Book review: Help Me!

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By Marianne Power
Published by Picador

 Synopsis: Marianne Power was stuck in a rut. Then one day she wondered: could self-help books help her find the elusive perfect life?

 She decided to test one book a month for a year, following their advice to the letter. What would happen if she followed the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People? Really felt The Power of Now? Could she unearth The Secret to making her dreams come true?

 What begins as a clever experiment becomes an achingly poignant story. Because self-help can change your life – but not necessarily for the better…

 How did this book end up in my hands? I saw this book mentioned on Twitter and it sounded intriguing so when I found the audiobook version on the BorrowBox app, I jumped right in.

 Was it a page-turner? I took my time to listen to this book to make sure I absorbed whatever I could. I have never read self-help books so this was my way of letting someone else do all the work for me… hehe! I probably would have enjoyed more having a physical copy to refer back to.

 Having read the synopsis, did the book meet my expectations? I dived into the book without any specific expectations. However, because I was listening to the audiobook narrated by the author herself, I expected this would make me feel closer to her experiences. I still liked the book but I didn’t feel the connection I needed to feel more engaged.

 Did I like the ending? [no spoilers] Our quest for happiness doesn’t necessarily end so I don’t see this book has having an ending. Even when we reach what we perceive as a breakthrough, that is not the end.

 Three words to describe it. Funny. Touching. Insightful.

 Do I like the cover? Yes, I think it’s cute!

 Have I read any other books by the same author? I believe this is the author’s debut novel but – as she is a journalist too – I wonder whether I’ve come across some of her writing before, without even realising.

 Will I be recommending this book? Yes, it is definitely an interesting concept, which I think would appeal both self-help converts and sceptics. 

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