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Craigslist Confessional: A Collection of Secrets from Anonymous Strangers by Helena Dea Bala
reallyintothis's review against another edition
5.0
This book is a really great read! I love hearing stories about other people, their experiences & if you're the same - pick this one up! There is something in these pages for everyone.
gharris777's review
4.0
This was pretty addicting to listen too!
I am glad that Helena Dea Bala decided to put this collection together. She decides to do take this journey after having a life changing circumstance with a homeless man.
I came across this book from multiple friends on Goodreads that reviewed this in the past. I was fascinated by the idea of the book because...
1. I love podcasts and listening to people being open about their lives. There's something liberating about that along with it being cathartic for the person.
2. I've always been fascinated by the secrets that people don't talk about, not even to best friends or spouses. I'm also guilty of this, so I think we all are to some extent. There's something scary about being completely open and vulnerable to someone else.
3. We live in a society that's hard to be completely open about past sins, desires or issues. Most things are kept hidden because of the judgement of people.
4. And just listening to these struggles and secrets makes you feel less alone.
You would have to listen to all the stories to understand this. They range from drug addiction, sexual preferences, mental issues to just coming out and saying that you are unhappy with your life. You didn't want to be a parent or you should never have cheated on your spouse.
Lots of great, sad and interesting stories from people in this collection!
I would suggest doing an audiobook if you can. It works because there is a different voice for most of the anonymous strangers in this collection. I'm sure reading this would also work but I thought the audio of this book was just great!
Definitely check this out if you like podcasts and looking into the secrets that most of us keep!
I am glad that Helena Dea Bala decided to put this collection together. She decides to do take this journey after having a life changing circumstance with a homeless man.
I came across this book from multiple friends on Goodreads that reviewed this in the past. I was fascinated by the idea of the book because...
1. I love podcasts and listening to people being open about their lives. There's something liberating about that along with it being cathartic for the person.
2. I've always been fascinated by the secrets that people don't talk about, not even to best friends or spouses. I'm also guilty of this, so I think we all are to some extent. There's something scary about being completely open and vulnerable to someone else.
3. We live in a society that's hard to be completely open about past sins, desires or issues. Most things are kept hidden because of the judgement of people.
4. And just listening to these struggles and secrets makes you feel less alone.
You would have to listen to all the stories to understand this. They range from drug addiction, sexual preferences, mental issues to just coming out and saying that you are unhappy with your life. You didn't want to be a parent or you should never have cheated on your spouse.
Lots of great, sad and interesting stories from people in this collection!
I would suggest doing an audiobook if you can. It works because there is a different voice for most of the anonymous strangers in this collection. I'm sure reading this would also work but I thought the audio of this book was just great!
Definitely check this out if you like podcasts and looking into the secrets that most of us keep!
karleevoelp's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
3.5
Ok.
I have thoughts.
I screwed up a little bit, because going into this book I thought these were going to be funny lighthearted stories. Once I read the authors note at the beginning, I realized I may be extremely incorrect in my assumption. Because of this, I was initially shocked by the gravity of the stories and almost forgot that this was someone simply meeting up with a stranger, writing down their tragic stories and then using them for their own gain and profit? It started to feel a little funky and icky the more I got into it. I'm too lazy to go back and see if she said that the people who she was meeting with knew that their stories were being used for (I would assume not since this was a gradual career change for the author), but if not... oof.
The idea of the book is wonderful, and I think it is a humbling reminder of how lucky I am to have the life I currently have. But I saw a review talking about how there seemed to be no empathy from the author for the people whose stories they were using. No giving back to a charity or the people themselves which I think could have changed my overall opinion. Also, like many have said... the stories seem to have been heavily edited and not super authentic to the original teller. I noticed almost immediately that there was a lot of "fluff" and similarities in speaking between all the stories that I don't think were coincidence.
I would say this is more like a 3 1/2, but I did enjoy reading it, so I'll give it the 4 lol.
I have thoughts.
I screwed up a little bit, because going into this book I thought these were going to be funny lighthearted stories. Once I read the authors note at the beginning, I realized I may be extremely incorrect in my assumption. Because of this, I was initially shocked by the gravity of the stories and almost forgot that this was someone simply meeting up with a stranger, writing down their tragic stories and then using them for their own gain and profit? It started to feel a little funky and icky the more I got into it. I'm too lazy to go back and see if she said that the people who she was meeting with knew that their stories were being used for (I would assume not since this was a gradual career change for the author), but if not... oof.
The idea of the book is wonderful, and I think it is a humbling reminder of how lucky I am to have the life I currently have. But I saw a review talking about how there seemed to be no empathy from the author for the people whose stories they were using. No giving back to a charity or the people themselves which I think could have changed my overall opinion. Also, like many have said... the stories seem to have been heavily edited and not super authentic to the original teller. I noticed almost immediately that there was a lot of "fluff" and similarities in speaking between all the stories that I don't think were coincidence.
I would say this is more like a 3 1/2, but I did enjoy reading it, so I'll give it the 4 lol.
iamdeana's review against another edition
3.0
Came across this book in a list of “popular audiobooks for 2021”, when I was looking for a book to read this year (needed 2 to meet my goal) and didn’t have anything on hold coming in soon. A lot of people’s intimate stories. None really stand out in my mind. Was ok.
lauriebwhite's review against another edition
3.0
This was just so so. I was excited to read it, but the stories were not long enough to hook me nor did they really resonate with me.
blanchreads's review against another edition
5.0
Helena Dea Bala was a lobbyist in DC, unhappy and struggled paying her student debts with her meager salary. After talking to a homeless man that she sees everyday on her way to work, listening to him talk about his problem and seeing herself doing the same gave her the much needed connection and an idea to post an ad in Craigslist. It promised to listen without judgment, anonymously and for free.
•
•
There are 40 stories divided into 5 categories and I love the way the author writes and narrates the stories. There were few pages per story, it was short but packed with so much emotions. Most are not easy to read and do not have happy endings and will make you stop, sigh, gasp, relief, teary eyed, smile, mad - those emotions all over the place. While reading it, you sometimes forget you are reading something that happened in real life with a real person. At least one or two or more stories will resonate with you or you know someone who experienced the same thing as the stories cut across all human struggles and issues you can think of - love, family acceptance, betrayal, abuse, racism, gender, identity, addiction, mental health, prostitution, loss.
•
•
You will not see the author’s point of view or advise offered instead what she gave is space for each story to be heard and to unburden themselves without judgement as most of us just need somebody to listen to us. We all go through something in life, we don’t know each person’s struggle but knowing that we are not alone in all of this make us a tiny bit better and appreciate more that we have now.
•
•
Would you confess to a stranger your deepest, darkest secrets knowing it will never get back to you?
•
•
There are 40 stories divided into 5 categories and I love the way the author writes and narrates the stories. There were few pages per story, it was short but packed with so much emotions. Most are not easy to read and do not have happy endings and will make you stop, sigh, gasp, relief, teary eyed, smile, mad - those emotions all over the place. While reading it, you sometimes forget you are reading something that happened in real life with a real person. At least one or two or more stories will resonate with you or you know someone who experienced the same thing as the stories cut across all human struggles and issues you can think of - love, family acceptance, betrayal, abuse, racism, gender, identity, addiction, mental health, prostitution, loss.
•
•
You will not see the author’s point of view or advise offered instead what she gave is space for each story to be heard and to unburden themselves without judgement as most of us just need somebody to listen to us. We all go through something in life, we don’t know each person’s struggle but knowing that we are not alone in all of this make us a tiny bit better and appreciate more that we have now.
•
•
Would you confess to a stranger your deepest, darkest secrets knowing it will never get back to you?
checkedoutbooks's review against another edition
3.0
A super depressing book and I'm not sure I'm glad I read this. Each person's story was simultaneously too long and too short and the intro was way too long. Still gathering my feelings weeks and weeks later.
llyrrhiannon's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 really good idea and book. I think I wish it had been longer.