Crazy Joy by Mary Katherine Backstrom

 

Crazy Joy: Finding Wild Happiness in a World That's Upside Down by Mary Katherine Backstrom is a fun collection of Backstrom's insights and experiences related to finding joy within our life and circumstances.

Crazy Joy begins with Backstrom introducting herself and a bit about who she is and why she wrote this book. Right off the bat, she tells the reader about her challenges and how she has chosen to see better things in the midst of them many times. Throughout the book, Backstrom invites readers to be who God created them to be and not to live life to meet other people's expectations. She encourages people to see their strengths and not to compare themselves with other people in real life or on social media. Most of all, she encourages readers to find the joy in the midst of all the messes in life. 

Crazy Joy is refreshing in that Backstrom is honest and up front about who she is. I like that she is that way. She invites readers to be themselves and to love themselves as they are--as well as their friends. Each chapter ends with some take-aways that help readers apply Backstrom's thoughts to their own lives. There are a handful of cuss words in the book so this isn't squeaky clean for those who are looking for that in this book. However, she keeps it real and this is a book that many of us can relate to. She talks about her thoughts regarding the pandemic and how she is learning to go back into society after living secluded for awhile. I think Crazy Joy would be a good book for a book club to talk about as well, as being one to read on your own.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions within this review are my own.