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Title details for Bomb Shelter by Mary Laura Philpott - Available

Bomb Shelter

by Mary Laura Philpott
Mary Laura Philpott
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
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1 of 1 copy available
A New York Times Editors' Choice
One of NPR's Best Books of the Year

"A beautifully wrought ode to life...a precious gift to the world." —The Washington Post

From the bestselling author of I Miss You When I Blink comes a poignant and powerful new memoir that tackles the big questions of life, death, and existential fear with humor and hope.
As a daughter, mother, and friend, Mary Laura Philpott considered herself an "anxious optimist"—a natural worrier with a stubborn sense of good cheer. And while she didn't really think she had any sort of magical protective powers, she believed in her heart that as long as she loved her people enough, she could keep them safe.

Then, in the early hours of one dark morning at home, her belief was upended. In the months that followed, she turned to poignant memories, priceless stories, and a medley of coping mechanisms (with comically mixed success) to regain her equilibrium and find meaning in everyday wonders.

Hailed by The Washington Post as "Nora Ephron, Erma Bombeck, Jean Kerr, and Laurie Colwin all rolled into one," Philpott tackles the big questions of life, death, and existential fear—not to mention the lessons of an inscrutable backyard turtle—with hope, humor, and joy.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    April 12, 2022

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781797136172
      • File size: 203073 KB
      • Duration: 07:03:04

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      In this essay collection, author and narrator Mary Laura Philpott brings to life the worries, absurdities, and challenges that arise from loving people through life's transitions. Philpott's perceptive presentation invites listeners to hear her inner dialogue as she reflects on parenting a child diagnosed with epilepsy, as well as dealing with aging parents, the loss of beloved pets, and becoming middle-aged. Philpott sensitively narrates themes ranging in emotion from profound--her feelings surrounding the approaching departure of her growing children--to humorous--her descriptions of Frank the turtle, who roams her yard at will, a living symbol of patience and loyalty. Through these vignettes, Philpott draws meaningful conclusions with an engaging style. D.H.R. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
    • Library Journal

      Starred review from September 1, 2022

      Philpott (I Miss You When I Blink) narrates her second memoir-in-essays with a friendly, natural cadence and expressive humor that perfectly matches her accessible and honest writing style. In this collection of essays, Philpott ruminates on the pleasures and terrors of everyday life. She shifts easily between memories of enduring major crises (a life-altering diagnosis) to finding meaning in the simplest moments (existential truths revealed by backyard turtles). Spatchcocking a turkey for the first time or building the perfect capsule wardrobe might seem like stories lacking gravitas in a collection that begins with her teenage son having a seizure on the bathroom floor. According to Philpott's joyful philosophy, however, a little absurdity shouldn't stop people from taking her seriously. Listeners may find themselves persuaded to her approach as she speaks candidly about her lifelong anxiety and how family, community, and conscious living haven't stopped bombs from dropping but have instead helped her to weather the inevitable explosions. VERDICT An irresistible listening experience. Philpott's blending of deep insights with domestic relatability will appeal to fans of Glennon Doyle and Jenny Lawson.--Lauren Kage

      Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • Publisher's Weekly

      December 20, 2021
      Philpott (I Miss You When I Blink) explores life’s pleasures and uncertainties in this wry if meandering collection of essays. She searches for meaning in the noteworthy and the mundane, sleekly juxtaposing lamentations about her herniated discs (an injury caused by “too many years hunched over a laptop”) with deeply affecting reflections on such life-altering experiences as her son’s first seizure. She also humorously investigates her own contradictory nature, as a person who’s both immensely anxious and overly cheerful: “Am I here to tell you we’re all going to die? Yes. Am I here to give you a pep talk along the way? Also yes!” Occasionally, though, she wanders down a winding path of tangential thoughts and unrelated asides; for instance, the surprising news that her dad worked at Raven Rock, a secret underground military bunker, zigzags her to the moment when she learned, after two decades of living with her husband, that he could juggle. While the scattershot narration can distract, Philpott draws readers back in with her philosophical and witty musings—from wondering about her place in the universe to remembering a family dog that would only eat to the music of Kanye West. Rambling tendencies aside, this quirky work has a lot of heart.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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