I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
The title? Definitely grabs your attention. I have to be honest; I didn’t really know how to take it. At first, I will admit I was a little bit offended, but if I’m being honest with myself, I think that’s because of my own baggage. I lost my mom to the awful C word— cancer when I was 13, so to me, I am anything but glad my mom died. It especially hits hard for me because February is the anniversary month of her death.
Having said that, after reading this book. I get it. Jennette McCurdy’s story is as heartbreaking as it is empowering. What she went through, especially starting at such a young age, six-years-old when she had her first audition, and how relatively unscathed she came out on the other side is truly an inspiration. Don’t get me wrong, when I say unscathed, that is not taking what she went through lightly. I say unscathed as in it’s a miracle that she came out the other side at all.
Jennette McCurdy tells her tale in a humorous, yet compelling way, giving the reader a behind the scenes look at what it can be like in the acting industry, especially for a child star. She shows us that it is ok to love someone even though you think they are a bad person.
How far would you go to make your mother happy?
The contrast of who she had to be on screen to who she had to be in real life, in my opinion, is simply amazing. I remember watching this sweet girl on iCarly and thinking what a well-rounded girl she must be in order to play the character she played. Now having read her book and thinking back to that character. WOW! There were no clues to us at home about the struggles this poor kid was enduring. From anorexia to bulimia, from being humiliated, shamed, and constantly micromanaged— by her mother none the less. Yet here she is. Full of humility, pride, and managing her own life— Doing what she wants to do, not what someone else needs her to do.
I’ve heard of vicariously living your life through someone else, but your child? And at this cost? How does a parent do this? I can’t even begin to fathom all that she went through, the daily weigh ins, calorie restriction, or not having an ounce of anything to yourself, not even your basic thoughts hopes or fears that she kept in her diary or the ability to have any modesty. She was showered by her mom until she was sixteen-years-old.
If you haven’t read this book, it is a total recommend! You can get it here from Amazon, or for free when you sign up for a free trial from Audible. This book is read by the author herself. You can’t get a much more personal delivery of someone’s story than that.
Until next time, stay brash, stay bookish and stay true to you!
