Synopses & Reviews
Did you keep a diary during your teen years? Do you have a box of loopy-cursive, never-sent notes to your crush? Or some overwrought poetry about your bleak existence? An unfinished rockopera? Well, youre not alone, and in
Cringe, youll find a reason to unearth your adolescent angst and have a good laughat yourself.
A compilation of real teenage diary and journal entries, letters,
songs, stories, and listsalong with biting commentary, background, and self-examination from the now so-called grown-ups who wrote themCringe offers a voyeuristic glimpse at the roller coaster of youth in all of its navel-gazing, soul-searching, social-skewering glory.
Cringe -worthy excerpts include
Really bad poetry:
I lumber like the sad clown with
the hope that my performance
might make you smile.
Yet I am a flickering star over
a cloudy sky.
Blush-inducing pep talks:
OK. Its the end of February. No more
kidding around! You have to go out
with someone! You havent gone out
with someone since the summer!
At least fool around with someone!
Come on! Youve got it in ya!
Questionable motivations:
My mom is madly in love with
her boyfriend. . . . Cool! Hes so rich
. . . I could get a lot out of this
vacations, a carif he buys my mom
one + she gives me herspsyche!
And rages against the world at large:
I am living in a dream world.
Wishes are a bunch of crap.
They never come true so whats
the use of even wasting your
time hoping theyll come true
when they dont?
Inspired by the New York–based reading series of the same name, Cringe will help you realize that being a grown-up isnt all that terrible. At least you dont have to worry about whos going to be at the mall anymore.
Synopsis
Inspired by the highly publicized monthly diary reading series in New York, "Cringe" is a kitschy, gut-spilling saga of adolescent angst. Full-color photos & illustrations throughout.
About the Author
SARAH BROWN is a writer, a well-known blogger, and the founder and host of Cringe, the monthly reading series held in New York.