Review for Gingered. by Ryan G. Murphy

I wasn’t sure about reading this one based on just the blurb, but something made me at least open up the excerpt and take a look. By the end of the first page, I had already decided I needed to read this. Going against the norm, the part the author chose to hook people in isn’t the start but from one of the moments later on. While the beginning is just as strong as the rest of the book, I think that was a wise choice because of just how relatable that moment is: the sweaty pressure of trying to fit in at a middle school dance.

Gingered. isn’t written as a single narrative line but rather a collection of short vignettes progressing through the author’s life. Largely, the progression seemed like it was chronological which is a definite preference of mine. So even though each chapter could almost be classified as a separate short story depicting a moment from the author’s life, the overall work still felt cohesive. If anything, the way each chapter seems contained became only a plus for me. If you have to stop reading (you won’t want to), it’s easy to at least get that quick little shot from feeling a sense of completion at the end of each chapter.

The humor initially drew me in, but that’s not all this book offers either. Be prepared to run a gamut of different emotions. Murphy holds nothing back, letting it all out on the page. The awkwardness of first kisses, the heartbreak of losing someone you’ve been close to for as long as you can remember, the beauty of a relationship that gives as well as it takes. Tone, voice, and word choice make it feel like a friend sharing their stories as opposed to a stranger.

Looking at it objectively, the author’s life might be considered more ‘normal’ than what most would think of for a memoir. But it’s the lens Murphy makes us look through that truly made this book such a joy to read. Well, that and the near flawless writing.

Gingered. is available to buy on Amazon.