I stumbled onto this book through another author (Cathy Zielski)'s blog. This is a fresh approach to writing- no claim to be an extraordinary individual. Just the mundane activities that make up life. It is a great read and really made myself think about my own life. ( )

GREAT intro. Don't buy the book or take it home from the library. Read the intro; it's the only good part of the book. There are some other minor high points throughout, but it's not worth reading the whole thing to get to those parts. ( )

Take the curious and meaningful moments of a life, assign a keyword to each, and organize them alphabetically by keyword -- encyclopedia-style. The result is the thoroughly original Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life, a collection of insightful, clever, funny and tender observations.

For example:
CREAM SAUCE
I love any kind of cream sauce. My mother hates cream sauce but craved it when she was pregnant with me.

Notice where your thoughts are now ... on the contradiction and coincidence, yes? Or on yourself and your own mother? That's Amy Krouse Rosenthal at work, turning her ordinary life into something universal and engaging for readers. A thoroughly enjoyable memoir! ( )

To each their own. I'm not yet finished with this book, but I already love it, a lot. The author speaks to my quirks and life experience and I cannot overlook the significance of similar birthmarks and our extreme dislike of mint ice cream. I find this encyclopedia to be very interesting and amusing, and only wish I had thought of it first. And maybe that it wasn't so short. I'm trying to pace myself, but I'm running out of alphabet. ( )

After hearing about this book, I was convinced that I would love it. What a disappointment. Rosenthal compiles an encyclopedia of her life. I think the idea is wonderful, and in the hands of another author (Shannon Hale comes to mind.) might be fascinating. I enjoy reading about the ordinary aspects of others lives and find such pieces interesting. However, Rosenthal seems to be trying to validate her life through this book, but fails to find the meaning in the ordinary events that she describes. ( )