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Operating Instructions
Anne Lamott Book Review

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Plot Summary of Operating Instructions
"This is Anne Lamott's journal from the first year of her son's life. You can toss "What to Expect When You're Expecting" out the window--this book is what it's really like to have an infant in the house."
Lisa West, Resident Scholar

"The book is a humorous look at the task of raising a child in society. She is a Christian, so the pressure of being a single mother is one of the most unbearable ones. She is such an honest person about her fears as a mother and as a person. I think none of us are "good enough" to be parents, but this book brings the challenge into perspective. Maybe parenting is the ultimate show of how unqualified we all are in this mess of life. Her ability to appreciate things as well as hate them is a quality we all would love to have. She is as loveable as her son. A wonderful book!"
Shanna French, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of Operating Instructions
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book? - upbeat
Time/era of story - 1980's-1999
Kids growing up/acting up? Yes
Family, loving relations Yes
Special relationship with - son
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Ethnic/regional/gender life Yes
Woman's story? Yes

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status: - writer
Age: - 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
Ethnicity/Nationality - White (American)
How sensitive is this character? - soggy whimpering jelly muffin
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - none - Female
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 1 (None)
United States Yes
The US: - California

Style
Person - mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death? - no torture/death
Unusual Style: - a lot of play on words - a lot of flashback and forwards - a lot of stream of consciousness
Amount of dialog - little dialog
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Anne Lamott Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Samantha Brett  

SCHOLARS:
Janine Peterson  


Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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