful to MOST people. Most people do not know how to communicate effectively. Read it: you'll see!

I really enjoyed much of Kelly Corrigan's new book, "Tell me More," in which she shares with us 12 key phrases for good communication with other humans, illustrating each with stories from her busy life. The best parts of the book drew me in like a magnet; I have enjoyed her imaginative use of language, her candor, her conversational style as I read about her earlier life; dealings with two adolescent daughters; ther father; he death of a beloved friend; and more. Sometimes she reveals a little too much about things normally kept very private, but her bubbly style and her self-effacing honesty about her own mistakes (the "I was Wrong" chapter being a good example) keep the pages turning and the general tone light.

While there is nothing particularly new or profound about this book, it is an engaging, entertaining, and fun read, with a few more penetrating messages along the way.

There are moments of true genius in this book; there are heartfelt moments, sadness, and some hilarity. Corrigan has a friendly writing style that is easy to read and connect with; there are a few moments that don't feel quite as flowing as some of the others, but it reads like a conversation with a good friend who knows you and whom you know well. It left this reader thinking about some similar situations in her life.

I have never reviewed anything on the store. I carefully read them, but never felt so indulged...until now. Kelly is a friend of a friend, who just finished reading this book and raved about it. That was yesterday...I spent my day sobbing and feeling so close to this woman I don't even know! Perhaps it is our East Coast connection...my Mother grew up in Wayne, PA...and went to St. Kitty's (HA HA) and my grandfather owned a bar in Wayne...and as I was reading this part I couldn't help but picture Greenie celebrating a Radnor win at a corner bar stool! I'm sure anyone reading this could quickly feel a connection to Kelly's writing, as she is a master storyteller. No Main Line connection necessary...just a beautiful/agonizing story about love and loss. You will be a better person after reading this, I promise.

Other reviewers have described this book as being like a conversation with a friend. Yes!!! But it's that friend who dominates the conversations and jumps from topic to topic, none of which are interesting to you. At all. After reading almost half the book, I just couldn't waste any more time. And I am completely bewildered by all the 5-star reviews.

This was a book of essays on life, death, parenting and just being a human being in this world. I laughed and sometimes cringed at Corrigan's honesty (reading myself in parts). Reading this was like sitting down with a friend.

This is totally engaging, both as an entertaining saga of the author's family interactions and down-to-earth suggestions on easing relations among our acquaintances. It reads quickly, and leaves one refreshed. I hope Ms Corrigan brings us more entertainment combined with advice.

I devoured this book, and was annoyed when my son jumped in the car, from which I sat reading in the cold. I hated to break from the reverie, the, feeling I had of being one with Kelly, and all her humanity. You will laugh, cry, nod your head and wish you could go out for a drink with Kelly, and have her tell you more.

Kelly Corrigan's books are to be treasured. When she writes, I feel like I'm hanging out with a friend and sharing something important. To say she understands women is an understatement. It's hard to give her all the credit she deserves for sharing her deepest thoughts and feeling with us. She really is a treasure and is one of the best writers out there. A much needed voice of understanding in these turbulent times.

Funny, insightful, inspiring and comforting all at once. Corrigan's voice is completely accessible and feels completely authentic. I literally laughed out loud at her stories about raising two girls, and had to hold back tears more than once as she shared her journey about the loss of her dad and dear friend. Behind the hilarity and the profound sadness, she also has great perspective on life's ups and downs, and insight about how to get through it all. Write more, Kelly!

Kelly Corrigan is the voice of my generation. She can articulate the joys and heartaches of all the messy parts of life. Being a friend, a daughter, a mother of teenage girls. She is wise and fun and I wish she was my real life friend. She can articulate this life in a way that I cannot! Love everything she writes and this one was the perhaps the best one yet!

Reading a Kelly Corrigan book is like sitting down with a best friend, talking and listening to the real stuff in our lives that matter and makes us human. Tell Me More is a wonderful compilation about love, loss, grief, parenthood and connecting with one another. You will find yourself laughing and crying throughout. She always leaves me wanting more. If you have the opportunity go see her on her tour, don't miss it.

My words will not match the poignant wisdom of Kelly's but i will try. This book is a magical honest at times gut wrenching snapshot into the inner thoughts of the everyday woman. She brings us into her world in a way in which I imagine everyone will say 'I have been there's but then ends with 'So what do you do about it?' An overall wonderful read and a fantastic set of stories.

My words will not match the poignant wisdom of Kelly's but i will try. This book is a magical honest at times gut wrenching snapshot into the inner thoughts of the everyday woman. She brings us into her world in a way in which I imagine everyone will say 'I have been there's but then ends with 'So what do you do about it?' An overall wonderful read and a fantastic set of stories.

Here, Kelly Corrigan shares personal and intimate details of her life, dedicating each chapter to 12 things that she feels are critical to say. These range from "Tell Me More" to "No" and "Yes," etc, and "Onward," phrases that we all use in our lives. While I enjoyed the book, it didn't quite speak to me the way it did to other readers. Sometimes I begin to feel overwhelmed with the amount of detail divulged in the book, like in the opening chapters. It almost became hard to follow along, like she was throwing in a lot just to have it there. I will say that "No" and the author's letter to her dear friend Liz spoke to me the most.

In a series of extremely personal and revealing essays, Kelly takes us through a series of phrases that have become essential to improving and sustaining her relationships.  We could all take a lesson from this author's introspection and willingness to learn from challenges and opportunities for growth.

I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Kelly is an amazing human and so relatable at every level. I've had the pleasure of also hearing her read a couple of times at book signings for this book and the lovely The Middle Place. Buy this book; you will not only not regret it but will end up loving it and recommending to your best friend.

Kelly is amazing. I would give more than 5 stars, if I could. You will laugh, you will cry and you will be a better you after this journey with her. This is a wonderful gift for your heart and soul.