Dear Mr. You

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader. If you liked this, you might like more there.
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I'm not sure what I expected from this, but this wasn't it. But whatever this was? It was a real treat to read.

I guess it's basically, Alanis Morissette's in book form. The book is a compilation of letters to a wide assortment of men in her life – or adjacent to it – some named, some nicknamed (“Blue”), some described (“Cab Driver”).

The style varies from letter to letter, a little bit, but on the whole the voice is consistent, it's the content and audience that drives the mood. Seemingly very honest and candid, this carries all sorts of situation – the doctor who saved her life, the uncle of the girl she adopted, her grandfather, her daughter's future significant other, a few former paramours, a few total strangers. The strongest material involves her immediate family – her father, her son, her daughter, especially her father.

Given Parker's acting ability and the personal nature of this material, if she does the audiobook for this, I think it'd be more effective than than the dead-tree version. But that's just a guess.

Sure, not every letter is gold – a few bored me. But the majority kept me reading, entertaining me, making me chuckle, giving the occasional “aww” moment, and even jerking a few tears. Anyway you slice it, this lady can write.