If you like Heather Armstrong's blog, you'll probably like this book. If you have been a regular reader of dooce.com for a long time, you'll probably already know most of the stories in this book. Heather talks about poop a lot. ( )

Heather Armstrong has a wonderful sense of humor, an outrageous outspokenness and tremendous courage and honesty. She shares in this memoir her profound love for her family and her understanding that she herself must be healthy so that all their lives, including hers, can be good. I laughed and cried and I loved this book - but read it yourself before you suggest it to someone anticipating or experiencing pregnancy and new motherhood. ( )

I enjoy her blog (Dooce), and it tightens up into a memoir very nicely. ( )

There were parts of this book that I really enjoyed, but there were also places where I'd quickly lose interest. I'm usually someone who gets *very* sucked into books, but I found myself putting this book down every few pages. At first I thought that maybe the book would just hold together better for people who had been regular readers of her blog -- I'd never heard of it before this book -- but from the reviews here, it looks like that's not the case.

That said, here are the parts of the book I really, really liked:

* Pretty much all the parts where she is interacting with her husband. These bits just seemed so much more vivid and real and interesting. Truthfully, I could see myself recommending this book to other people just based on those bits alone. I think most people in a relationship where one person battles depression could get a huge kick out of this.

* I know this is cheezy of me, but I love how the embossing on the cover makes it feel like real cross-stitch. :p ( )

Have you ever read a book that you were sad to see it end? That is the only way I can describe Heather Armstrong's latest book titled It Sucked and Then I Cried.

Heather Armstrong, one of the world's most famous bloggers with her site Dooce.com, doesn't hesitate to tell it like it is...about parenting and being a person who suffers chronic depression.

And when postpartum depression becomes the icing to the chronic depression cake, things can get totally whacked out and very hilarious to outsiders looking in.

One of my most favorite parts was in the beginning as Heather openly admits to suffering from chronic depression and seeks out help in the form of medication and therapy. However, once she and her husband Jon decide to have a baby, she stops taking the medication. From there, Jon is destined for the roller coast ride of his life with the three faces of Eve.

Heather tells of how Jon had spent the day moving "7,800 pounds of boxes from a moving truck into [their] new house," yet she had learned she was ovulating and was determined to do "the procedure." Before he even has a chance to catch his breath, she aggressively seeks to accomplish her mission. Jon, however, just doesn't have the strength to indulge her; telling her "It would take an act of God." Yet, unmedicated Heather hears only, "You are ovulating, and I don't love you." Why? Because, i n her words, she is insane.

It is this kind of quick, crazy-fueled humor that keeps the reader laughing throughout the entire book.

I was a bit hesitant to read it after seeing the reviews at Amazon, but I'm so glad that I went with my instinct.

Many reviewers felt that Heather's tales of parenting were a bit too dramatic and exaggerated. I, on the other hand, disagree. One must have suffered from chronic depression and/or postpartum depression to fully understand that things are that exaggerated and dramatic when in such a mental state. You're not making it up. You're not embellishing it. In your destined-for-the-loony-bin mind, it really happened just like that.

I think Heather is a great spokesperson for depression - chronic or postpartum. Her writing style will give sufferers a feeling of understanding while at the same time letting them know that they need to seek help; not just for themselves but for their families.

Is it regurgitated blog material? Somewhat. As a fan of Dooce.com, I was already somewhat familiar with the stories, yet somehow I related much more when reading it compiled in a book.

Not a sufferer of depression in any form? If you've got a wicked sense of humor, you'll still enjoy it. But be forewarned, Heather is rude, crude and socially unacceptable in the things she says and does. If you're easily offended by foul language or crude remarks, then I do not recommend it for you. ( )