Review of My New York Life

Bradley Shelvie · Post by **Bradley Shelvie** » 01 Dec 2021, 10:02

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "My New York Life" by Jessica Naioti.]

3 out of 4 stars

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"We bend but we don't break": this is a quote from the author's grandma, Francine Naioti, and it is certainly the greatest lesson I have taken from My New York Life by Jessica Naioti. The author details happenings in her life that shaped her—from growing up without a father, to getting involved in a car crash, to doing drugs and booze, and living a depressing life. Despite all that, the author has managed to pick up the broken pieces from her dark past and has made a turn for the better, or perhaps the best.

The author, through an account of her own life, speaks about issues like money, separation, and societal issues among others. She says she believes that by telling her own story in a book like this one, she would be able to enlighten other people to choose a better path than the one she trod, thus empowering them to be the best of themselves.

I must confess that I love the stories about the author's life, which I enjoyed reading. I relate with some of them since I've known people who have been through the same predicaments—growing up in an unstable family or growing up with trauma that haunts them for a long time, or even forever. While reading through the stories, I noticed an unadulterated honesty. This is because there are things in the book that are just too personal which someone won't just share easily, for example, her dealing with drugs among other dark histories. There are also many quotes in the book that I find uplifting and motivating, too.

In the story under 'The fearless woman', the author gives amazing insight into money and wealth. She says that whereas 8 out of 10 wealthy women have their affluence attributed to inheritance, there are some like Beyoncé who've proved that one can indeed be rich by working hard. She also details two types of wealthy people: those who are wealthy and give out what they have and yet never seem to run out of their worth, and the ones who've made risky decisions in their lives.

However, there are things I don't like about the book. First, the book is so confusing in the beginning. At first, you'll think the author would speak about taxes, fees, salaries, and the likes. However, as you continue, the author begins narrating about her life. This causes a total shift from the expectation you had already begun building. There is also the copy-paste of an email at the beginning with no body, whose importance or relevance I haven't understood till now.

Also, I don't agree with the author's belief that depressed people don't need psychiatric treatment. The success or failure of the treatment, I believe, depends on the willingness of the patient.

The author could also do better by making a clear distinction between chapters and paragraphs. It was difficult to know whether I was reading an entirely new chapter or just a different section that is a continuation of the previous. This is because the only break present is two or more blank lines, and many such breaks begin on the same page. Some chapters did have titles, but they looked like the rest of the text, and their use wasn't consistent. The book also has numerous errors at the beginning, though this improves as the book continues.

I rate the book 3 out of 4 stars. I deduct one star majorly due to the numerous errors in the book and the poor formatting, which did impede my reading pace and brought confusion severally. The remaining negative aspects are just but my personal critiques and opinions.

The book is perfect for those who want motivation for a fresh start in their lives. By relating to the author's life story, you'll be able to make yourself better or empower a soul or two. However, there are sensitive topics that you would want to take note of (like rape) before reading the book.

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My New York Life
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Georg Kelb · Post by **Georg Kelb** » 10 Dec 2021, 12:55

The book seems interesting. At some point in life we all need motivation. Thanks for the good review.

Review Writer · Post by **Review Writer** » 10 Dec 2021, 15:50

I always love self help book. This seems to give a rich reading experience. But I will also dislike it for having elements if confusion. thanks for your recommendation.