Book Talk: Let's Pretend This Never Happened

Hey Ladies,

This month, for BLLC, we read Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson. Here are some questions to spark our discussion.

1. In the early chapters, Jenny tells various stories about her childhood in the tiny Texas town of Wall. I related most to the stories she made up to try to make Wall more interesting. Did any of her childhood stories remind you of something that happened in your childhood?

2.  After Jenkins the turkey wrecked havoc at Jenny’s school, she decided to stop trying to fit in and just tried to be herself. Did you try to fit in at school or did you march to the beat of your own drummer? Was there any point that you stopped trying to fit in?

3.  Jenny talks about how her hometown changed over the years after she had gotten married and moved away. She comes to the realization that home is wherever Victor is. What is home for you? Is it a place or is it being with loved ones?

4.  When Jenny find out that she has a rare form of rheumatoid arthritis, she starts seeking out alternative medicines to help her with the pain. What do you think about alternative medicine and Jenny’s description of going to get acupuncture? At what level of pain do you think you would consider alternatives to traditional medicine?

Here are my answers:

1.  Jenny's experiences are totally different from my own but they did make me think of things in my childhood that when related to others, seem much worse than when I remember them myself.

2.  I more tried to fit in, during my school. It wasn't till high school that I realize that it was just to much trouble to keep up the pretense.

3.  I think that you carry home with you but you can feel a special connection with a place. I have lived all over the Bronx and when I visit other places I have lived it feels foreign, like I've never really lived there.

4.  I believe strongly in trying to find a natural solution to illness. I would probably start looking at alternative medicine as soon as I find out.