Days Like This: Good Writers on Bad Luck, Bum Deals, and Other Torments

by Samantha Schoech (Editor), Mary Roach, Anne Lamott

This is a collection of personal essays (and a few short stories) by many of Green Apple Books' favorite writers who were given the prompt, "My ________ From Hell" and set loose. The results -- which cover everything from on-line dating to the death of a childhood classmate -- are often laugh-out-loud, frequently heartrending and sometimes downright jaw-dropping.

Genres: Essays, Nonfiction, Writing, Short Stories, Anthologies

194 pages, Paperback

First published May 2, 2015

Reviews

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's always difficult to rate an essay or short story compilation, because it's inevitable that there will be duds in the bunch. There may be a handful of five star essays, dragged down by the one-star stories that inexplicably made it into the collection. That's certainly true here. For a while, I was feeling some vague regret about bringing this one home from 2015's California Bookstore Day. There are a lot of bad notes in this batch that made me seriously question the taste (or objectivity) of the editor. With the number of local authors included, I can't help thinking several were her personal friends, because the quality of their writing is truly abysmal.

I like getting a taste of various authors' work, though, because it provides an introduction to their voices and writing styles. With loosely autobiographical essays, you also get a glimpse of the author's personality and priorities. Based on these impressions, I know whether to pick up their other work or whether to pass it by in the future. In some cases, it saves me from a disappointing novel-length read. In others, it introduces me to an author I might not have otherwise discovered. That alone is worth the read.

Despite the editor's claim of "twenty-one pieces," this collection holds twenty authors' work (perhaps she was including her introduction in the count?). I had strongly negative responses to six of them, which - now that I'm going back through and tallying it up - isn't as bad as I'd expected. Seven of the pieces were absolutely excellent, with Mary Roach's "How to Feel Better About Falling Apart" making me laugh out loud and providing the perfect closing note. Other stand-outs were:

-Janis Cooke Newman - My Trips From Hell
Striking imagery, with sharp, warm honesty.

-Bonnie Tsui - I Can't Stop
Concise and powerful, with writing that plucks sympathetic chords in my brain.

-Yiyun Li - Orange Crush
One of the few previously published works in this collection, which perhaps makes it stand out more - it's polished and capably written.

-Susan Gregg Gilmore - Leonard Bush's Leg
One of two fictional works, and an absolutely gorgeous read with strong characterizations and a powerful voice.

-Brian Doyle - My Girlfriend From Hell
Based on the title, I was prepared to hate this work, but it turned out to be one of my favorites. It is, fittingly, a story about first impressions and conversational disconnects in relationships.

-Chloe Caldwell - My Year of Heroin and Acne
I spent about half an hour looking up Cassandra Bankson's youtube videos after being introduced to her in this essay. Watching that beautiful woman choke back tears as she sat in front of the mirror with her makeup stripped off, then hearing the confidence return to her voice as she put back each layer, was an unforgettable experience. Caldwell's writing is equally captivating and starkly honest.

[Tyler M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cute little volume was an entertaining read and a no-brainer purchase. Hand-span size, perfect to read on the go? Assembled and marketed specifically for Independent Bookstore day? A collection by authors who are passionate about print media? How could any bibliophile resist?

The essays come from a variety of writers and voices and they all contain themes of disappointment and failure; none of them felt out of place as sometimes happens with collections based around a theme. However it was like going through a box of chocolates in that most of them were delightful and just a few of were lackluster.

The book contains some genuinely funny and touching essays, a blend of fiction and nonfiction that is still hopeful despite the fact that each essay is about a low point if life. I would definitely recommend it because it's a very approachable sampler that would appeal even to those who don't typically read essays.

[Bike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this collection. Haterade is awesome and so it the Year on Match.com by Anne Lamott. Great insights into life. s

[Aubrey Byron · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are fun, quick little essays that I read mostly in one night. With any collection, there will always be some much better than others, but overall it's worthy of reading.

[Allan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some essay are very querky . The Meghan Daum piece is the best of the bunch .

[Bob Comparda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great little anthology of essays about "having a bad day". Bought for the Scott McClanahan story, but ended up liking almost all the stories. Lots of new writers to check out after this one.

Meghan Daum - Haterade ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Novella Carpenter - If You Can't Make It Here ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kathryn Ma - Phil ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Janis Cooke Newman - My Trips from Hell ⭐⭐⭐⭐
James Patterson - My Bookstore Visit from Hell ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lavinia Spalding - My Lesson from Hell ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Bonnie Tsui - I Can't Stop ⭐⭐⭐
Rachel Levin - Camp Showers ⭐⭐⭐
Chris Colin - Long Distance ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Yiyun Li - Orange Crush ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Susan Gregg Gilmore - Leonard Bush's Leg ⭐⭐⭐
Scott McClanahan - Jenny Sugar ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Anne Lamott - My Year on Match.com ⭐⭐⭐
Wendy Spero - Neighbors ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Michelle Richmond - Hooters is a Restaurant and Putt Putt is for Lovers: My Early Nineties Date from Hell ⭐⭐⭐
Brian Doyle - My Girlfriend from Hell ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Chloe Caldwell - My Year of Heroin and Acne ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Peter Brown Hoffmeister - Four Lessons in Being Human ⭐⭐
Caroline Paul - Curandera ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mary Roach - How to Feel Better About Falling Apart ⭐⭐

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars, reluctantly.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 -- entirely readable but not amazingly compelling, though there are a few gems in the bunch