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I Hate Everyone: An introvert’s miserable adventures with mailmen, children, the outdoors, and the human condition.
This is a book about how one introvert tries to understand humanity. It is also about chronic illness, biscuits, tea, strangers, metal, and death.
While the previous book in this series was about my war with the seasons, this book is about my trials in trying to relate to people and how I brook the nonsenses of humankind more than it deserves. The world has become a cacophony of complaints, a morbid symphony with too many notes, and though I might not understand why the orchestra plays the way it does, I still listen, trying to decipher some sort of purpose in the upper tones.
“Brilliant, hilarious, mordant, lean and mean writing. A master of colourful and witty storytelling, recounting her daily experiences with hysterical attitude and convincing detail… So wonderfully smart and peculiar and uniquely funny.” --Martin Olson, author of Encyclopaedia of Hell
“ Crackling misanthropy. A brutal but principled perspective that dares to bring literary elegance to that ever-encroaching horror show called existence. ” --J. Burrello, author and illustrator of Blinky & Sal
While the previous book in this series was about my war with the seasons, this book is about my trials in trying to relate to people and how I brook the nonsenses of humankind more than it deserves. The world has become a cacophony of complaints, a morbid symphony with too many notes, and though I might not understand why the orchestra plays the way it does, I still listen, trying to decipher some sort of purpose in the upper tones.
“Brilliant, hilarious, mordant, lean and mean writing. A master of colourful and witty storytelling, recounting her daily experiences with hysterical attitude and convincing detail… So wonderfully smart and peculiar and uniquely funny.” --Martin Olson, author of Encyclopaedia of Hell
“ Crackling misanthropy. A brutal but principled perspective that dares to bring literary elegance to that ever-encroaching horror show called existence. ” --J. Burrello, author and illustrator of Blinky & Sal
- GenresNonfiction
367 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 29, 2018
17 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 2, 2018
Following on the heels of I Hate Summer, I Hate Everyone reprises the woeful tale of an introvert's misadventures in the world around her with humor and a bit of verbal pizzazz.
As someone who cannot drive for various reasons, I am at the mercy of public transit, a system that has worse side effects than over the counter medication.
I Hate Everyone is sorted into a journal style that follows one calendar year and the events that ensue from beginning to glorious end. Several key players are familiar to me from my earlier introduction- Mailman, the mortal enemy of the duchess of the castle (the authoress), the Bad Men (the apartment's hired handymen), Jose the Supe, the Opera singer on first floor, the Troll living in the basement keeping his keen eyes out for the laundry room panty thief, the Oracle of Scandal (the old Scottish neighbor lady) and the Foghorn across the hall (loud neighbor).
I know a kindred spirit when I see one. Also, when I hear one, because we generally complain about the same things.
Along with these familiar characters are familiar places- the apartment building, the nearby park, the library, the tea shop, the library, and the dreaded public transit.
All brought into vivid life.
"When the heat comes around, my misanthropy increases exponentially."
The author's writing style invites the reader into her misanthropic, introverted world of solitude. Or at least her fondest unfulfilled wish for that state- peace, quiet, cats, chocolate, a good book or new game, cool tempts, and no interruptions.
"My idea of making friends is going to the library and hugging all the books, and then sitting down in a garden of cats. I have a dreadful time with people. "
"My doctor gets to put a camera on a fifteen inch wand in my pleasure trove and I am the one who gets to pay. There's injustice for you."
There are frank discussions about finances, career, health, barrenness, wavering friends and past dealings with family all woven in with fervent and oft-times comedic situations involving wild hare children (and indifferent parents), nosey or interfering strangers, inconsiderate neighbors, and the woes that exposure to the outside world can bring.
"(No) is a magical word, whose beauty and malleability make it the army knife of conversation."
"The best gift you can give me on my birthday is no disappointment."
Happy entertainments with the Irish dancing and music on St. Patrick's Day, glorious campaigning for the Veterans around Remembrance day, whimsical witchery on All Hallow's Eve.
So many times I chuckled or sighed in close to complete understanding.
"Volunteering is a great way to see how many parsimonious people there are in the world."
"Are you going to take him out of the box?"
I stopped immediately and wanted to set the wolves on him. "Did I hear you rightly? You just suggested I take a limited edition figure out of the box?"
"Well," said he, uneasily.
I found the book riding a gamut of emotions and sensations, as it should, because it is a window into life, a story of a person, a building, a neighborhood, and a city- all brought to life. It reads like a fictional journal of a whimsical woman who dares to be silently courageous about her health and likely fears, depressions and frustrations, seasonal challenges, but vocally staunch as an advocate for others and the communal environment. The wry and narrow-eyed view into this world and the inherent wisdom gained from life experience made for a thoughtful, sometimes entertaining, but emotionally engaging book.
My thanks to the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
As someone who cannot drive for various reasons, I am at the mercy of public transit, a system that has worse side effects than over the counter medication.
I Hate Everyone is sorted into a journal style that follows one calendar year and the events that ensue from beginning to glorious end. Several key players are familiar to me from my earlier introduction- Mailman, the mortal enemy of the duchess of the castle (the authoress), the Bad Men (the apartment's hired handymen), Jose the Supe, the Opera singer on first floor, the Troll living in the basement keeping his keen eyes out for the laundry room panty thief, the Oracle of Scandal (the old Scottish neighbor lady) and the Foghorn across the hall (loud neighbor).
I know a kindred spirit when I see one. Also, when I hear one, because we generally complain about the same things.
Along with these familiar characters are familiar places- the apartment building, the nearby park, the library, the tea shop, the library, and the dreaded public transit.
All brought into vivid life.
"When the heat comes around, my misanthropy increases exponentially."
The author's writing style invites the reader into her misanthropic, introverted world of solitude. Or at least her fondest unfulfilled wish for that state- peace, quiet, cats, chocolate, a good book or new game, cool tempts, and no interruptions.
"My idea of making friends is going to the library and hugging all the books, and then sitting down in a garden of cats. I have a dreadful time with people. "
"My doctor gets to put a camera on a fifteen inch wand in my pleasure trove and I am the one who gets to pay. There's injustice for you."
There are frank discussions about finances, career, health, barrenness, wavering friends and past dealings with family all woven in with fervent and oft-times comedic situations involving wild hare children (and indifferent parents), nosey or interfering strangers, inconsiderate neighbors, and the woes that exposure to the outside world can bring.
"(No) is a magical word, whose beauty and malleability make it the army knife of conversation."
"The best gift you can give me on my birthday is no disappointment."
Happy entertainments with the Irish dancing and music on St. Patrick's Day, glorious campaigning for the Veterans around Remembrance day, whimsical witchery on All Hallow's Eve.
So many times I chuckled or sighed in close to complete understanding.
"Volunteering is a great way to see how many parsimonious people there are in the world."
"Are you going to take him out of the box?"
I stopped immediately and wanted to set the wolves on him. "Did I hear you rightly? You just suggested I take a limited edition figure out of the box?"
"Well," said he, uneasily.
I found the book riding a gamut of emotions and sensations, as it should, because it is a window into life, a story of a person, a building, a neighborhood, and a city- all brought to life. It reads like a fictional journal of a whimsical woman who dares to be silently courageous about her health and likely fears, depressions and frustrations, seasonal challenges, but vocally staunch as an advocate for others and the communal environment. The wry and narrow-eyed view into this world and the inherent wisdom gained from life experience made for a thoughtful, sometimes entertaining, but emotionally engaging book.
My thanks to the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 19, 2020
Love
This is one of the most relatable books I've read in a long time. I enjoyed the banter so very much.
This is one of the most relatable books I've read in a long time. I enjoyed the banter so very much.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews