A Beautiful Mess

By: Ali Berlinski. Format: Ebook. Read: September 2013.

A Brooklyn elementary school teacher who doesn’t quite fit in anywhere and goes to Spain to find time to write and connect with herself. Ali Berlinski is a unique individual that grew up on both coasts and as an only child-youngest child-oldest child. Not to mention the fact that she is bi-racial too and people assume her step-mom is her actual mom. This is her first book and it is the story of her life.

A Beautiful Mess is an intriguing, yet humorous account of the author’s life. Written as though the author is speaking to her friends, readers will find themselves awkwardly laughing even during the more trying times in Berlinski’s life. The author is very honest in all the emotions she experienced while being part of a large, chaotic family. However, the book did not flow smoothly, and could benefit from rearranging some of the chapters. At the end, in the author bio, it is mentioned that this is her first novel, yet it is clearly a memoir. There are a few grammar errors and the ending will leave readers with a few unanswered questions. On the other hand, this memoir sets up several scenarios that will stimulate the readers’ mind and make them question their own feelings and responses, if they were in a similar situation.

This book was nice and I appreciated how it felt like I was inside the author’s mind, like two friends chatting about their hectic lives over dinner. I also appreciate the fact that the author is giving back to the world, by donating a children’s book to a child in need for every purchased copy of A Beautiful Mess. I enjoyed the uniqueness and craziness of her everyday family life, yet the majority of the drama most everyone, including myself, can relate.

Enjoy!
~Ariesgrl

Note:

The publisher for the author gave me a copy of this book to review. To learn more about this author and her work, please visit her website.