Comments (14)

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Apr 11, 2020Luckybe rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
This story, THE RULES DO NOT APPLY, with all the heartache, pain and recognition perfectly captures why most of us play by the rules.
Jul 30, 2018MeghanEGroen rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
I found the author incredibly relatable despite the fact that we had few shared experiences. I highly recommend this book.
Apr 10, 2018vm510 rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
Levy's memoir focuses on her miscarriage, her divorce to her wife who suffers from alcoholism, and her general confusion as to what next steps she should take in her personal life. I think Levy is a talented writer. I enjoyed the first…
Mar 29, 2018DBRL_Jeremiah rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Tragedies scatter about our lives, usually. If a decade or more separates one loss — a job, a parent, a home, a pet — from another, is what’s lost a tragedy? For others, losses accumulate, completely warping their understanding of the…
Jan 03, 2018QnVz rated this title 1 out of 5 stars
Whoa! So disappointed in this book full of white privilege (ie. The Rules NEVER applied)! I read through because as a gay person, it is always interesting to hear how other couples made it (or didn't) because so much is heteronormative…
Oct 26, 2017Jennwill80 rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
I was disappointed in this read. Before I began the book, I assumed _The Rules Do Not Apply_ implied that she, Ariel Levy, had followed the rules all her life and thought that life would be fair and play out accordingly (as long as she…
Oct 24, 2017redtayres rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Judging from comments here and on goodreads.com, writer/author Ariel Levy is somewhat of a hot button for many readers. I wasn't two seconds into the first review of "The Rules Do Not Apply" on goodreads before the term "white-girl…
Oct 02, 2017wmtlady rated this title 1.5 out of 5 stars
One of my worst reading decisions has been to keep reading-skimming-reading after I found out how poorly this book was laid out. But I kept looking for some redemption in the author's story (it is, after all, a memoir); there was not. …
Sep 23, 2017singasong70 rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
Fascinating to hear how somebody tried to circumvent "the rules" by applying her own - to ill effect I might add, nor sure whose rules she's referring to in the title. Nor surprised about outcome of pregnancy, interesting couple with so…
Jul 09, 2017Sandra_SMB rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Ariel does an amazing job of describing the incredible lonely and severe anguish she felts after loosing her child due to a miscarriage. I have never been pregnant, but I know the feeling of having to move far away from a dear little boy…
Jun 27, 2017aday622 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
I am a notoriously slow reader, but read this in 2 days, it was so compelling. Levy's writing is beautifully eloquent and honest. Her story is both happy and tragic, and while she admittedly makes some poor choices in life, her reflection…
Jun 02, 2017lilypad_1 rated this title 2 out of 5 stars
Did not enjoy, only finished it because I like to hear about women's travel adventures but she did not have many of those. It seemed to me like I was reading her unedited journal, some introspection but not anything like Cheryl Strayed.
May 25, 2017Indoorcamping rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This woman is the best interviewer I've heard lately which is why I finally took the time to read this book. She is upbeat and positive and so good at getting people to share their experiences, and has such original ways of responding. So…
May 01, 2017ownedbydoxies rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Written in an easy, friendly voice, this book chronicles Levy's life with her parents, her move to independence and love, and then the losses she faced. It's interesting and engaging and I'd love to read more from her.