“Perhaps they just had to get to a place where they were so tired of being silenced by themselves that they finally screamed, a place where the need to speak overwhelms the need for approval, where the desire to be heard overwhelms the desire to be loved, where the voice whispering *speak!* becomes louder than the one shouting *Feh*”
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This book was consistently humorous and hilarious which served to cut the earnestly serious topics so well. I thought the parallel between the flawed diamond and flawed self was beautiful, but it belied a much deeper and more persistent self loathing that I would come to understand as I moved through this memoir. 

I loved how Auslander was healing generational trauma by supporting his son’s identity and buying his wigs. This was an opportunity to choose better than his own father, and he took it. 

I liked the use of reinterpretation/retelling of biblical stories as a vehicle for anecdotes and personal history. I could really relate to his drive to get away from himself and sympathize with his search for oblivion through anything that would work. The quote about poisoning himself as self punishment was heartbreaking. 

I really loved thar this ended with a vision for change and some hope. Like many of us, seeing the good displayed at Steve’s coffee shop and in others is what brings Auslander to the conclusion that maybe change and self belief is possible for him too. I wouldn’t have picked this up on my own, but I’m really glad I read it ☺️