Review – Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life
Amy Krouse Rosenthal's Autobiographical "Reference" Book
Sep 18, 2009
"I have not survived against all odds. I have not lived to tell. I have not witnessed the extraordinary. This is my story." So opens Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s 2005 book Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life, a book that may be as hard to categorize as its author. Not an autobiography per se, but full of autobiographical musings, this delightful read is in the guise of a reference book…an encyclopedia to be exact.
Under alphabetized entries like “brother,” “dying,” husband,” and “Q-Tip” the author holds forth on her personal experience with each topic. The listings are sometimes funny, sometimes serious, but always thoughtful and thought-provoking.
On “Busy” she writes: “You name the question, ‘Busy’ is the answer. Yes, yes, I know we are all terribly busy doing terribly important things. Have people always been this busy? Did cavemen think they were busy, too? ‘This week is crazy—I’ve got about ten caves to draw on. Can I meet you by the fire next week?’ ”
Chicago Author Krouse Rosenthal is Also Radio Host, Filmmaker
Author Amy Krouse Rosenthal is a Chicago writer with a wide background in all-things-creative. Besides Encyclopedia of An Ordinary Life, she has written several children’s books, including Little Pea and One of Those Days, with several more in the works. Her show Writers Block Party on WBEZ (Chicago Public Radio) radio has been a staple for nearly a decade.
Amy’s most recent (and most ambitious) project is a global creative/artistic/film concept called The Beckoning of Lovely. It grew organically from a short YouTube film she made for fun. When she called for folks to meet her at Chicago’s “Bean” sculpture at 8/8/08 at 8:08 pm and hundreds showed up, she knew this thing was going to be big. From that little experiment will come a full-length feature film to be released—Rosenthal hopes—on 10/10/10.
Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life Inspires Readers to Take a New Look
It is this kind of quirkily creative mindset that infuses Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life with freshness and makes it tough to put down. Like peanuts, just one more handful, just one more passage, is necessary. Not many books come with their own theme song, and the occasional “Golden Prize Ticket” (redeemable for a butterscotch surprise package, a cell-phone coffee date with the author, or several other funky choices).
Besides being a bit addictive, this is also one of those books/ideas you wish you’d thought of yourself. Rosenthal’s depth of observance inspires the reader to take a new look around, pay closer attention, perhaps keep track of their own life a little better. What better recommendation is there for a book than that?
Rosenthal, Amy Krouse. Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life, 2005, Crown. 240 pages. (ISBN: 978-1400080458).
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