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Regina's Reviews > Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
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I suppose my experience with Maybe You Should Talk to Someone was a bit like the experience of finding the right therapist. While it came highly recommended, it just wasn’t the perfect fit for me.
In this memoir, Lori Gottlieb weaves the stories of her own therapy sessions between those of her patients. She’s honest about her personal struggles as well as her internal thoughts about those she’s treating, and I think maybe that latter bit was part of the stumbling block for me. It may not have been her intention (and probably wasn’t), but I detected an air of judgment that could be a barrier to those seeking the normalization of therapy and mental health issues. In rereading the publisher synopsis, I do note that it doesn’t say anywhere that her thesis was to normalize therapy. So I might have gone into the book with the wrong expectations.
It’s also possible a few of the patients Gottlieb profiles challenged me. One is a writer of a hit TV show, and I couldn’t shake the urge to try to figure out who he really is. Very distracting. Another is a young woman struggling with a terminal cancer diagnosis, and that’s just never going to be something I like reading about.
I know I’m in the minority here, so this is a classic case of “it’s not you, it’s me.” I was thoroughly engaged the entire time, even if I didn’t get out of it what I wanted.
Maybe I should talk to someone… else.
In this memoir, Lori Gottlieb weaves the stories of her own therapy sessions between those of her patients. She’s honest about her personal struggles as well as her internal thoughts about those she’s treating, and I think maybe that latter bit was part of the stumbling block for me. It may not have been her intention (and probably wasn’t), but I detected an air of judgment that could be a barrier to those seeking the normalization of therapy and mental health issues. In rereading the publisher synopsis, I do note that it doesn’t say anywhere that her thesis was to normalize therapy. So I might have gone into the book with the wrong expectations.
It’s also possible a few of the patients Gottlieb profiles challenged me. One is a writer of a hit TV show, and I couldn’t shake the urge to try to figure out who he really is. Very distracting. Another is a young woman struggling with a terminal cancer diagnosis, and that’s just never going to be something I like reading about.
I know I’m in the minority here, so this is a classic case of “it’s not you, it’s me.” I was thoroughly engaged the entire time, even if I didn’t get out of it what I wanted.
Maybe I should talk to someone… else.
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Reading Progress
May 4, 2019
– Shelved as:
to-read
May 4, 2019
– Shelved
February 18, 2021
–
Started Reading
February 22, 2021
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-28 of 28 (28 new)
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Paromjit
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Feb 24, 2021 08:14AM
Fascinating review, Regina......so very interesting! :) 💝
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Love the snark in the last sentence. 🤣 Great review, as always! Hopefully you'll be reading a winner soon!
A very fair review, Regina! I can see how a perceived air of judgment towards her clients would be off putting.
Paromjit wrote: "Fascinating review, Regina......so very interesting! :) 💝"Thanks Paromjit! I appreciate that since it's often hard to be the minority opinion on a book!
Michael wrote: "Love the snark in the last sentence. 🤣 Great review, as always! Hopefully you'll be reading a winner soon!"Ha, thank you! I gotta be me. ;)
Melissa wrote: "A very fair review, Regina! I can see how a perceived air of judgment towards her clients would be off putting."Thanks so much, Melissa. I do wish I had liked it a bit more.
Enjoyed reading your review, Regina. Sometimes talking to myself, but not out loud :), is therapeutic.
Nice review! This book got a lot of hype, but I guess I wasn't the right reader for it either. 3-star read for me too.
Orhan wrote: "Enjoyed reading your review, Regina. Sometimes talking to myself, but not out loud :), is therapeutic."Thanks Orhan! I must admit, I do the same thing. :)
Lucy wrote: "Nice review! This book got a lot of hype, but I guess I wasn't the right reader for it either. 3-star read for me too."Thanks Lucy, glad it wasn't just me. I'm reading Good Morning, Monster now, and that's much more in line with what I was seeking I guess.
That last line of your review is perfection!! 😂
What a perfect last line! 😂 Great review!
I did enjoy this one but no book is for every reader, right? I hope your next one is better :)
JanB wrote: "I did enjoy this one but no book is for every reader, right? I hope your next one is better :)"Thank you, Jan! I know many, many people loved this book, so I really respect your POV on it.
Nancy wrote: "That last line of your review is perfection!! 😂"Thanks Nancy! Couldn't resist. ;)
I am naturally suspect with books such as this from ‘professional’s’ that “reveal and compare”. IMO reputable therapists don’t do this in print for profit. They simply focus on their patients/clients. And, they don’t judge! Period! A deeply intuitive review, Regina!
Virginie wrote: "What a perfect last line! 😂 Great review!"Thank you Virginie! I saw you DNF'd it, which makes me feel not quite as bad for only giving it a 3-star review. :)
Terrie wrote: "I am naturally suspect with books such as this from ‘professional’s’ that “reveal and compare”. IMO reputable therapists don’t do this in print for profit. They simply focus on their patients/clien..."Thanks for the support, Terrie! Nice to have you in my corner!
Lol, someone else indeed! It doesn't sound like my kind of book either. Fab review Regina!
Jayme wrote: "Great closing line!"Haha, thanks Jayme! ;)
Nicole wrote: "Lol, someone else indeed! It doesn't sound like my kind of book either. Fab review Regina!"Thank you Nicole! I'm glad you're with me on this! :)
Great review Regina, sorry it was just ok for you. I enjoyed this — liked seeing the aspects of patient and therapist, and was also curious to try to find out what show that patient worked on! I don’t know that I have any decent guesses though ;)
Brandice wrote: "Great review Regina, sorry it was just ok for you. I enjoyed this — liked seeing the aspects of patient and therapist, and was also curious to try to find out what show that patient worked on! I do..."Thanks, Brandice. I saw there's a whole Q&A thread on the book's page with people tossing out guesses about his identity, and they're all over the place!
Kathleen wrote: "Love your review! :)"Thank you Kathleen! That's kind of you to say.
I can't wait to hear your thoughts on Good Morning, Monster - I've been curious about it. I'm sorry this one was the wrong fit. Great review, Regina!
Kat wrote: "I can't wait to hear your thoughts on Good Morning, Monster - I've been curious about it. I'm sorry this one was the wrong fit. Great review, Regina!"I finished it today! 5 stars for that one. I'm hoping to get my review up tomorrow! Thank you, Kat. :)
