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Life in Pieces
*The Sunday Times bestseller*
*Updated edition including new bonus chapters from Dawn*
‘Funny, intimate and honest’ Louis Theroux
‘Moving and funny. I absolutely loved it’ Claudia Winkleman
‘Heartbreaking, hilarious, comforting’ Marie Claire
Dawn O’Porter has been thinking a lot about life.
Mostly from a cupboard (and she’s definitely not hiding from her children).
Fearless, funny and unflinchingly real, Life in Pieces is a diary of a time we’ll all remember forever – laughing through the tears, finding comfort in the chaos and (in Dawn’s case, at least) discovering the life-changing properties of a midday margarita.
So if you need a shake-up in your life, here’s the tonic – with a perfect splash of tequila…
‘What should you expect? Tears, belly laughs and to come out the other side wanting Dawn O’Porter to be your best friend’ Marie Claire
‘I've rattled through it . . . Dawn O'Porter redresses the balance by telling it as it really has been: fighting a losing battle against a tide of mess, noise and need, and holding out for 5pm to crack open the tequila’ Mark Watson
*Updated edition including new bonus chapters from Dawn*
‘Funny, intimate and honest’ Louis Theroux
‘Moving and funny. I absolutely loved it’ Claudia Winkleman
‘Heartbreaking, hilarious, comforting’ Marie Claire
Dawn O’Porter has been thinking a lot about life.
Mostly from a cupboard (and she’s definitely not hiding from her children).
Fearless, funny and unflinchingly real, Life in Pieces is a diary of a time we’ll all remember forever – laughing through the tears, finding comfort in the chaos and (in Dawn’s case, at least) discovering the life-changing properties of a midday margarita.
So if you need a shake-up in your life, here’s the tonic – with a perfect splash of tequila…
‘What should you expect? Tears, belly laughs and to come out the other side wanting Dawn O’Porter to be your best friend’ Marie Claire
‘I've rattled through it . . . Dawn O'Porter redresses the balance by telling it as it really has been: fighting a losing battle against a tide of mess, noise and need, and holding out for 5pm to crack open the tequila’ Mark Watson
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2020
396 people are currently reading
2168 people want to read
About the author
Dawn O'Porter
19 books1,512 followersDAWN O’PORTER lives in London with her husband Chris, her two boys Art and Valentine, and her cats Myrtle and Boo.
Dawn is the bestselling author of the novels The Cows and the Richard and Judy Book Club picks So Lucky and Cat Lady, and her non-fiction title Life in Pieces was also a Sunday Times bestseller.
Dawn started out in TV production but quickly landed in front of the camera, making numerous documentaries that included immersive investigations of Polygamy, Size Zero, Childbirth, Free Love, Breast Cancer and the movie Dirty Dancing.
Dawn’s journalism has appeared in multiple publications and she was the monthly columnist for Glamour magazine. She is now a full-time writer, designs dresses for Joanie Clothing, and has a large following on her Patreon blog.
Instagram: @hotpatooties
www.patreon.com/DawnOPorter
Dawn is the bestselling author of the novels The Cows and the Richard and Judy Book Club picks So Lucky and Cat Lady, and her non-fiction title Life in Pieces was also a Sunday Times bestseller.
Dawn started out in TV production but quickly landed in front of the camera, making numerous documentaries that included immersive investigations of Polygamy, Size Zero, Childbirth, Free Love, Breast Cancer and the movie Dirty Dancing.
Dawn’s journalism has appeared in multiple publications and she was the monthly columnist for Glamour magazine. She is now a full-time writer, designs dresses for Joanie Clothing, and has a large following on her Patreon blog.
Instagram: @hotpatooties
www.patreon.com/DawnOPorter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 353 reviews
December 4, 2020
Audiobook written and read by Dawn O’Porter
Six hours and 31 minutes: I listened to it in one day swoop.
Isolation update....
It’s 2020....the year when life changed dramatically.
“Life in Pieces”, was my first introduction to ‘anything’ Dawn O’Porter.
I can’t even remember why I bought this book. Was it once an Audible-daily deal?
The toilet paper cover caught my attention?
I still can’t remember when or why I purchase it. My guess is it was a daily deal-chance purchase.
Well....
I’m reading and listening to several books, (others heavier in scope), .... but I was in in the mood for something light and bouncy —
This book fit the bill!!!! I like to think of Friday’s as “IT’S FRIDAY FUNNY DAY”....and give tribute to ‘funnies-on-Friday’s’.
This book was a delightful-audio-companion.....
Much ‘WAS’ funny.....but some parts were profoundly sad. If anyone is seriously dealing with grief ....it will be a challenge to not feel salt WAS added to your own wound....
I related to how grief is a part of Dawn’s life ( her very closest friend committed suicide), my grief is associated with our older daughter....
It was true what Dawn said about grief: we can still have happy days -keep our grief at bay when around other people—
but grief thoughts are never gone. It doesn’t mean every moment of the day people who are dealing with grief can’t function - it’s just that it’s there - never gone. Thoughts about the person we are grieving is there every single day. Time is a blessing....as time does heal...
But her sharing about the depths of grief was very real.
I enjoyed the rhythm of varied stories and emotions in this book — what’s not to like when a person is being true to who they are?—unflinchingly honest...funny, real, unguarded, but appropriate, goofy one minute, serious the next....and sincerely grounded in kindness and compassion for the world and people at large.
Dawn O’Porter must be an absolute joy to be friends with.
It was only when I had an hour left of listening to this audiobook, when I got curious enough to check google....
.....”what does Dawn O’Porter look like?”,
.....”who is she, what else has she done, or written”?
.....”who was her ACTOR husband?”....(he is mention in a funny scene) > “no, my husband doesn’t need to signup for your acting class”, Dawn tells a stranger, “he is doing alright; he is Chris O’Porter”.
The NAMES of neither Dawn or Chris meant anything to me.....
But...
As soon as I saw the many photo images of them both... I immediately recognized Dawn’s funny-guy-comic-talented actor husband, Chris O’Porter, from several offbeat great movies he stars in.
And Dawn.... “wow”, she’s gorgeous!
From all the cooking, eating, munching crisps, and daily alcohol consumptions, that Dawn shares with us, I was expecting to see a warm-hearted- slightly chubby-woman.
NO WAY....
Dawn has an attractive slim body, a glamours flair,
with stunning clothes, ....but also has a down-to-earth genuine heart filled with so much love —— every man, woman, and child, must feel it.
Her natural spitfire magnetic personality could give ‘The Energizer’, a run for its money.
I couldn’t help but wonder how much fun it must be in their house - kids, dog, cat, and, lots of cooking, great dinners, people over every Sunday....( their house was filled with friends WHEN NOT IN LOCKDOWN), ——with mom&dad ‘both’ naturally animated — schooled in comedy, grounded in goodness and and warmth.
To quote Dawn.....she began her book saying:
......”WHAT A SHIT LOAD OF A YEAR”.....why we laugh ....who knows....but I suspect every reader laughed.
Many topics are included during Dawn’s isolation days....
Lots of reflection....
Female friendships, family, marriage, sex, friends, parenting, cooking, eating, eating cooking, eating, drinking, ( margaritas, or wine: evening pandemic pleasure), a little marijuana & edibles, home activities for the kids, art projects with macaroni noodles, home schooling their boys ( boy, this must be hard to keep up during this pandemic),
audiobook listening, reading, writing, guns, ( NOT A FAN), politics, riots, racism, worrying about the vast amount of people around the world hurting, childcare, pet care, cigarettes, ( not a fan), living in Los Angeles, her British family, television and movies, and eye-opening insights about clothes, ( her points of view were quite interesting),
EAT DRINK AND BE MERRY....with Dawn O’Porter.
“Life in Pieces” was well written, much more enjoyable, moving, funny, sad, and insightful than I expected. It’s not just a fluff book. But Dawn is a KICK of FUN.
I think most of my female friends would enjoy this book....
....maybe even of my male friends.
Six hours and 31 minutes: I listened to it in one day swoop.
Isolation update....
It’s 2020....the year when life changed dramatically.
“Life in Pieces”, was my first introduction to ‘anything’ Dawn O’Porter.
I can’t even remember why I bought this book. Was it once an Audible-daily deal?
The toilet paper cover caught my attention?
I still can’t remember when or why I purchase it. My guess is it was a daily deal-chance purchase.
Well....
I’m reading and listening to several books, (others heavier in scope), .... but I was in in the mood for something light and bouncy —
This book fit the bill!!!! I like to think of Friday’s as “IT’S FRIDAY FUNNY DAY”....and give tribute to ‘funnies-on-Friday’s’.
This book was a delightful-audio-companion.....
Much ‘WAS’ funny.....but some parts were profoundly sad. If anyone is seriously dealing with grief ....it will be a challenge to not feel salt WAS added to your own wound....
I related to how grief is a part of Dawn’s life ( her very closest friend committed suicide), my grief is associated with our older daughter....
It was true what Dawn said about grief: we can still have happy days -keep our grief at bay when around other people—
but grief thoughts are never gone. It doesn’t mean every moment of the day people who are dealing with grief can’t function - it’s just that it’s there - never gone. Thoughts about the person we are grieving is there every single day. Time is a blessing....as time does heal...
But her sharing about the depths of grief was very real.
I enjoyed the rhythm of varied stories and emotions in this book — what’s not to like when a person is being true to who they are?—unflinchingly honest...funny, real, unguarded, but appropriate, goofy one minute, serious the next....and sincerely grounded in kindness and compassion for the world and people at large.
Dawn O’Porter must be an absolute joy to be friends with.
It was only when I had an hour left of listening to this audiobook, when I got curious enough to check google....
.....”what does Dawn O’Porter look like?”,
.....”who is she, what else has she done, or written”?
.....”who was her ACTOR husband?”....(he is mention in a funny scene) > “no, my husband doesn’t need to signup for your acting class”, Dawn tells a stranger, “he is doing alright; he is Chris O’Porter”.
The NAMES of neither Dawn or Chris meant anything to me.....
But...
As soon as I saw the many photo images of them both... I immediately recognized Dawn’s funny-guy-comic-talented actor husband, Chris O’Porter, from several offbeat great movies he stars in.
And Dawn.... “wow”, she’s gorgeous!
From all the cooking, eating, munching crisps, and daily alcohol consumptions, that Dawn shares with us, I was expecting to see a warm-hearted- slightly chubby-woman.
NO WAY....
Dawn has an attractive slim body, a glamours flair,
with stunning clothes, ....but also has a down-to-earth genuine heart filled with so much love —— every man, woman, and child, must feel it.
Her natural spitfire magnetic personality could give ‘The Energizer’, a run for its money.
I couldn’t help but wonder how much fun it must be in their house - kids, dog, cat, and, lots of cooking, great dinners, people over every Sunday....( their house was filled with friends WHEN NOT IN LOCKDOWN), ——with mom&dad ‘both’ naturally animated — schooled in comedy, grounded in goodness and and warmth.
To quote Dawn.....she began her book saying:
......”WHAT A SHIT LOAD OF A YEAR”.....why we laugh ....who knows....but I suspect every reader laughed.
Many topics are included during Dawn’s isolation days....
Lots of reflection....
Female friendships, family, marriage, sex, friends, parenting, cooking, eating, eating cooking, eating, drinking, ( margaritas, or wine: evening pandemic pleasure), a little marijuana & edibles, home activities for the kids, art projects with macaroni noodles, home schooling their boys ( boy, this must be hard to keep up during this pandemic),
audiobook listening, reading, writing, guns, ( NOT A FAN), politics, riots, racism, worrying about the vast amount of people around the world hurting, childcare, pet care, cigarettes, ( not a fan), living in Los Angeles, her British family, television and movies, and eye-opening insights about clothes, ( her points of view were quite interesting),
EAT DRINK AND BE MERRY....with Dawn O’Porter.
“Life in Pieces” was well written, much more enjoyable, moving, funny, sad, and insightful than I expected. It’s not just a fluff book. But Dawn is a KICK of FUN.
I think most of my female friends would enjoy this book....
....maybe even of my male friends.
September 28, 2020
I seem to be in the minority but I did not enjoy this book. This book felt so self indulgent and at a few points the level of privilege were quite little hard to swallow given the global crisis taking place at the time (and that still continues).
Note: I received an advanced copy of Life in Pieces from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Note: I received an advanced copy of Life in Pieces from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
November 9, 2020
I had no idea who Dawn O'Porter was, I saw her latest book advertised in the publisher's newsletter and on the socials, so I downloaded it when it became available on Overdrive.
O'Porter is a British writer and TV presenter. She happens to be married to Chris O'Dowd, the Irish actor, or O'Dowd is married to her. They have two young children and live in LA.
This book is made up of diary entries and additional thoughts from February until the middle of the this year. Of course, at the core of everything is the plague, I mean Corona and what that enticed for her - the anxiety, doom scrolling, being always at home with her under five boys, a lot of cooking, drinking and getting high, lots of Facetime, Zoom and a shit lot of cleaning of, well, shit and other excrements from the kids and her pets. O'Porter is also grief-stricken as one of her best friends committed suicide. This is about the ups and downs of daily life, of trying to hold it together, dealing with grief, while also appreciating one's privilege and some of the unexpected benefits of the lockdown, such as the opportunity to truly slow down.
I liked O'Porter's writing style and she's a terrific narrator. Listening to her talk so much about food and drinking did make me hungry and almost made me want to take up drinking. Other than that, this felt like a conversation between girlfriends where you waffle on about kids, partners, appointments, chores, cooking and a million of other things, both small and big.
O'Porter is a British writer and TV presenter. She happens to be married to Chris O'Dowd, the Irish actor, or O'Dowd is married to her. They have two young children and live in LA.
This book is made up of diary entries and additional thoughts from February until the middle of the this year. Of course, at the core of everything is the plague, I mean Corona and what that enticed for her - the anxiety, doom scrolling, being always at home with her under five boys, a lot of cooking, drinking and getting high, lots of Facetime, Zoom and a shit lot of cleaning of, well, shit and other excrements from the kids and her pets. O'Porter is also grief-stricken as one of her best friends committed suicide. This is about the ups and downs of daily life, of trying to hold it together, dealing with grief, while also appreciating one's privilege and some of the unexpected benefits of the lockdown, such as the opportunity to truly slow down.
I liked O'Porter's writing style and she's a terrific narrator. Listening to her talk so much about food and drinking did make me hungry and almost made me want to take up drinking. Other than that, this felt like a conversation between girlfriends where you waffle on about kids, partners, appointments, chores, cooking and a million of other things, both small and big.
December 31, 2021
3.499999999 so rounded down to 3
I am a huge fan of Dawn's works, but here things got personal, a sort of biography? It could've been one really.
Her voice is just awesome, soothing and majestic.
I am a huge fan of Dawn's works, but here things got personal, a sort of biography? It could've been one really.
Her voice is just awesome, soothing and majestic.
November 25, 2020
Imagine you made a book of insta-stories and this is what you’d get... throw in a few over-sharing rambles to pad it out: unsquishing your nose after wearing a mask, delousing your cat, a recipe, some virtue-signalling, repetitive mentions of how much you love cannabis gummies (so edgy), some slummy-mumming, covert name-dropping and garnish with a few admittedly witty one-liners and you can make a book out of...nothing.
October 14, 2020
** listened via audible**
I'm a huge fan of Dawn O'Porter - as a personality, as a presenter, and as a writer.
But i hate to admit that I just didn't enjoy this book, I didn't connect to this book.
I felt it was lacking in substance, and the only bits i found remotely interesting was when Porter was talking about her relationship with the late Caroline Flack.
I'm a huge fan of Dawn O'Porter - as a personality, as a presenter, and as a writer.
But i hate to admit that I just didn't enjoy this book, I didn't connect to this book.
I felt it was lacking in substance, and the only bits i found remotely interesting was when Porter was talking about her relationship with the late Caroline Flack.
September 23, 2020
I do love Dawn O’Porter. I’ve read all her books, I’ve listened to her So Lucky podcast and I’m an avid Instagram follower so of course I jumped at the chance to read her latest, non-fiction book that takes a look at life through lockdown.
I’d promised myself I wouldn’t read any lockdown books. I didn’t want to be reminded of anything to do with it. Whilst I cherished the unprecedented level of family time, it’s also had a massive impact on our lives in many ways and reading about it and living through it all again just didn’t appeal. However, I knew that Dawn would have a great spin on lockdown littered with humour, profound sentiment and down right shocking tales and I wasn’t wrong!
I loved how raw and honest the book was. If it happened, Dawn wrote about it no matter how awful, embarrassing, terrible, emotional or ridiculous it might have been. There were many relatable moments for me (as a parent) that we’re amusing but also a candid look at life in LA, a unique glimpse into their unique celebrity status that was equally entertaining. Dawn spoke about the loss of her friend Caroline Flack and how she dealt with grief during lockdown as well as snippets from her childhood.
Parts of the book were quite shocking and if you’re offended by alcohol and drugs (legal in LA) then it’s probably not the book for you. I loved it, it entertained me and whilst it made me laugh, parts were profound and meaningful. Dawn has a wonderful way of seeing people and trying to understand them without judgement and I really liked this. Overall it’s a quick, entertaining read that I enjoyed thoroughly.
Genre: non-fiction
Rating:5/5
I’d promised myself I wouldn’t read any lockdown books. I didn’t want to be reminded of anything to do with it. Whilst I cherished the unprecedented level of family time, it’s also had a massive impact on our lives in many ways and reading about it and living through it all again just didn’t appeal. However, I knew that Dawn would have a great spin on lockdown littered with humour, profound sentiment and down right shocking tales and I wasn’t wrong!
I loved how raw and honest the book was. If it happened, Dawn wrote about it no matter how awful, embarrassing, terrible, emotional or ridiculous it might have been. There were many relatable moments for me (as a parent) that we’re amusing but also a candid look at life in LA, a unique glimpse into their unique celebrity status that was equally entertaining. Dawn spoke about the loss of her friend Caroline Flack and how she dealt with grief during lockdown as well as snippets from her childhood.
Parts of the book were quite shocking and if you’re offended by alcohol and drugs (legal in LA) then it’s probably not the book for you. I loved it, it entertained me and whilst it made me laugh, parts were profound and meaningful. Dawn has a wonderful way of seeing people and trying to understand them without judgement and I really liked this. Overall it’s a quick, entertaining read that I enjoyed thoroughly.
Genre: non-fiction
Rating:5/5
September 11, 2020
This is my longest review ever, because this book, deserves it all. A book that everyone needs to read in 2020. This book caused a shift in my thinking, my self believe and my motivation to dig myself out of my lockdown slumber. Dawn O Porter Thank you!
I sat on my bed after a late night watching the women's us open semi finals by 4.30am Serena is out and its 4.30am. Woke to an email from Harper Collins to invite me to read Dawn O Porter new book Life in Pieces, I went straight to Amazon to have a mooch. Ooo this could be interesting.
I started reading, I thought I will read the introduction. OMG a tear run down my face first from laughing about weed gummies and kaftans. Then Caroline Flack I got goose bumps and I didnt put down my kindle I kept reading.
Hello Mr Pandemic, Dawn writes like she is talking directly to you. The lockdown of 2020 it's harsh reality for a working mum and parenting. I laughed so hard as I can only imagine having young children through this year of covid.
The most in depth totally on point review of Twitter and its, wrath I have ever read. Hi five Dawn.
Dawn analysis of parenting is insightful....
Lego is hard... I laughed so much.
A must read for everyone, we were all in this together in 2020 and to share experiences like this is the best thing to come away with. We can't kick covid ass but we can laugh with Dawn O Porter.
I didn't know Caroline Flack personally, but her death floored me purely because she was such a bright light on my TV, I miss her too. Respect for a truly lovely discussion of some memories and a true awareness of how her death affected those closest to her so deeply
#NetGalley #DawnOPorter #HarperCollins #LifeinPieces #livesincovid2020 #bookreview
I sat on my bed after a late night watching the women's us open semi finals by 4.30am Serena is out and its 4.30am. Woke to an email from Harper Collins to invite me to read Dawn O Porter new book Life in Pieces, I went straight to Amazon to have a mooch. Ooo this could be interesting.
I started reading, I thought I will read the introduction. OMG a tear run down my face first from laughing about weed gummies and kaftans. Then Caroline Flack I got goose bumps and I didnt put down my kindle I kept reading.
Hello Mr Pandemic, Dawn writes like she is talking directly to you. The lockdown of 2020 it's harsh reality for a working mum and parenting. I laughed so hard as I can only imagine having young children through this year of covid.
The most in depth totally on point review of Twitter and its, wrath I have ever read. Hi five Dawn.
Dawn analysis of parenting is insightful....
Lego is hard... I laughed so much.
A must read for everyone, we were all in this together in 2020 and to share experiences like this is the best thing to come away with. We can't kick covid ass but we can laugh with Dawn O Porter.
I didn't know Caroline Flack personally, but her death floored me purely because she was such a bright light on my TV, I miss her too. Respect for a truly lovely discussion of some memories and a true awareness of how her death affected those closest to her so deeply
#NetGalley #DawnOPorter #HarperCollins #LifeinPieces #livesincovid2020 #bookreview
November 3, 2020
Brilliant bit of light reading.
I love Dawn O’Porter, she tells it how it is.
Life in Pieces is basically a day by day account of Dawn’s life. It’s not all glitz and glam, when you life in LA, especially when there’s a pandemic.
Lots of laugh out loud parts but also a look into the grief Dawn is experiencing after the death of her, much loved, close friend, Caroline Flack.
I can see part two on the horizon.
I love Dawn O’Porter, she tells it how it is.
Life in Pieces is basically a day by day account of Dawn’s life. It’s not all glitz and glam, when you life in LA, especially when there’s a pandemic.
Lots of laugh out loud parts but also a look into the grief Dawn is experiencing after the death of her, much loved, close friend, Caroline Flack.
I can see part two on the horizon.
November 11, 2020
Дневник Бриджет Джонс, только про карантин и родительство в нем
September 21, 2020
Life in Pieces by Dawn O’ Porter
I give this book 4 stars
Dear 2020 – can we just start over?
Love Dawn x
An insight into her own honest personal journey through the first half of 2020. I absolutely loved reading this and whizzed through it.Told through diary entries it had me laughing out loud,feeling sad and generally relating to the good,the bad and the ugly parts of life, love and how Dawn copes (or doesn’t quite manage it) in her own way with ....... lockdown. young children, memories, grief, food, alcohol, gummies and pets..
A down to earth read with all the ingredients for some much needed light relief thrown in. Just what we all need in our lives right now!
Loved the cover,very apt!
With thanks to Netgalley,Dawn and Harper Collins for my chance to read and review this ARC
October 28, 2020
Hmmm. I loved So Lucky by Dawn O’Porter but I am sad to say that i did not enjoy this book.
I accept Dawn is trying to be funny about life in lockdown but I just didn't find her musings funny at all.
Maybe it is just too close to actual events and that if read in a couple of years time the humour will engage the reader because life has moved on and it will be fun to remember what happened by way of Dawn's diary entries and anecdotal meanderings.
However for me, the humour felt manufactured and there was so much repetition and contradiction that I found it hard to read this with any real pleasure.
There are an awful lot of references to Caroline Flack and whilst her untimely death was so very sad, the way in which it is constantly referred to in this book is somewhat distasteful. But maybe it just isn't for me because I do not watch TV or follow celebrity lives.
The book just screams ME, ME, ME as I read and I couldn't find a way to connect meaningfully with the self obsessed entries.
I am sure however that I will be in the minority with my views and I genuinely wish the author well with the book. The title is catchy, the cover appealing and there will be many true O'Porter fans who simply lap this up.
I accept Dawn is trying to be funny about life in lockdown but I just didn't find her musings funny at all.
Maybe it is just too close to actual events and that if read in a couple of years time the humour will engage the reader because life has moved on and it will be fun to remember what happened by way of Dawn's diary entries and anecdotal meanderings.
However for me, the humour felt manufactured and there was so much repetition and contradiction that I found it hard to read this with any real pleasure.
There are an awful lot of references to Caroline Flack and whilst her untimely death was so very sad, the way in which it is constantly referred to in this book is somewhat distasteful. But maybe it just isn't for me because I do not watch TV or follow celebrity lives.
The book just screams ME, ME, ME as I read and I couldn't find a way to connect meaningfully with the self obsessed entries.
I am sure however that I will be in the minority with my views and I genuinely wish the author well with the book. The title is catchy, the cover appealing and there will be many true O'Porter fans who simply lap this up.
September 29, 2021
I like Dawn O’Porter a lot but I think maybe our lives are too different for this to have the relatable vibe it was going for…
September 19, 2020
I wasn't sure if I was still a little too close to the previous lockdown (and now, seemingly, too close to the potential of another one) to be reading a book detailing someone else's lockdown experience, but there was a great deal of comfort in seeing how someone else had managed / not managed. Dawn's book is desperately honest and raw, and it isn't just about the horrors (and joys) of lockdown, but also her journey with grief over the suicide of her friend Caroline.
Because it's written in a very intimate way, it's very easy to read, and I found I raced through a bit more, and a bit more, until quite late at night. It's very much in blog-style writing, so accessible and day to day. It chops and changes a bit, so sometimes letters, sometimes a sort of mini column/essay, and even the odd recipe. I guess that sort of reflected what life was like, muddling from one thing to another within the same 4 walls day in day out.
I did find the copious drug talk difficult - it's hard not to be judge-y, and I didn't want to be, but of course the experience over there seems very different to how things are here in the UK. There's a lot of drugs and alcohol throughout the book (and I can completely understand why having finished almost all my *large* gin collection during lockdown myself) but I found myself feeling worried about her, for her deep need for alcohol, and I felt surprised that none of her friends have yet asked if she's okay with the drink & the drugs, and maybe needs to slow up a bit.
All the bits with the kids made me smile, and I think it's always reassuring to read about a mum who also feels inadequate at times and like they're getting everything wrong. I wish my littlest was younger and I could paint him all over.
Thanks to Netgalley for my copy.
Because it's written in a very intimate way, it's very easy to read, and I found I raced through a bit more, and a bit more, until quite late at night. It's very much in blog-style writing, so accessible and day to day. It chops and changes a bit, so sometimes letters, sometimes a sort of mini column/essay, and even the odd recipe. I guess that sort of reflected what life was like, muddling from one thing to another within the same 4 walls day in day out.
I did find the copious drug talk difficult - it's hard not to be judge-y, and I didn't want to be, but of course the experience over there seems very different to how things are here in the UK. There's a lot of drugs and alcohol throughout the book (and I can completely understand why having finished almost all my *large* gin collection during lockdown myself) but I found myself feeling worried about her, for her deep need for alcohol, and I felt surprised that none of her friends have yet asked if she's okay with the drink & the drugs, and maybe needs to slow up a bit.
All the bits with the kids made me smile, and I think it's always reassuring to read about a mum who also feels inadequate at times and like they're getting everything wrong. I wish my littlest was younger and I could paint him all over.
Thanks to Netgalley for my copy.
January 1, 2021
I love Dawn’s fiction books and had high hopes for this, sadly it was a huge disappointment.
It was mostly chapter after chapter of what they were drinking and how they struggled to parent interspersed with her catch phrase ‘what is happening!’
There were the odd amusing anecdote in there but I struggled to complete this as it was repetitive and unrelatable.
It was mostly chapter after chapter of what they were drinking and how they struggled to parent interspersed with her catch phrase ‘what is happening!’
There were the odd amusing anecdote in there but I struggled to complete this as it was repetitive and unrelatable.
March 11, 2021
Self indulgent and so not funny. Excellent cover and love the thought that each day is a bit of loo roll, but I don't believe the 'names' on the cover actually read the book and find out later they are all friends. Tried to read it from the start - yuck - then tried dipping... nope. Very poor.
July 8, 2021
Wanted to love this but really didn’t. There were a couple of funny bits, but mostly Dawn talking about drinking every night, drug taking, moaning about having the ability to spend the whole of lockdown not working and with her family. Some perspective needed on how real life works for most people!
September 30, 2020
Straight away Dawn echoes my own feelings when she mentions how she bought herself a diary at the start of this year....only to see the majority of it empty feeling sad. I look at mine, see and feel the same. I hear you sister!
Short, but packed with a punch diary updates charter her time during Lockdown. Hilariously, laugh out loud honest - playdough poo, too many crisps, washed down with a hella lot of booze....standard!
'i ate crisps for lunch. With a side of cheese. I did not exercise' - sounds utter bliss right?
Snippets like 'Jesus, did I just write a paragraph about putting sunscreen on my kids? RIVETING STUFF' had me smiling. Her honesty around parenting is hilarious, she will have you in stitches.
She reflects on grief and specifically that of her friend Caroline Flack (of whom I am -not was - a huge fan of). Don't think this is about gossip, it is not. It's about a beautiful friendship and I suppose if your going to talk about 2020 as a whole then losing a friend is up there in the emotional rollercoaster ride.
Her writing style flows effortlessly that it feels like talking to a friend with a glass of wine in hand and having one of those candid off the record chats.
At one point she utters 'do I tell you too much?' absolutely Dawn. Absolutely. Please continue.
I find myself reflecting back to those dates also (bit of a blur really) and thinking yeah me too or no way!
This book has got me through 2020 (September to be precise) one page at a time!
Short, but packed with a punch diary updates charter her time during Lockdown. Hilariously, laugh out loud honest - playdough poo, too many crisps, washed down with a hella lot of booze....standard!
'i ate crisps for lunch. With a side of cheese. I did not exercise' - sounds utter bliss right?
Snippets like 'Jesus, did I just write a paragraph about putting sunscreen on my kids? RIVETING STUFF' had me smiling. Her honesty around parenting is hilarious, she will have you in stitches.
She reflects on grief and specifically that of her friend Caroline Flack (of whom I am -not was - a huge fan of). Don't think this is about gossip, it is not. It's about a beautiful friendship and I suppose if your going to talk about 2020 as a whole then losing a friend is up there in the emotional rollercoaster ride.
Her writing style flows effortlessly that it feels like talking to a friend with a glass of wine in hand and having one of those candid off the record chats.
At one point she utters 'do I tell you too much?' absolutely Dawn. Absolutely. Please continue.
I find myself reflecting back to those dates also (bit of a blur really) and thinking yeah me too or no way!
This book has got me through 2020 (September to be precise) one page at a time!
July 16, 2021
I am a fan of Dawn O’Porter and I loved her documentary series. I didn’t mind this book which is made up of diary entries, and additional thoughts from February until the middle of 2020. The diary entries, which centred around the coronavirus and being in lockdown, touches upon anxiety, eating, drinking, getting high, grief and motherhood. It also touched upon George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter protest and privilege, and what racism means and how she has learnt and read and has tried to be better. With all of this, it does at times come across as self-indulgent, and at times the level of privilege was quite hard to swallow. I am a huge fan of this writer and will continue to read her work in the future.
‘I’d go so far as to say that the smaller your life gets, the more room there is for your emotions to grow. Without the distraction of normal life, I have cried, hurt and loved harder than I ever thought possible. Ive been able to spend time with myself, my kids, my husband and my dog and my cat and now my fish. And I’ve realised that the way I feel when I am with them is me at my very best.’
‘I’d go so far as to say that the smaller your life gets, the more room there is for your emotions to grow. Without the distraction of normal life, I have cried, hurt and loved harder than I ever thought possible. Ive been able to spend time with myself, my kids, my husband and my dog and my cat and now my fish. And I’ve realised that the way I feel when I am with them is me at my very best.’
October 23, 2020
One of the things that I wish I had done was to have made a record of all the weird things that happened during lockdown. Like when I lost my sense of taste and smell or how we had a mouse and it terrorised us so much that we were held hostage by it, or how we would watch the daily briefings with shock, despair and anger at our governments handling of the whole ordeal. Alas, I did not. But Dawn O’Porter did.
In her latest release, Life in Pieces, Dawn O’Porter tells us about her lockdown and how she handles things such as the isolation, Covid-19, home schooling etc. It was such a tonic reading it and knowing that you weren’t alone in the weird lockdown feelings.
Some of the more poignant parts of Life in Pieces came when O’Porter talked about the death of her friend Caroline Flack. Her moments of stillness allowed you to take a moment yourself and realise that in times as strange as these have been to take note of the people around you that you love.
Another wonderful piece by O’Porter.
Life in Pieces by Dawn O’Porter is available now.
For more information regarding Dawn O’Porter please visit her Instagram page.
In her latest release, Life in Pieces, Dawn O’Porter tells us about her lockdown and how she handles things such as the isolation, Covid-19, home schooling etc. It was such a tonic reading it and knowing that you weren’t alone in the weird lockdown feelings.
Some of the more poignant parts of Life in Pieces came when O’Porter talked about the death of her friend Caroline Flack. Her moments of stillness allowed you to take a moment yourself and realise that in times as strange as these have been to take note of the people around you that you love.
Another wonderful piece by O’Porter.
Life in Pieces by Dawn O’Porter is available now.
For more information regarding Dawn O’Porter please visit her Instagram page.
October 6, 2021
An hilarious, no holding back look into how Dawn and her family coped through the pandemic. Dawn is absolutely so funny, I adore her other books, the cows and so lucky, and this one is just as good.
It's refreshing to see how someone else coped with the pandemic. I mean, this was a new thing for everyone. Nobody knew what they were doing, there was a killer virus around every corner and the world just basically stopped. Dawn is so honest, talking about her day to day life where sometimes she broke down and just gave up with home schooling. It's so honest, so real. An amazing read.
It's refreshing to see how someone else coped with the pandemic. I mean, this was a new thing for everyone. Nobody knew what they were doing, there was a killer virus around every corner and the world just basically stopped. Dawn is so honest, talking about her day to day life where sometimes she broke down and just gave up with home schooling. It's so honest, so real. An amazing read.
August 7, 2023
Wish I had stuck to just reading her fiction, Dawn’s pandemic memoir should be subtitled ‘Why lockdown is so much harder for the rich!’ Just imagine having no childcare! No wonder she subsisted on alcohol and weed. Meanwhile in the real world, people were dying and businesses collapsing. I think this was meant to be funny and thought provoking, but I just found her self absorption annoying.
October 15, 2020
Review coming soon!
November 30, 2020
I needed this, I'm glad I read it during 2020. Dawn normalised my day to day struggles and I related to her a lot. I laughed, I cried and I felt inspired.
January 31, 2021
It's definitely her worst book. Partly because it makes her look quite shallow as though she doesn't have much depth or understanding of the real struggles of 2020. I think that's the problem with this book as it hasn't allowed for any depths to be reached because it touches on so many subjects without them being explored.
The references to Covid make it seem like an inconvenience and her lockdown she constantly refers to the drinking and drug taking that they both did (while in charge of the child I add!) now that may seem like I'm being stuffy, but I've never been impressed by people who think drugs are cool. She pretty much got through lockdown surviving by drinking and taking weed everyday. Who is that relatable to really?!
Parts of the book were funny and slightly relatable, such as some parenting moments but the rest of it, not so much.
I appreciate that this is her experience of lockdown but I have to say, it's miles apart from my experience and everyone else's who I know. Again, maybe because there was no real detail or depth to the writing, I don't know, but it definitely didn't portray her in the best light to me.
The references to Covid make it seem like an inconvenience and her lockdown she constantly refers to the drinking and drug taking that they both did (while in charge of the child I add!) now that may seem like I'm being stuffy, but I've never been impressed by people who think drugs are cool. She pretty much got through lockdown surviving by drinking and taking weed everyday. Who is that relatable to really?!
Parts of the book were funny and slightly relatable, such as some parenting moments but the rest of it, not so much.
I appreciate that this is her experience of lockdown but I have to say, it's miles apart from my experience and everyone else's who I know. Again, maybe because there was no real detail or depth to the writing, I don't know, but it definitely didn't portray her in the best light to me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2020
3.5⭐️. I didn’t know what rating to give this book (audio version in my case) because for me, the very best part was Dawn’s narration of her story. She is engaging & I think it’s always best to hear a author read their own story. It’s funny in parts, annoying in others, honest, & engaging. I wonder how many of these “life in lockdown/isolation/covid times” will emerge. I think Dawn did a good job of documenting the day to day reality, the mundane while also weaving in other thoughts & stories. Well worth the 6.5hr listen.
January 12, 2021
I am a big fan on Dawn O’Porter as a person and author but I don’t think this was her best work.
It was readable and I smiled along with some of the same parenting situations during lockdown I had found myself in but it was a very repetitive read. Not a lot happened for anyone in lockdown so to try and write a book about this can’t have been an easy feat.
It was readable and I smiled along with some of the same parenting situations during lockdown I had found myself in but it was a very repetitive read. Not a lot happened for anyone in lockdown so to try and write a book about this can’t have been an easy feat.
October 15, 2020
⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really enjoyed this book at the start but the more it went on the more I had a few gripes.
It was a tad self indulgent & repetitive, with an over reliance on descriptions of kaftans, weed gummy’s & drinking every night.
What I did like was the reassurance that even Hollywood types struggled in lockdown & with home schooling. Also I got a real sense of Dawn’s grief.
Ok.
It was a tad self indulgent & repetitive, with an over reliance on descriptions of kaftans, weed gummy’s & drinking every night.
What I did like was the reassurance that even Hollywood types struggled in lockdown & with home schooling. Also I got a real sense of Dawn’s grief.
Ok.
July 21, 2023
This was awful. I’ve heard of pandemic books but nothing can convince of the validity of this text beyond self-indulgence. It reeks of privilege - from CBD to her level of alcohol consumption.
I did empathise with her grief over the loss of Caroline Flack - a close friend. Nobody does grief “right” and the thought of having to undergo that process while the world shut down? I can’t deal…
I did empathise with her grief over the loss of Caroline Flack - a close friend. Nobody does grief “right” and the thought of having to undergo that process while the world shut down? I can’t deal…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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