Review of Don't Mind Me, I'm Just Having a Bad Life
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MAUREEN WAMBUI NJUKI
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Review of Don't Mind Me, I'm Just Having a Bad Life
[Following is a volunteer review of "Don't Mind Me, I'm Just Having a Bad Life" by Lewis Kempfer.]
For Lewis Kempfer, life seems to have played him a bad hand. In this candid and bitter-sweet memoir, he lays his life bare. He shares his life from a traumatic childhood, having been abused physically and psychologically by trusted male figures in his life. This caused him a lethal self-hatred that would only get worse as he tried everything to gain acceptance and love from men, and how this need for approval and endorsement led him to make unwise decisions that further hurt him. He vulnerably shares how he was introduced to sexual acts very early in his life and how he would end up in a dark hole of addiction to dangerous and high-risk sex. Additionally, Lewis shares his career struggles after dropping out of college, waiting tables at fast food joints, and making his debut as a country music singer. Then moving from city to city in search of love and a career, to eventually working at his dream job at Disney. Moreover, he candidly shares about his estranged relationship with organized religion, getting into heartbreaking relationships and falling into crystal meth addiction, and how God saved him at his darkest moment of a near-death overdose.
Don't Mind Me, I'm Just Having a Bad Life is not your typical memoir. I loved how the author was explicitly raw, authentic, and vulnerable. He let us in on all his lows and highs without any reservations. Very few people would be willing to let people know their darkest moments, and I applaud the author's strength in sharing his life to become valuable lessons for many. I also loved that the author infused a lot of humor while sometimes dark and self-demeaning; it helped break the somewhat disturbing and difficult topics. Additionally, I loved the flow of the book. The synchrony and proper organization of events kept my mind captivated. The vivid descriptions and the details in the book were also instrumental in understanding his life and what he was going through.
The only thing I did not like in the book is that while Lewis shares that he was diagnosed with HIV, he rarely mentions if the disease had any effects on him. I felt that due to the "reckless" life he was leading and not eating healthy, some effects should have been evident. He only shares once about the decline in his t-cells.
Overall, I think this book is a masterpiece, and I rate it 4 out of 4 stars. It was exceptionally well edited, well written, and the most honest and unfiltered book I've read. I can't wait to get my hands on the second installment of Lewis' memoir.
I recommend the book to a mature audience over 21 who enjoy reading memoirs and real-life stories of triumph. More specifically, anyone who struggles with self-acceptance and negative thoughts might find this book helpful as there is a hope of redemption in the story. However, the book contain severe instances of rough gay sex, drug use, and self-loathing talk. Therefore if you think any of that might trigger you, you should probably shun the book.
******
Don't Mind Me, I'm Just Having a Bad Life
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
For Lewis Kempfer, life seems to have played him a bad hand. In this candid and bitter-sweet memoir, he lays his life bare. He shares his life from a traumatic childhood, having been abused physically and psychologically by trusted male figures in his life. This caused him a lethal self-hatred that would only get worse as he tried everything to gain acceptance and love from men, and how this need for approval and endorsement led him to make unwise decisions that further hurt him. He vulnerably shares how he was introduced to sexual acts very early in his life and how he would end up in a dark hole of addiction to dangerous and high-risk sex. Additionally, Lewis shares his career struggles after dropping out of college, waiting tables at fast food joints, and making his debut as a country music singer. Then moving from city to city in search of love and a career, to eventually working at his dream job at Disney. Moreover, he candidly shares about his estranged relationship with organized religion, getting into heartbreaking relationships and falling into crystal meth addiction, and how God saved him at his darkest moment of a near-death overdose.
Don't Mind Me, I'm Just Having a Bad Life is not your typical memoir. I loved how the author was explicitly raw, authentic, and vulnerable. He let us in on all his lows and highs without any reservations. Very few people would be willing to let people know their darkest moments, and I applaud the author's strength in sharing his life to become valuable lessons for many. I also loved that the author infused a lot of humor while sometimes dark and self-demeaning; it helped break the somewhat disturbing and difficult topics. Additionally, I loved the flow of the book. The synchrony and proper organization of events kept my mind captivated. The vivid descriptions and the details in the book were also instrumental in understanding his life and what he was going through.
The only thing I did not like in the book is that while Lewis shares that he was diagnosed with HIV, he rarely mentions if the disease had any effects on him. I felt that due to the "reckless" life he was leading and not eating healthy, some effects should have been evident. He only shares once about the decline in his t-cells.
Overall, I think this book is a masterpiece, and I rate it 4 out of 4 stars. It was exceptionally well edited, well written, and the most honest and unfiltered book I've read. I can't wait to get my hands on the second installment of Lewis' memoir.
I recommend the book to a mature audience over 21 who enjoy reading memoirs and real-life stories of triumph. More specifically, anyone who struggles with self-acceptance and negative thoughts might find this book helpful as there is a hope of redemption in the story. However, the book contain severe instances of rough gay sex, drug use, and self-loathing talk. Therefore if you think any of that might trigger you, you should probably shun the book.
******
Don't Mind Me, I'm Just Having a Bad Life
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Latest Review: Praesidium by McKinley Aspen
