Bomb Shelter, Mary Laura Philpott
Bomb Shelter, Mary Laura Philpott
List: $19.99 | Sale: $13.99
Club: $9.99

Bomb Shelter

Author: Mary Laura Philpott

Narrator: Mary Laura Philpott

Unabridged: 7 hr 3 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/12/2022


Synopsis

A New York Times Editors’ Choice
One of NPR’s Best Books of the Year

“A beautifully wrought ode to life…a precious gift to the world.” —The Washington Post

From the bestselling author of I Miss You When I Blink comes a poignant and powerful new memoir that tackles the big questions of life, death, and existential fear with humor and hope.

As a daughter, mother, and friend, Mary Laura Philpott considered herself an “anxious optimist”—a natural worrier with a stubborn sense of good cheer. And while she didn’t really think she had any sort of magical protective powers, she believed in her heart that as long as she loved her people enough, she could keep them safe.

Then, in the early hours of one dark morning at home, her belief was upended. In the months that followed, she turned to poignant memories, priceless stories, and a medley of coping mechanisms (with comically mixed success) to regain her equilibrium and find meaning in everyday wonders.

Hailed by The Washington Post as “Nora Ephron, Erma Bombeck, Jean Kerr, and Laurie Colwin all rolled into one,” Philpott tackles the big questions of life, death, and existential fear—not to mention the lessons of an inscrutable backyard turtle—with hope, humor, and joy.

About Mary Laura Philpott

Mary Laura Philpott, nationally bestselling author of I Miss You When I Blink and Bomb Shelter, writes essays and memoirs that examine the overlap of the absurd and the profound in everyday life. Her writing has been featured by The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic, among many other publications. A former bookseller, she also hosted an interview program on Nashville Public Television for several years. Mary Laura lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her family.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Anne on January 26, 2023

This is the Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club June 2022 selection and a 2022 Summer Reading Guide selection. Among the finest—perhaps THE finest—memoir-in-essays I’ve ever read. This intimate look at family life is like sitting down with a trusted friend to talk about what matters most in life. Philpott’s......more

Goodreads review by Jenny on March 21, 2022

Mary Laura Philpott gives great essays. This book is no exception.......more

Goodreads review by Christine on January 17, 2022

3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars This is a little book of personal essays that I chose on a whim. I’m glad I did. Mary Laura Philpott writes in a very relatable way. Reading her stories are like chatting with a good friend. She is not afraid to let us in on her inner fears and worries and share how she g......more

Goodreads review by Basic B's Guide on April 19, 2022

This books speaks to me in sooo many ways and it surpassed my high expectations. This anxiety ridden gal that has experienced grief, loss and my own battle with cancer still worries about the world and her babies. What a good reminder that our worry won’t do that much to protect them but our love is......more

Goodreads review by Bkwmlee on June 18, 2022

3.5 stars I read this for book club and overall, I enjoyed this well-written and witty memoir-in-essays. Mary Laura Philpott begins the book with the incident that changes her life (and that of her family) forever: the medical emergency that wakens her in the middle of the night, where she finds her......more


Quotes

"In this essay collection, author and narrator Mary Laura Philpott brings to life the worries, absurdities, and challenges that arise from loving people through life’s transitions. Philpott’s perceptive presentation invites listeners to hear her inner dialogue as she reflects on parenting a child diagnosed with epilepsy, as well as dealing with aging parents, the loss of beloved pets, and becoming middle-aged. Philpott sensitively narrates themes ranging in emotion from profound — her feelings surrounding the approaching departure of her growing children — to humorous — her descriptions of Frank the turtle, who roams her yard at will, a living symbol of patience and loyalty. Through these vignettes, Philpott draws meaningful conclusions with an engaging style."