ipl-logo

Jenny Lawson's Furiously Happy

955 Words4 Pages

Jenny Lawson’s “Koalas Are Full of Chlamydia” from her book Furiously Happy is a humorous read, one can predict that it would be just from the rather intriguing title. The name, like the writing style of the author, demands the readers’ attention, and compliments the fairly interesting account of her and her friend Laura’s adventures in Australia. The book is an overall enjoyable read because it connects to the readers by using informally descriptive language, hilarious conversations and outlandish trains of thought. Throughout the piece, the author uses first person and other kinds of informal language to describe her thoughts and experiences, making the piece non-academic, and perhaps more universally engaging to the readers. The reading immediately starts out with, “’So apparently I’m really leaving for the Australian outback tomorrow,’ I said to the storm trooper beside me” (Lawson 161). The content of that sentence itself invokes curiosity, but the fact that it is in first person, with little explanation as to why, forces the reader to be immersed in the character’s, or in this case the author’s point of view. She also, in multiple instances, directly interacts with the readers and makes them a tangible part of her writing by conversing with them, breaking the …show more content…

How she addresses her everyday happenings and other situations are rather unexpected, giving her readers a fresh look at the world through someone else’s eyes. Lawson also said in the interview that, “This book is about my battle with mental illness, but, more importantly, it’s about celebrating the battles we win against life and b.s. and sometimes our very brains”. Her unique and honest responses to otherwise discomfiting situations makes “Koalas Are Full of Chlamydia” a stimulating and wholly thought–provoking

Show More
Related
1783 Words | 8 Pages

Using third-person sets distance from the author and the characters, which provides clarity. The whole book is told out of chronological order, which means that a reader can become easily confused. By doing this, the story becomes a lot less clear. Setting Describe the setting(s) and the mood the setting(s) create Describe the significance of the OPENING scenes from the

Read More
693 Words | 3 Pages

This allows him to provide the key details which make the events meaningful, while still allowing him to cover a large number of events and demonstrate the scale of the issue. While describing one night, during which he frightened a woman who he happened to be walking behind, he takes time to describe his appearance and how it likely affected the woman’s actions. Though this detail is not essential for him to tell his story, it allows the reader to achieve a deeper understanding of the events by placing themselves in both his shoes, and the woman’s. Rather than simply stating that the event happened, he expands his points by guiding the reader through the thought process of the people he encountered. This allows them to achieve a much deeper understanding of the causes of the problem he is attempting to address, all without significantly decreasing the number of encounters he is able

Read More
730 Words | 3 Pages

Though not written in first person, the author was still able to manufacture a link to the characters, preventing any kind of distatchment that can sometimes stem from a thrid person omniscient point of view. The character of Matlock, especially, left me as the reader on the edge of my seat at one moment, feeling heartbroken the next, and then laughing at one of his arrogant jokes. I was pleased with the plotline of the story, as it allowed for tension to be build, predictions to be made, and shock factors to be opened at the turn of each page. I felt as if I were absorbed wholly in the treachery, treason, and terror encompassed the fearful life of

Read More
560 Words | 3 Pages

The use of evidence, appeal to patriotism and fear all appeal to the emotions of the reader and recommends that they make a change. The hard-hitting evidence that bowel cancer "kills more than 4000 people" every year brings the realisation of the reality of this issue. Death is a topic that strikes an emotion in the majority of the population, as most have experienced it, therefore this use of evidence catches the attention of the reader, making them feel more engaged with the article and connected with it 's contents. Barbecues are a staple part to the Australian culture. The articulation that this new found information is "bad news" for those who enjoy the iconic tradition causes the reader feel dismayed.

Read More
734 Words | 3 Pages

“What a disgrace!” he states before labelling those who exhibit unnecessary violent behaviour “sub-human scumbags who deserve to rot” further demonstrating his disgust towards the matter by using emotive and colourful language. These phrases gain reader attention, drawing their focus even deeper into the current topic. Continuing with the informal language, Sawyer claims in simple terms “I don't think it’s Australian”. The casual tone causes readers to feel as though they are in a conversation with the writer rather than reader an article, making them more inclined to be in agreement.

Read More
1706 Words | 7 Pages

She states, “ I've struggled with many forms of mental illness since i was a kid,but clinical depression is a semi regular visitor and anxiety is my long term abusive boyfriend”(2). Lawson is informing the audience that she has a close relationship with mental illness, and her statements come from experience not facts from doctors. The entirety of the book is based off of instances that Lawson has encountered throughout her life, whether it is good or bad. “ I suspect that I am being stalked by a mad woman. I am.

Read More
1552 Words | 7 Pages

In the first paragraph of the first chapter in the novel, Yonnondio by Tillie Olsen, the speaker is speaking in third-person. The narrator is someone who is able to get in the mind of the characters and knows what is going on at any point in time. This is illustrated in the first paragraph because the narrator talks about Mazie Holbrook, and uses words such as “she” and “her” to describe what is going on. 2.

Read More
655 Words | 3 Pages

“True!- nervous-very,very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad?” (par. 1) First person point of view is unique, because it shows the reader every thought of the main character. Other points of view convey the thoughts

Read More
538 Words | 3 Pages

Observing each character, the book draws attention to the inner dialogue and struggles they

Read More
660 Words | 3 Pages

Alison Smith’s memoir- Name All the Animals details the aftermath of the tragic death of her brother, Roy. The memoir highlights Smith’s struggle to define herself in the midst of dealing with her own sense of loss, the pressures of adolescence, and her dysfunctional family. In attempts to define herself, Smith questions several fundamental elements in her life, such as her faith and her own sexual identity.. Realizing that her answers differed from those around her, Smith had to make a decision to no longer play Kremlin.

Read More
660 Words | 3 Pages

In The Jungle, Sinclair expresses deep emotions towards the slaughtering of hogs, even going as far as to say their suffering deserved some sort of redemption (Sinclair 37). The bias Sinclair feels towards the hogs are clearly expressed through his disheartened tone and voice, which he uses quite often throughout his entire novel. His deep emotions towards the mistreatment capture the hearts of the readers and urges them to support Sinclair’s cause. Similarly, Pollan communicates his bias with the use of expressive words such as ‘miserable,’ ‘bored,’ and ‘indifferent’ (Pollan 80). This tone brought by Pollan gives the reader a sense of sadness.

Read More
978 Words | 4 Pages

Knowles makes the vision the reader grasps of every character sharp and in focus. A Separate peace goes in depth to every character to give them a specific identity. Throughout the book Knowles brings up key qualities of each character to make the situation different. As a reader follows the story the identity of the character develops further and further. By doing this the author leaves the reader always wanting

Read More
546 Words | 3 Pages

This first sentence in the passage immediately makes the reader wonder about the setting and what’s going on. In other words, the author W.W. Jacobs grabs the reader’s attention by making the readers think and be curious about

Read More
1059 Words | 5 Pages

Currently, the U.S. has accumulated roughly one trillion dollars worth of debt from student loans. (cite) But, what if student debt was forgiven overnight? Now if student debt was eliminated all at once it would be an enormous expense for private lenders and the federal government. Yet, people continually suggest the dissolution of student loans with a one-time payment plan from the government.

Read More
1881 Words | 8 Pages

War has no boundaries. It separates families, tears down homes full of memories, and turns people against each other. A memorable piece of literature that epitomizes the true effects of war is Obasan by Joy Kogawa. Obasan is a valuable piece of literature; it shows another aspect of World War II and its devastating effects. Japanese-Canadians are silenced, brutalized, and punished due to the paranoia of war.

Read More

More about Jenny Lawson's Furiously Happy

Related Topics

Open Document